Part of what I love about this blog is the ability to witness. When I was coming up as a younger musician, that's what I missed: the feeling that anybody could see what I was doing. Every one of these blog posts is a moment in time. And for this song, I would direct you to the fantastic monologue at the middle of the video. Go ahead and watch. Come back when you're done. I'll wait.

Come one come all
I know it doesn’t feel like Christmas
Without a family
But you can make one here
So, don’t be shy my dear
‘Cause everybody at this bar knows how you’re feeling
Like you have nothing
But there are lonely hearts here who will buy you a beer
There are other lonely hearts here
Who are interesting and brilliant
So, come as you are to the dive bar

So the interlude is obviously in French, and I've listened a few times to try to piece it together. What I love about it, is just the idea of a window inside a window. The music video itself is really good at building this reality around a neighborhood hang out, a group of friends, the set up that they have in the lyrics is the idea of a bunch of misfits coming together for Christmas. I can certainly relate to that. But when the girl starts speaking in French, she's saying something like "do I miss France, well a little bit, the traditions, the food, the foie gras" (you and me both, girl). "But in the end it's the same shit, egos and egoists, and you're just lucky to get off every now and then" – ha ha, I'm paraphrasing horribly. But that is the idea. She's not lying. And then they just jump back into the song. This is Shakespearean-level b roll, and I'm here for it. In French.

This song embodies the Holiday Spirit in its purest form. It's community on the spot, & finding a way to come together. This is something we always need more of. "Dive Bar Christmas" is an ode to the support network that keeps us going, with a beautiful mix of acoustic drums, harmonica, and acoustic guitar providing backup to a gorgeous vocal performance from Charlee. It's a heartwarming track that might be just what some of us need in the lonelier moments to come before the New Year.

In 2020, Charlee Remitz put out her final pop album, admitting to a complicated love affair with pop music and leaving it in the hopes of finding something simpler. Four years later, she's back as Blue Monkey, carving out a new space for herself in the folk continuum. Visit her on Instagram.