In November 2009,
Bob Dylan released a version of the song in a
polka-meets-
klezmer style (based on an arrangement by
Brave Combo, whose version he had played on
Theme Time Radio Hour) for his Christmas album,
Christmas in the Heart. The
New York Daily News described Dylan's version as such: "It's sort of unclear if Dylan (...) was aiming to celebrate the holiday, or gently poke fun at the music's
Norman Rockwell-esque simplicity". Following Brave Combo's lead, the lyrics in Dylan's version mix in the names of several
United States presidents with a list of Santa's reindeer (e.g., "Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen / Carter, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton"). Eleven years after its release, "Must Be Santa" placed 24th in a
Rolling Stone article about the "25 Best Bob Dylan Songs of the 21st Century" where critic Amanda Martoccio called the song "zany" and the "centerpiece" of
Christmas in the Heart.
Nash Edgerton directed an official music video for "Must Be Santa", described as "bonkers" by Martoccio, in which Dylan lip synchs the song at a raucous Christmas house party with other holiday revelers.
Count Smokula makes an unexpected appearance as an accordion player, miming the accordion part that
David Hidalgo played on the actual recording. As of Christmas 2024, the video had been viewed over 8 million times on
YouTube, significantly more times than the next most popular versions of the song (i.e., those recorded by
Mitch Miller,
Raffi and Brave Combo). "Must Be Santa" was also released as a music video ecard and a 7" single, the b-side of which is a recording of Dylan reading
'Twas the Night Before Christmas that was first broadcast on
Theme Time Radio Hour. ==She & Him version==