I’ve always been fascinated by Christmas music. It’s incredibly odd that we have a whole genre of popular music dedicated to the last month of the year, some of it awful, some of it charming, most of it involving sleigh bells. I like the oddball tunes most of all: “Last Christmas” by Wham!, “Don’t Shoot Me Santa Claus” by The Killers, and “Toss A Coin To Your Witcher” by Jaskier the bard in Netflix’s The Witcher.
Being a song prominently featured on a show that debuted December 20th, just ahead of prime holiday binge-watching season, I think it qualifies. It is, after all, as obnoxiously ear-wormy as most Christmas songs I can think of. What’s that? You’ve not heard it? Buddy. Friend. You must:
I kind of love it and hate it at the same time? Narratively, it’s perfect. The song is composed by Jaskier the bard after meeting Geralt of Rivia, the eponymous Witcher. In the show, Jaskier decides to follow Geralt around out of pure opportunism—Geralt is someone he can spin into a legend with his songs, increasing their mutual profits (and also providing Jaskier with a stabby man to hide behind whenever he pisses off someone for being a philandering shmuck.)
As a song, it’s catchy the way I imagine a bard would want it to be, cheesy as hell in a way that gives The Witcher some levity that I think it wants but doesn’t fully commit to—something my colleagues talked about at length when the show premiered.
But you know what the song also is? Relevant:
Men only want one thing and it’s fucking disgusting pic.twitter.com/ciRX2rKRE1
— Ben Barrett (@ChaosSmurf) December 26, 2019
About the issues:
Me: Yeah so "Toss a Coin to Your Witcher" is a hit because it's both catchy AND it speaks to us as freelancers and underpaid workers. It's the anthem of our generation.
My family:
Me:
My family:
Me: *puts down my lute* But if you don't want me to play it again that's fine
— Alanna Smith (@AlannaMode) December 25, 2019
A crossover hit:
toss a coin to your witcher ft. baby yoda
(credits to DJMisha from Reddit) pic.twitter.com/ZHrH80ebDx
— m (@mrsifaith) December 24, 2019
And popular:
Who else watching #TheWitcher has had 'Toss A Coin To Your Witcher' stuck in your head for days?
It's currently on 1.2 million on YouTube: https://t.co/Bn2df4tomY
Can't wait for the Justin Bieber cover. pic.twitter.com/MlNgtPsQ6e
— Ali Plumb (@AliPlumb) December 24, 2019
May it ring through the air every holiday season from now until Dandelion’s next Top 40 hit.
If this isn’t retrofitted into Witcher 3 then it’s a crime against humanity
But, he’s a friend to humanity.
Toss a coin to your witcher, o valley of plenty.
I can’t stop singing this song! I think ym wife is going to kill me if I don’t stop
O valley of plenty, oh woah oh!
Oh valley of p—EEEEEEEENIS!
Lyrically and musically it’s bloody good and it’s performed well by Batey (who also fits the role perfectly) but for me it feels out of place and overly modern.
Maybe it’s just because we were spoiled so much with the music from Witcher 3.
I also cant decide if I like the name Jaskier or Dandelion better, I know it’s just a translation thing but I’ve always liked and known him as the latter
Just run with it.
It’s no deal breaker and like I said, we were kinda spoiled with Witcher 3 and things like Wolven Storm, Lullaby of Woe and all the contributions by Percival.
It was apparently a rap at some time….
I’d like it if they reference the name Dandelion even if it’s only in passing at some point. Like something mundane upsets him and Geralt or one of the other characters says something like “Oh you’re such a dandelion”.
Haha, I was thinking the same thing.
Or if Geralt force feeds them to him 😀
This won’t help get it out of your head but will make you smile each to.e you remember the song.
Simply replace the words “toss a coin to” with the lyrics “put a coin in”
“Put a coin in your Witcher! Oh valley of plenty”