Who doesn’t love Christmas music? And with the year we’ve had, it’s no wonder many of us – myself included – started listening to Christmas tunes a little earlier than usual this year. Songs about good cheer are a welcome pick-me-up in a year that has brought loss and uncertainty to so many around the world.
While I have one friend who was listening to holiday music in October, I chose to wait until mid-November before making the switch to listening almost exclusively to Christmas music. As I was building my playlist, I wanted to explore holiday favorites sung by British singers – and I must say – the choices are fantasic.
So below is a summary of some of my favorites, which I hope will put you in the Holiday spirit!
If there’s one tune I can’t stop singing this year, it’s Jessie J’s “Man with the Bag!” The London-bred singer/songwriter’s album, “This Christmas Day” came out in 2018, but it’s pure gold. She lends her full-bodied alto to classics such as “Jingle Bell Rock”, “Silent Night”, and “Let it Snow.” But the original “Man with the Bag” is a brilliant big-band-inspired diddy that’s bound to become a classic. Another original title song about love and loss during the holidays, “This Christmas Day.” It’s a reminder that the season can be a tough one for those dealing with loss.
I’m relatively new to the talents of former boy-band member, Robbie Williams, but his new album, “A Christmas Present” (released in November, 2020) was worth the wait! It’s full of favorite British Christmas standards (think Slade’s “Merry Christmas Everybody” and “I Believe in Father Christmas”) with big-band orchestrations, and collaborations with Rod Stewart, Bryan Adams, Jamie Cullum, some boxer named Tyson Fury, and his dad, who’s billed as Poppa Pete.
This hefty album – there’s 29 songs on it – even has some tunes uniquely appropriate for our current Covid-19 world. “Can’t Stop Christmas” features lyrics such as, “Oh what a miserable year… what are we to do about our FaceTimes and our Zooms… Santa’s on his sleigh but now he’s two metres away.” Or my favorite, “If you’re wondering what I’d like stacks of sanitizer will do fine.”
What I appreciate about this album is the number of original songs, and they don’t just have your typical saccharine lyrics, telling tales of idylic, Norman Rockwell Christmases. Take a listen to “Snowflakes” or “Yeah, It’s Christmas” – a lot of us can relate to the dysfunction and squabbles at family gatherings during the holidays!
Speaking of Jamie Cullum… I’m really enjoying his new holiday album, “Pianoman at Christmas.” To me, he’s Britain’s answer to Harry Connick, Jr. A jazzy crooner with a voice I never seem to tire of. All the songs on this album are original (as best I can tell). Some of my favorites include “The Jolly Fat Man” and “So Many Santas.” But honestly, there’s not a bad song among the list.
What’s not to like about Leona Lewis? Her voice is just amazing and every song on her “Christmas with Love” album is on my playlist! “One More Sleep” is the first song that got me hooked, but keep listening for the Ave Maria, which is simply glorious! Trust me, not everyone can sing that piece and her version is perfection. (Says the college voice major, so I have some frame of reference. LOL!) I also appreciate the fact she tackled such a sacred piece of music on an album that’s full of mostly pop songs. I hope her fans will gain an appreciation for classical arias like this one – or at least enjoy her sparkling, pure voice.
Anglophile that I am, I wanted to give a listen to some classic British Christmas songs – the ones that get radio airtime every year and/or original songs by British artists that have stood the test of time. So I asked some members of a British Facebook group I’m a part of to share their favorites. Slade’s “Merry Christmas Everybody.” came up time and time again. The song is from the 70s, but it’s got some pep; I imagine that a Muzak version is played in Debenhams and other department stores all over the UK every holiday! Clearly it’s still a favorite 40+ years later, since it still shows up on the holiday hits pop charts. In 2017, it was at number 16. It’s also been remade by a number of British artists (take a listen to the Robbie Williams/Jamie Cullum version on Williams’ album mentioned above.)
Another song that kept being mentioned was Wizzard’s “I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday.” It was released the same year as “Merry Christmas Everybody.” It reminds me a little of the Beach Boys, but it’s a catchy tune and worth a listen.
Sir Cliff Richards was another favorite among the suggestions. His “Mistletoe and Wine”, “21st Century Christmas”, and Millennium Prayer got high marks. I’m pretty luke warm on them… none of those three are songs I would have on repeat, but Sir Cliff seems to be a UK legend, and who am I to disagree?!
Speaking of music legends, Elton John is right up there. Granted, “Step into Christmas” is catchy and the song of his that everyone knows. But what I really like is his duet with Joss Stone, “Calling it Christmas.” Her song, “All I Want for Christmas” is also pretty good. Don’t be scared of the title – it’s not a remake of the Mariah Carey song. This one is a soulful ballad – what else would you expect of Joss Stone?
The one Christmas song that surprised me (I found this one on my own. It’s on the album, “The Best Christmas Album in the World… Ever) was Queen’s “Thank God It’s Christmas.” Mostly, because I had no idea Queen had recorded one. With lyrics like “Oh, my friends, its been a long hard year but now it’s Christmas” it seems pretty appropriate to today’s world. That’s the thing about the best holiday tunes – they’re timeless, they can be reinvented, but most importantly, they make us happy. That’s exactly how I feel in my search for the best in British Christmas songs. Can’t wait to see what other songs I can find!