This BSB Xmas Song Is Worth Revisiting

If a pop Xmas playlist was a Christmas tree and the songs were its trimmings, what would that tree look like? Obviously, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” would be the eye-catching, gilded star perched on top, but let's keep going. “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” by *NSYNC would be a string of twinkling multicolor lights. Wham! classic “Last Christmas” would be the burgundy velvet tree skirt. “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses would be the gifts situated around the base of the tree. "Christmas Time" by the Backstreet Boys would be a shimmering tinsel garland, and so on. But what about deep cuts like the Backstreet Boys’ other Christmas jam, “It’s Christmas Time Again”? Whether you remember that one or not, it definitely deserves a spot on the tree- er, playlist.

In 2012, the Backstreet Boys dropped “It’s Christmas Time Again," a sequel to their 1996 song "It's Christmas." The undeniably cheery earworm of a holiday record was the group's first single after Kevin Richardson made his triumphant return, and it boasts everything you could want from a pop Xmas tune: multi-part harmonies, a chorus that demands the listener sing along, and ringing bells. The quintet unveiled “It’s Christmas Time Again” at the 2012 Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade.

OK, I've got it: "It's Christmas Time Again" is the gorgeous Sleeping Beauty's Castle snow globe ornament your best friend gave to you when you back in high school. The gorgeous ornament that you lost (and eventually forgot about, oops). Unbeknownst to you, it fell out of one of your decoration boxes several years ago, and has been rolling around your hall closet ever since, patiently waiting for you to find it.

And then, the moment the ornament has been waiting for finally happens. In the middle of an intense spring cleaning session, you stumble upon it. You are both delighted and surprised to see it. As you lovingly pick it up and put it back in your ornament storage container, a tidal wave of peace washes over you. You did not realize it until now, but your Christmas tree was missing something.

And now, thanks to "It's Christmas Time Again," the Christmas tree is finally complete.