Joni Mitchell- River
To be honest in my eyes Joni Mitchell can do no wrong. Even when she goes all “jazz” on us and starts scatting left, right and centre I’m fully strapped into the Mitchell bandwagon, leaning out of the windows only to mock the pedestrians who have yet to get on board. Mitchell could shoot a baby donkey between the eyes at point blank range whilst chanting anti-Semitic slogans and I’d probably still applaud politely and tell everyone that I thought it was “brave”.
Thankfully Mitchell has yet to test my resolve in such fashion, and her back catalogue remains a peerless catalogue of intelligent, powerful song writing. “River” is a brilliant example of Mitchell at her best, simple and timeless, to me this song represents pure, distilled winter. Mitchell’s voice is a clear and crisp as the freshly fallen snow, the piano gently expressionistic, the lyrics heartrending without ever straying into mawkishness. “River” is the antithesis of the X Factor Christmas single; Mitchell is showing rather than telling you how to feel. When Mitchell calls for “a river I could skate away on” she is giving a master class in understated melancholy, generating more genuine emotion in one held note than X-Factor warblers can do with twenty. Pure, unadulterated bliss.
R.P.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPCJxVCcWtk&feature=related
Chris de Burgh- A Spaceman Came Travelling
Chris de Burgh’s take on the nativity story is the most heartwrenching Christmas song this side of a post-Christmas dinner, chipolata induced coronary. Opening with doleful chords (on what I’ve always suspected to be the electric organ setting on the humble bedroom Casio keyboard) Chris’s wavering whispers soon begin the narration of a spaceman coming to Earth and filling mankind with some sort of good feeling. Not only does he bring them happiness, but then he only goes and brings forth a choir of heaven sent angels, singing their song of songs (signified here by a crescendo of 70s guitars, electric organ riffs galore and application of the “echo” setting to his voice in post-production).
Teasingly though, after all this excitement, suspense and touching goodwill, Chris then tells us it would be 2000 years before we hear this sound again. Unfortunately for Chris, he failed to predict the rise of the CD and mp3 and I’m listening to this song at least ten times a day . Unfortunately for me, this song takes me back to my poor portrayal of Mary’s donkey in my nursery production of the nativity. Either way enjoy Chris and try not to shed a tear as you lean back and enjoy what Christmas time really means
D.C.
Sufjan Stevens- Sister Winter
Typically, Christmas songs are filled with forced cheer, repetitive choruses and far too many jingling bells. Thankfully Sufjan Stevens has taken a different approach with a mournfully reflective song with a soulfully bruised voice as he sings of a heart “as cold as ice.” With a falsetto that takes your breath away and a climactic build to the festive and joyful explosion this song will surely inspire all you scrooges out there to get into the spirit of Christmas.
E.C.
Emmy the Great and Tim Wheeler- Home For The Holidays
This Christmas song from new folk queen Emmy the Great and Ash front man boyfriend Tim Wheeler could have been disastrously twee. It’s a fine line, but “Home For The Holidays” acquits itself pretty well as a near perfect slice of festive pop. The song is fun and unashamedly festive complete with synthesised strings and a Shakin’ Stevens horn parts “dumdum” horn part (all the mulled wine has scrabbled my technical analysis clearly) and there’s just enough edge in the vocals to undercut the sugariness. Best of all it’s all played with the utmost sincerity, avoiding snarky irony and instead embracing the cheesy festive fabulousness. Plus the video is full of attractive hipsters in Christmas jumpers getting it on underneath the mistletoe. What’s not to like?
If you don’t fall for this you probably don’t like Christmas. And you definitely don’t like fun. Shame on you Scrooge.
R.P.
Sugar Minott – Christmas Time
If the garish shop decorations put in place during mid November weren’t enough to lighten your mood, nor your mum’s constant calls telling you how warm and Christmassy your house is back home (when you sit shivering in front of your laptop screen – for heat and facebook, not for work). If the thought of impending holiday essays aren’t enough to get you in the seasonal spirit; please don’t despair. I’ve found the perfect antidote for your seasonal stress and chance for you to have a very reggae Christmas.
Maybe this isn’t Sugar Minott’s finest work. Maybe it won’t be the most remembered Christmas song either but his repetitive lyricism (“it’s christmas time”) and the myriad of children backing this track envelop the listener in such a warm, Jamaican hug you can’t help but lean back and light up your own personal Christmas tree. Woy, Woy, Woy, Woy.
D.C.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4J9g7ktTDE
Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson- Winter Song
The perfect harmonization of two delicately beautiful voices with a fragility that captures the loneliness winter can bring. With a mournfully wistful tone this is a song to listen to after trudging home in the freezing cold as you curse the rain and need a soothing song as you warm up with cuppa by the fire (though a radiator will do if you live in halls).
E.C.
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[spotify playlist=’http://open.spotify.com/user/rpronger/playlist/0zM67FwkIyitHyA8Wcw0gn’]