70. Single Review of I Came Home for Christmas by David Trionfetti

Originally Published on December 3rd

About the Artist

Is it sad that I am a 43 year old man and, to this day, I cry at the ending of Elf? I get it. Most of that movie is intentionally made to make us laugh. It’s Will Ferrell. He’s a SNL alumni. He gave us classics like Anchorman, A Night at the Roxbury, and Step Brothers. Elf is no different. There are a plethora of quotable lines, and a number of scenes that will leave its viewers in stitches. However, director Jon Favreau understands something about this story and is able to capture this in the movie’s emotional climax: there is no age limitation to the spirit of Christmas. So, when Zooey Deschanel stands above the gathered crowd and realizes “the greatest way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear,” I can feel the onslaught coming. Then it happens: right on queue, Santa’s Sleigh takes off right over the crowd’s heads right as the late James Caan joins on the chorus of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”

Christmas channels certain feelings for most people. Whether it’s a joyous feeling of gratitude by a person of faith celebrating the birth and life of a spiritual prophet, or if it’s seeing the look your child’s face while they start detailing their Christmas wishlist and how serious they are about being good for Santa. The spirit of Christmas is among so many of us. 

This assumption doesn not elude David Trionfetti especially. Not only is he capable of pointing it out, he is capable of admitting the feeling within himself. It’s a feeling he so kindly decided to put into words, melody, and wrap it in piano, guitar, drum, bass, and even a shiny bow to gift to us this year. 

David, from Coatesville Pennsylvania, is a Roots and Americana musician that is just coming onto the music scene as an up and coming independent artist. Earlier this year, he released We Take Off, his debut single. Garnering influence from his idol, Tom Petty, David has a soulful delivery to the rock vibe of his sound. If anything needs a soulful sound, it’s a Christmas song.

About the Song

I Came Home for Christmas is the sophomore release of Pennsylvania independent artist, David Trionfetti. It is an Americana/Roots Holiday single that released on November 29th, 2024. With a runtime of around Three minutes and Twenty seconds, it features Trionfetti on vocals, accompanied by background vocalists, piano, acoustic and electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, synth strings, percussion instruments like sleigh bells and shakers.

About the Music

I Came Home for Christmas has a sort of blues swing feel to it. Timed at a 6/8 with a moderate to slow tempo, the progression traditionally walks the line of a blues/jazz record. Lots of chord changes, walk-downs, and a nice chromatic shift in the end of the chorus, right before the tag line.

The electric guitar features a thematic tremolo effect, but otherwise is clean. This song is a guitar player’s dream. It sounds like it was very fun to play. 

There’s not a lot of solo work, instrumentally. The various instruments just layer the intricate chord progressions; whether they’re playing full chords or arpeggios. The strings even just support the tonal chords with whole notes, with the occasional passing phrase. 

Vocally, David Trionfetti offers solid work. Bringing similar energy as his idol, Tom Petty, his voice would apply in Rock, Roots, or Blues. It sort of reminds me of the album Rising Sand that was released by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss in 2007. In it, Plant offers a diverse range of performances. It sounds as though Trionfetti might possess the same sort of diverse potential; being able to front a variety of different types of bands.

About the Lyrics

Lyrically, I Came Home for Christmas fits right into the blues genre as it narrates a story of a subject who is spending Christmas alone, having slighted their object of affection, only to have learned a valuable lesson and in a twist of pure elation, wrongs are made right in the emotional climax of the story. 

“No stockings hanging from the mantle, no sprig of mistletoe. No tinsel spanning ‘tween the branches, no scented candles glow. You said don’t be cruel now my heart is full of worn out apologies. I came home for Christmas but Christmas didn’t come home for me.”

In the first verse/chorus, the author narrates a depressing scene of the subject of the story observing their surroundings as incomplete in the aftermath of an incident where they had a falling out with the object of their affection. Due to this, they’re spending Christmas in isolation and it is quite apparent to them. 

“I’m counting snowflakes by the window ‘neath a blanket fit for two. Carols playing in the radio, carols I’d sing with you. Now my head has cooled, I feel a fool for acting so selfishly. I came home for Christmas but Christmas didn’t come home for me.”

In the second verse/chorus we gain a little more insight that it is indeed the fault of the subject for the fallout and the author also narrates that they are realizing this as their temper subsides and they’re able to reflect more objectively. 

Lyrically, the story is a very good song fitting in the blues rock and holiday genre. It tells a very sad story but has a triumphant ending when the object of the narrator’s affection comes home and ultimately forgives them. This has the makings of being a nice holiday staple in any household. Musically, it fits right in with most contemporary and secular holiday classics. 

Final Thoughts

David Trionfetti has shown us that he has a few gifts in his bag, so-to-speak with a very promising sophomore release. I Came Home for Christmas is multi-faceted in that its genre bending, and yet doesn’t commit to any one genre. It fits in the categories of Roots, Rock, Americana, Blues, and it’s a contemporary Holiday song to boot! Trionfetti’s vocal performance and storytelling just amplify the diversity of the record as he proves sound check ready to take on any gig. 

Just like ole’ Saint Nick gave Rudolph his shot that gloomy, foggy night, David Trionfetti’s holiday jam should get a shot at making homes, holiday parties, and any other seasonal event one to remember! Maybe, their fates will align and “I Came Home for Christmas” can, too, go down in history!

You can follow David Trionfetti on Spotify and Instagram and don’t forget to give I Came Home for Christmas a few spins this Holiday Season and for years to come! What are you waiting for??? GO PRESS PLAY!!!!