“Santa Sucks,” and Jamie Alimorad Isn’t Apologizing for It

Jamie Alimorad did not come to play nice with the North Pole this year. And honestly? Respect. Every December, we’re force-fed the same Hallmark-core jingles telling us Christmas is perfect, magical, and full of joy if you just believe hard enough. Meanwhile, the rest of us are sitting there remembering that one year Santa ghosted us harder than a situationship. Alimorad finally said the quiet part out loud and turned it into a pop-rock banger.

“Santa Sucks” is the holiday song for everyone who played by the rules, stayed on the Nice List, and still woke up to absolute crumbs. It’s sarcastic, it’s theatrical, it’s a little petty in the best way, but Jamie wraps it all in the same polished, radio-ready vocals that’ve carried him from Boston campus hero to viral sensation to Carnegie Hall performer. Dude knows how to sing, even when he’s dragging Santa through the snow.

The track leans into cheeky storytelling and nostalgia, that sweet spot where humor meets heartbreak. You can feel the childhood wonder Jamie’s family built around Christmas Eve — and the tiny emotional bruise left behind when the holiday stopped hitting the same. Instead of pretending everything’s fine, he channels it into a song that’s basically a group therapy session for anyone who’s ever unwrapped socks.

The real kicker? Over 50 friends, family members, and loved ones hopped on the chorus. It turns the hook into a full-blown rally cry, less jingle bells, more “we’ve been wronged, and we ride at dawn.” It’s the kind of communal chaos that makes the track feel like a cult classic in the making.

And honestly, Jamie’s earned the right to have fun. His résumé is stacked: viral ballads, award-winning singles, chart placements, hit collaborations with the Vannellis, and a Carnegie Hall debut. He’s proven he can do the serious, soulful, award-bait tracks. So, his dropping a goofy, catchy, family-powered Christmas song? That’s an artist who’s secure enough in his craft not to take himself too seriously.

“Santa Sucks” isn’t just a holiday release; it’s a reminder that Christmas nostalgia hits different when you’re grown, jaded, and still waiting on that one gift you swore the universe owed you. And instead of sulking about it, Jamie Alimorad turned it into something we can all scream-sing with pride.

You’ve written emotional ballads, rock anthems, and award-winning singles. What unlocked the chaos gremlin inside you that led to “Santa Sucks”? There's a little chaos gremlin inside all of us! It's funny you phrase it like that, because as we were recording it (producer) Jordan (Sherman) was saying how in some strange way this is the most personal song I've ever written. And I knew what he meant. I love love songs, and I've mainly written from an autobiographical place, whether that be about relationships, places, or moments in time. There have been a few moments with songs like "Crawling Back to Me" and "Lucky Me" where I've shown my humor, but this one takes it to another level. The song started as a joke between my friend and me. We were discussing writing a song together, and he brought up the idea of doing a Christmas song, and that it should almost be an anti-Christmas song, like a kid not getting anything for Christmas. I thought it was brilliant! We got together on several occasions with the intention of writing it, or at least I did, but then we wound up going onto different projects. I made the commitment at the outset of the year that I would finally record a Christmas song, and I decided to just give it a go myself. What came out is very Jamie. If you hang out with me for an afternoon, you'll see this is my sense of humor.

You said over 50 loved ones appear on this track. What was that recording session like, and were there any hilarious moments you almost kept in the final cut? Getting all those voices was really fun! Everyone did it remotely. I asked people to sing into their phones and send me the voice memos. A few of my music students have dialogue in the track. I did those with them, but again, it's just spoken into my phone. It would've been awesome to have everyone all together in one room, but they're literally from all over the country! I included everything that was sent to me, so nothing is on the cutting room floor.

Holiday music is notoriously predictable. What was the biggest rule or cliché you wanted to break when making this song? I always loved Christmas music! That is, until I got a seasonal job at Bloomingdale's. I worked these eight-hour shifts, and I heard the same five songs over and over and over. I couldn't stand it! How many versions of "White Christmas," or "Have A Holly Jolly Christmas," or "The Christmas Song" do we need? Then whatever pop ones that were played were always the same thing - I miss my lover. Santa, please bring them back to me! I was really surprised that a lot of the songs I grew up listening to, which were all hits, weren't in rotation. I always thought I'd follow in the footsteps of those favorite artists' Christmas singles and albums: 98°, Backstreet Boys, Richard Marx, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Wham! But I thought it would become just another Christmas song. I always want to go against the grain, so I thought more "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" than "All I Want For Christmas Is You."

You’ve been racking up awards all year, Carnegie Hall debut, chart placements, and Amazon and iTunes wins. How does it feel to follow all that with a comedic Christmas track, and did that contrast feel refreshing? It's been a tremendous year in many ways! It's felt fantastic to get back to my pop/rock sound and to see the new material be so well received. For "Santa Sucks" to be the capstone is rather fitting. I think when we get to this time of year, it's a time for reflection, and it's always nice to have a smile come to your face upon doing so. I went so overboard with this track in the studio. I told Jordan to put everything in it. Church bells? Yes! Sleigh bells? Need 'em! Easter eggs of classic Christmas songs sprinkled in the arrangement? Gotta have it! Dozens of people shouting, "Santa sucks!" at the top of their lungs? Duh! I've never had more fun working on a track because at times it was utterly ridiculous! 

“Santa Sucks” pokes fun at disappointment and nostalgia. What’s one real-life holiday letdown of yours that didn’t make the song but totally could have? I gotta say, Santa was always good to me! I can't really think of any time that there was something I really wanted and didn't get. That being said, I've had birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions where I was extremely disappointed. There was one time an ex got me concert tickets for Def Leppard. She insisted on planning the whole day, and that I wouldn't have to lift a finger. She didn't even tell me the date or location of the show because she wanted it to be a full night of surprises. Well, she got the date wrong, and we missed the show. So thanks for that, babe. But at the end of the day, I think a lot of those stories, at least mine, are ones I can look back on and laugh at. I don't know if eating my veggies helped get me on the Nice List, but I wasn't about to see if it wouldn't!