Some pop songs are built for escapism. They offer a three-minute vacation from the weight of things. Paul Jenner, the creative force behind the musical project 50mething, seems uninterested in this kind of holiday. His work is consistently grounded in the here and now, tackling the social and political agitations of our time with a composer’s ear and a critical eye. His 2026 single, “You Can’t...

"O Holy Night," as sung by Kate Stanford, is one of the few Christmas songs that has the emotional weight, spiritual depth, and lasting power that it does. The song gives stillness, respect, and attention from the very first line, and you have to follow through to the very end. It's not just a Christmas song; it's an appeal, a declaration, and a beautiful rendition of...