The cover of the Weeklings album, “Christmas.”
The Weeklings are bringing “Joy” to their fans this holiday season with a new video of the song of that name that was included on their 2024 album Christmas. It’s an uptempo instrumental, strongly featuring John Merjave’s lead guitar and blending elements of Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” the “Ode to Joy” section of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, The Beatles’ “Eight Days a Week” and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
You can watch the video below. It starts with band members — “overwhelmed by a sense of joy,” the narrator says — opening presents while wearing clothes appropriate for Christmas morning (pajama bottoms, a Christmas sweater, Santa hats, reindeer horns). But most of it is performance footage.
Merjave is joined in the band — which released its first album 10 years ago — by bassist Glen Burtnik, guitarist Bob Burger and drummer Joe Bellia. Merjave, Burtnik and Burger split lead vocals though none of them sings on this track.
The Weeklings & Friends will present “Holiday Hullabaloo” shows at The Vogel at The Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, Dec. 20 at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. The nighttime show is sold out but tickets are still available for the afternoon. Visit ticketmaster.com.
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