Originally a novelty song performed by Horatio Sanz, Chris Kattan, Tracy Morgan, and Jimmy Fallon on Saturday Night Live, I Wish It Was Christmas Today has now been covered by Julian Casablancas.

The former Strokes frontman doesn’t play it for laughs, instead delivering a great slice of lo-fi punk pop complete with sleigh bells. Genius.

Casablancas has unfortunately not shot a video for I Wish It Was Christmas Today, so we have to put up with the audio being played over the top of a static picture of him. Still, he’s a good looking man.

Is this as good as the original? That depends on what you’re after. It’s certainly different, and different is good. But personally speaking I still prefer the classic Christmas tunes by The Pogues, Slade, and Wham.