Fallon teams with Grande, Megan Thee Stallion for holidays
NEW YORK » Yes, he’s the host of the “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” And sure, he’s starred in movies, been a “Saturday Night Live” regular and just launched a new show, “That’s My Jam.”
But Jimmy Fallon has always wanted his “That Thing You Do!” movie moment when he gets to hear his song come on the radio.
And he was ready for that moment on Tuesday, when his holiday single “It Was A … (Masked Christmas),” featuring Ariana Grande and Megan Thee Stallion, was released.
“It Was A … (Masked Christmas)” started out as an idea Fallon was toying with in August while he was recording at Electric Lady Studios in Manhattan.
“I wanted to write something reflecting on how tough it was for everyone last year during the holidays and that it’s gonna get better,” he said, adding that he was looking to throw in some humor about putting Purell on everything and families cramming into the laundry room to get on Zoom because that’s where the best Wi-Fi is.
While writing the song with producer Ido Zmishlany, best known for his work with Shawn Mendes and Justin Bieber, Fallon had Grande in mind for singing the hook, but when he reached out to her, he didn’t hear back right away because she was busy as a coach on “The Voice.”
Then, in mid-October, she responded, saying: “I love this song. You sound great. I think this is so funny. Let’s do this. I’m on it. I’m going to record tomorrow in the studio.”
She also asked who was going to do the song’s rap, which Fallon did in the demo. Grande texted Megan Thee Stallion, who replied: “Are you kidding me? Ariana and Jimmy, my two besties? Let’s do it.”