Fuck That and FU: Erin McKeown For the Holidays
Richard Marcus presents Erin Mckeown's take on the holidays for the rest of us: their two anti-holiday albums are anthems for people alienated by Christmas, the values it's come to represent, and less-than-accepting families.
As the nights close in and the temperature drops it's only natural for people's minds to start straying towards thoughts of Christmas. Thoughts which are only aided and abetted by dollar stores and their ilk starting to put out Christmas decorations even before Halloween has come and gone.
For some this marks a time to celebrate and drown themselves in a gluttony of consumerism. However, for others this time of year can be problematic. Skipping over the fact the majority of the world's population aren't Christian (sorry only just under 30%) you can't escape the holiday's propaganda no matter where you go.
Even if you're a believer, the holiday's emphasis on "family" and "togetherness" can make these days an incredibly lonely experience. While this is bad enough for those alone through no choice of their own through bereavement or distance, being ostracized by your so called loved ones is even worse.
Unfortunately queer folk suffer this more often than others. This can be as a result of direct disownment upon coming out or subtle psychological pressure around the holiday table as to how you're queerness is problematic. Sometimes there really is no place for you with the family at the holiday season.
Way back in 2011 singer/songwriter/musical theatre composer Erin McKeown created, what mystifyingly has not become a staple for the holidays, Fu*k That: Erin McKeown's Anti-Holiday Album. Then in 2024 they released FU Too! More Anti-Holiday Songs from Erin McKewon as a follow up.
Irreverent, subversive, and more than a little bit rude, the original Fu*k That ripped the Hallmark bandaid off Christmas and exposed the festering mess underneath. While most Christmas specials by musical acts - and I'm sorry to say it but country artists are some of the worst culprits - shoot for the whole sweater by the fire drinking hot chocolate scenario - McKeown spikes that drink with reality and vinegar.
Some of the songs on the album might have references pertinent to an earlier decade but their sentiments are still relevant. On "Christmas Love it or Leave it" McKewon sings "You're not wearing anything seasonal, you're probably an illegal, before we can accept your gift we're going to check your birth certificate". Unfortunately that attitude just doesn't seem to have gone out of style.
In fact that song, with its linking of Christmas and America ("it's the American thing to do" they carols about decorating and not trusting those who don't) pretty much sums up the current Republican platform: mean-spirited, racist and xenophobic. All in all a very White Christmas.
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