SINGLE REVIEW: ida – Joy
Ida Engman’s ‘Joy’ is a Christmas release that dares to sidestep the genre’s usual glitter-dusted optimism. Instead, it offers something brighter, sharper, and far more human — a song that holds cynicism and compassion in the same hand without ever feeling heavy. It’s an articulate, bouncy portrait of London at Christmas, capturing both its sparkle and its shadows with startling clarity.
The track opens bright and uptempo, lifted by Engman’s stunning vocals, which carry a tonal quality reminiscent of Thea Gilmore — contemporary, precise, yet touched with that folk-like whimsy and subtly macabre storytelling that makes every line feel lived in. The gentle acoustic guitar sets a warm foundation, but as the arrangement blossoms into a fuller sound, the song begins to brim with subtle, understated hooks that creep in quietly and stay with you.
Lyrically, ‘Joy’ paints a vivid Christmas-in-London scene: wide-eyed children still wrapped in the magic, a homeless person asking for change, turkeys waiting on “death row,” and the relentless push of consumerism that turns celebration into obligation. Engman threads these contrasts with striking ease — the glimmer of excitement beside the weariness of those left out, the laughter of office parties echoing against the loneliness of those on the margins. There’s cynicism here, yes, but it’s purposeful: ultimately, she lands on the truth that everyone is simply searching for joy, and that amid the rush, we should hope to show compassion to those who need it most.
What’s remarkable is the emotional impact. Despite its brightness and airy feel, the lyrics land with unexpected force. For me, the writing hit so deeply that it became a lump-in-the-throat, fighting-back-tears kind of listen. It’s been a long time since a song — Christmas or otherwise — has struck me with that level of emotional honesty; it damn near made me cry. It affected me so much I still had goosebumps long after it ended.
‘Joy’ is a standout: an excellent, deeply honest Christmas track that balances light with shadow, humour with truth, optimism with realism. An incredibly moving, refreshingly grounded piece of songwriting that showcases Ida Engman’s exceptional storytelling — and proves that a Christmas song can be both celebratory and profoundly affecting.
