Welcome to That Eurovision Site’s 2024 Advent Calendar! Each day at 10:00CET we’ll be highlighting one of our favourite holiday themed songs from across the Eurovision sphere! Today is 9th December and our featured song today is “What’s Christmas Anyway” by Darin, who competed in Melodifestivalen 2010 and was a Eurovision interval act in 2013. Happy Holidays!
Behind the 9th door on the TES Advent Calendar is…
About “What’s Christmas Anyway”
Released in 2021, What’s Christmas Anyway” laments the loss of a relationship through the lens of Christmas, looking at the things that him and his partner would have promised to each other – while still showcasing the magic of the season in all the things they had planned. The song was written by Darin himself alongside Jörgen Elofsson, who has quite the pop pedigree, having written songs for Britney Spears, Westlife and Kelly Clarkson.
What do we think?
Yes it’s unlike me to like a ballad but Darin’s ballads always cut deep. The feeling of losing everything you had planned out for your future, especially at a time of year where it’s all about family, is an antidote to Christmas songs that only show an unobtainable myth for some. Add to that his heartbreaking vocal (and he’s always been such a powerful vocalist) and it’s enough to make you stop and listen all the way.
Darin’s Eurovision Journey
Darin Zanyar came to the attention of the Swedish public in Idol 2004 (alongside other Eurovision artist Loreen!). He competed at Melodifestivalen 2010 with the song “You’re out of my life” which came 4th in the competition that year. A few years later Darin would reach Eurovision via a different method – being the interval act in Malmö alongside Agnes, performing “Nobody Knows”, alongside new song “So Yours”. Darin continues to be a big star in Sweden, and will celebrate his 20th anniversary with a huge stadium gig in Ullevi, Gothenburg in July 2025.
What do you think of today’s song? As always, please let us know what you think by getting involved in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Threads, tumblr, and Bluesky for more information about Eurovision 2025!
Photo Credit – Alexander Kot-Zaitsaǔ, Gabriel Luengas/Europa Press, KEiiNO, Sarah-Louise Bennett / EBU, Jonathan Vivaas Kise, DR, Luisa Sobral, Donny Montell (Collage by That Eurovision Site)
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