Top Christmas Singles of 2014

Read about my top Christmas singles of 2013 here

• 10 ~ Nick D & The Believers, Christmas In The City: Based on this single alone, "the Believers" in Nick's bands name clearly refers to their unwavering knowledge that Santa Claus is indeed real. Christmas In The City is so strikingly catchy and simplistic in it's execution that you'll wonder how you got through the holidays before it existed. To say it's simplistic, however, does not do the song justice - everything is perfectly positioned so that the tune percolates along and seeps into your memory like the most delicate snowflake falling onto the icy cold ground.
• 09 ~ Meghan Trainor, I'll Be Home: Well thank the Christmas cookies for Meghan Trainor - she's not only ensured that the year in pop was a lot more exciting with her in it but now she's busy bringing a little elegant charm to my favourite time of year. Her original composition I'll Be Home features on compilation EP I'll Be Home For Christmas and is a twinkling bauble of delight, a gem of a heartfelt ballad to completely get you in the mood for the holiday period. Set to dreamy piano chords and a backing choir of vocalists whose voices blend like honeycombe into hot chocolate on a cold winter night, Meghan delivers her tale of reuniting with loved ones at Christmas with an elegant grace.
• 08 ~ Jon McLaughlin, Merry Merry Christmas Everyone: Part of his delightful Christmas EP, Jon McLaughlin showed that his engaging vocal tone could position new compositions alongside delicious new music. Merry Merry Christmas Everyone is a celebration of letting go of the stresses that the year has wrought to focus on the magic that this time of year inevitably brings. The lyrics are instantly relatable, describing the nuances of Christmas that everyone will at least partially recognise, bringing the listener inextricably into the track as co-conspiritors nodding along to every observation. It's mellifluous, languid melody sits beautifully alongside your Christmas playlist of hits, demonstrating a writing style that will endure through the ages.
• 07 ~ Kris Allen, Baby It Ain't Christmas Without You: It's a buoyant, peppy song that sees a sprightly instrumental accompany Kris as he sings of how Christmas is so much more special and rewarding when spent with a loved one (and the listener can interpret that to their own situation as they wish). With a hammond organ effect, vibrant guitar riffs and a plethora of shuffling jingle bells, the perfect seasonal backdrop is created for Kris to weave his story of Christmas present with an engaging enthusiasm that is entirely contagious. I mean, it's pretty hard to listen to the track and not be infused with the enchantment of this time of year.
• 06 ~ Sabrina Carpenter, Silver Nights: You may well know Sabrina from her role in the charming & witty Disney channel sitcom Girl Meets World. If you are watching that gem then you will also know that one of this year's most incessantly catchy pop hooks is actually the theme tune to that show, Take On The World which Sabrina sings with Rachel Blanchard. Silver Nights, Sabrina's Christmas offering, isn't a million miles away from the style of the theme tune (and the music she released as part of her Can't Blame A Girl For Trying EP) and ergo is a sparkling melody filled delight that encapsulates effortlessly the magic of the season. Bonus? It feels wintery enough that you can play this song right through until February without fear of judgemental looks from those around you ;)
• 05 ~ Shana Pearson, Shine On: Penned by the always amazing Charlie Mason and produced by the excellent Crush Boys (Daniel Volpe/Thomas Lipp), Shana proves to be in excellent hands with this song that promises to be an enduring contemporary classic that keeps giving year after year after year. It's the perfect seasonal song and the gift that keeps on giving with proceeds going to the UNICEF charity. Set to some ornately tintinnabulary synths and a shuffling percussion that brings to mind sleigh rides through the snow, Shana gives a pure unfiltered vocal that accentuates the magic and hope that permeates the words she sings. There's a conviction to her tone that is as compelling as any Christmas miracle, like a bell ringing to ensure an angel gets it's wings you'll be swept into the song and infused with the holiday spirit.
• 04 ~ Magnus Carlsson, This Night: This Christmas is a genuine musical party waiting to happen. Fueled by an element of Motown influences skilfully propelled by an exuberance that will leave you with the biggest rush of joy you can imagine. Those gospel backing singers compel you to raise your hands to the ceiling with vibrant glee while Magnus sounds like he's quite literally having the time of his life. There's a faith and confidence to his vocals that ensures that you absolutely know whoever he is singing about is going to have a very merry Christmas (and probably a jolly good snog too. Can't complain at either).
• 03~ The Killers ft Jimmy Kimmel, Joel The Lump of Coal Joel The Lump of Coal is a rather sweet tale of the presumptions we make about tradition and also how we judge people based on appearance and reputation when those presumptions and assumptions may not actually be correct. Set to a lovely languid flowing instrumental, Brandon performs the lyrics with a wistful earnestness that brings out the pathos of the song. Sure it's all very lighthearted but it's radiant message of love and hope shine through as brightly as Joel The Diamond does at the end in that utterly engrossing video. I'll definitely be singing this loud and proud for many Christmasses to come (and I suspect also when I need a bit of a pick me up at any other time of year too). Love love love. Also what's not to love about The Killers in festive jumpers? Hurrah!
• 02 ~ Straight No Chaser ft Kristen Bell, Text Me Merry Christmas: It is a canny witty charmer that has you grinning from ear to ear and brimming with holiday cheer. It's a song that doesn't need much explanation, a duet that just sparkles with the right amount of humour and sincerity to become effortlessly more magic than anything Hermione Granger could conjure up. Kristen is full on Broadway vamp, filled with a flirtatious cadence in her voice while SNC provide cooing backing harmonies as if they were angels we have heard on high; their singing moments make the track feel like a modern day Baby It's Cold Outside with the contemporary text speak acronyms and use of the word "emoji" providing genuine moments of mirth and hilarity. The arrangement provides a peppy finger clicking beat that evokes the sound of sleigh rides and jingle bells galore. Really, there are no words I could find that would do this song the justice it deserves so just embrace the season, let this glorious music wash over you and bask in it's reflective glory. Santa will cry if you don't...
• 01 ~ Harriet, Maybe This Christmas: Since this song was released in November, it's become the darling of BBC Radio 2 with many fans hopping board to experience the sincerity and grace this stunning Christmas ballad has to offer. It's a testament to the combined song craft talents of Harriet, Steve Anderson and Judie Tzuke that it stands shoulder to shoulder with the evergreen standards the EP that it comes from offers up. I've always admired those who can create a seasonal number that evokes every nuance of the season, that will endure through the years and that's exactly what is offered up here. It feels like a modern Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, a song that brings out the melancholy pathos of the season yet retains that all important element of hope and optimism that gets us through any of the difficult times we encounter. Harriet is always the most eloquent of narrators, bringing the lyrics to life with her undeniably alluring vocal style. It feels like the answer to "why do you celebrate Christmas so early each year" - imparting that despite all the things that can go wrong in life there is still a luster of beguiling spirit in the December months that can edify even the most bereft of souls. Sure it's easy to mock that the shops start stocking presents in October and that I start listening to festive music and watching classic Christmas movies in November, but I just want the season to last as long as it possibly can, reflecting some of it's glory into my own existence. Maybe This Christmas puts those sentiments to words and music with a consumately dainty melody that glistens like the brightest of stars on the most heavenly of decorated trees. Harriet touched my very soul with this one and it's left a stain that will enlighten and nourish me for many moons yet... (Make sure you watch the montage video above. It will bring a tear to your eye)