The holiday season got way more interesting the moment the Prince of
Rock, Saulo Oliveira, released his Christmas single “Antichrist-Mas” on
October 24, 2019. Ever since, people who didn’t have a voice for not
enjoying that night found in the rocker a reference to rebellion against
tradition.
The song responsible for generating speculation about a possible
disagreement between Saulo and Macaulay Culkin (which has been debunked
by the way), finds renewed life with each passing year, precisely in the
realm of this phenomenon in which new people realise they are not
attracted to Christmas and, whilst introduced to this new concept, they
are welcomed by Saulo’s single that has become the anthem of a
generation against the holiday.
It’s easy to understand the movement. “Antichrist-Mas” takes the words
out of many people’s mouths: “I hate Santa Claus, I hate Jingle Bells
and I hate singing children”. With simple and straight-to-the-point
lyrics, powerful drums, classic dirty guitar and a harsh and hoarse
voice that conveys a diabolical insurgency, the recipe for a single that
no Grinch in the world could find fault with, is complete.
It’s beyond a simple song. The model encapsulates a feeling, a
philosophy of life, “Antichrist-Mas” is a manifesto against cynicism,
which makes perfect sense in an increasingly skeptical and grey world.
Then, Saulo consolidates himself as the spokesperson for a generation
that confronts traditionalism and follows an independent path,
distancing itself with conviction from rituals and social conventions,
from the most common to the least simple.
In the unlikely event that anyone still has any doubt that the song
comes from a place of genuine aversion to the date and not something
staged, let’s just remember how it came about.
The British-Brazilian singer was at a family dinner years ago and, at
midnight, when the twenty-fourth became the twenty-fifth of December, as
usual, everyone gathered to pray as he, of course, walked away. When
someone asked why he had walked away, a voice from the middle of the
group whispered “he is Anti-Christ”. The answer made the singer laugh
and also made him get the idea for the song.
And, despite his atheism and never having attended any family parties
again, Saulo never fell from grace nor has ever seen the hell break
loose on his path, since not agreeing with the date does not mean he is
deprived of light; he wishes the best to
everyone.
He approached that episode in the song by acknowledging he has a
different point of faith view, but it doesn’t mean he is not positive:
“I know I don’t believe, I can’t pray like you all, but at least I can
give my best wishes at all”.
At the end of the day, the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future
don’t stand a chance against Oliveira and could never convert him.
Actually, Saulo is the one who has become the end-of-the-year
zeitgeist.
Thus, this is a topsy-turvy Christmas tale, à la Tim Burton, about how
not everyone needs to fit into the formula, everyone has their ideology,
and yet there can be room for everyone at the table, after all, the
model dined that night, dressed in black and in great style.
Anyways, the gift of the revolted has already been delivered. And it is
not coming down the chimney, contrariwise, it just keeps going up, in
the streaming service closest to you.