Buttkickin’ Holiday Songs: “Mistletoe and Wine” — The Darkness (2025)

Mistletoe and Wine has always been kind of a quiet Christmas staple. There’s something about it that just drips earnest reverence, hymn-like with a deeply British sentimentality. When Cliff Richard released the single in 1988, he delivered it straight-faced and sincere. It became part of the seasonal furniture, especially in the UK.

Here not so much, but it pops up from time to time. And maybe it should pop up with more timeliness, because it’s a beautiful tune.

21st Century glam/hard rock stalwarts The Darkness approaches Mistletoe and Wine without winking irony or outlandish parody, which is exactly why this cover works. They let the song breathe, easing into it with a slow, dramatic build wrapped in shimmering guitars and their unmistakable glam rock ethos.

Justin Hawkins doesn’t rush or hyperbolize the song; he sings it beautifully. His signature falsetto floats with restraint and warmth, really leaning into the emotional center of the song. Hawkins isn’t trying to reinvent Mistletoe and Wine, but rather update it gracefully with loud guitars and hard rock crunch. The song’s midtempo intensity and waltz cadence blend well with The Darkness’s patented blend of rock-n-roll derring-do.

Or whatever. However you slice it, that’s what makes their cover of Mistletoe and Wine land. The Darkness takes the song seriously and lets their personality color it naturally. The result is reflective, more than a little bit surreal, and yet entirely sincere. A Christmas chestnut can still surprise you when the cover band trusts the song and commits to its ethos while still bringing their personality to the fore.