ARTIST: Enya SONG: White Is In The Winter Night ALBUM: ...And Winter Came (2008, Warner Music) Enya's Winter/Christmas themed album was long overdue when it appeared in 2008, but boy was it worth the wait. This is the sort of song you want to listen to sipping a mulled wine on an apricious December afternoon, … Continue reading Christmas Song Advent Calendar 2017: Day 19
ARTIST: Annie Lennox SONG: Angels from the Realms of Glory ALBUM: A Christmas Cornucopia (2010, La Lennoxa) Annie has been one of my all time favourite vocalists since I first heard Eurythmics blasting from the bedroom stereo of my sister Fi (of Dear Cat & Fi fame) as a kid. This truly magical version of … Continue reading Christmas Song Advent Calendar 2017: Day 18
A hearty festive greetings and merriment all round people! And welcome to our Christmas Special of Tweet Hee Hee - our weekly round up of all the funniest bits from social media - all of which have a Christmas theme this week to get your last working week before the holidays off to a fine … Continue reading Tweet Hee Hee: Christmas Special
If there's one element of Christmas I have always loved, even as a kid, it was getting the bumper two week Christmas and New Year edition of Radio Times and highlighting all the TV specials and festive episodes of favourite shows I wanted to watch - many of which have become evergreen favourites of mine … Continue reading My Ultimate Christmas TV Specials
ARTIST: John Lennon & Yoko Ono SONG: Happy Xmas (War is Over) ALBUM: Power to the People: The Hits (1971, EMI) This Christmas song holds a great deal of memories for me, in more ways than one. I knew that Christmas was approaching as a kid, when my mum started playing her (now well worn) … Continue reading Christmas Song Advent Calendar 2017: Day 17
14 weeks ago, fifteen new celebrities took to the floor for a brand new series of one of our favourite TV shows, the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing. And on this here blog, we launched #StrictlyLiveBlogging, our weekly live blog of all the dance twists and turns as they happened - and you've read along in … Continue reading #StrictlyLiveBlogging 2017: The Final
ARTIST: Olly Murs SONG: I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday ALBUM: Right Place Right Time: Special Edition (2013, Sony/Epic) We will continue to beg Olly for a Christmas album every year - this year included - until we are blue in the face. And why? Because on the basis of his take on seasonal … Continue reading Christmas Song Advent Calendar 2017: Day 16
So today marks the start of what is by common consent in the UK, the one time of year when the entire nation suddenly takes a vested interest in its singles chart. Because as of midnight last night, the race to be 2017's official UK Christmas number one is under way. If you're a betting … Continue reading #CrazyStupidPlaylist: My Ultimate Christmas Number Ones
ARTIST: Blue SONG: Lonely This Christmas ALBUM: Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word (2002, Innocent/Virgin) Originally recorded for one of the first ever BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge sessions all the way back at the start of their career in 2001, Antony, Duncan, Lee and Simon gave a soulful, stripped back take on Mud's … Continue reading Christmas Song Advent Calendar 2017: Day 15
ARTIST: Mike Oldfield SONG: In Dulci Jubilo ALBUM: Elements - The Best of Mike Oldfield (1975, Virgin) Yes, I do realise that festive snow-y town image isn't one of Mike Oldfield, but that's partly because I couldn't find a flattering one of him. His instrumental, nay almost Celtic take on the classic carol that dates … Continue reading Christmas Song Advent Calendar 2017: Day 14
The Niche Reference 