I've tried to write a Christmas song several times over the last few years but none of them have progressed further than a title or a few half-hearted fragments of lyrics.
But this one was different. The chorus lyrics came first and I then focused on the tune, which I arranged using the Sibelius score writing software, shaping the arrangement until I had a piece of music which sounded satisfying in its own right. I used a favourite trick of writing the verse in a different key to give a feeling of lift when the chorus returns. Also the chords to the line "Oh, we can sit by the firelight sipping summer's sweet wine" came about quite accidentally: I played the wrong chords as I was singing the tune to my guitar, but those "wrong" chords sounded richer and more interesting than the correct ones so I instantly decided to go with my instinct.
I returned to the lyrics and worked on those for a day or two until I was happy with them. The recording was an easy matter although very time-consuming, as I worked steadily through each note of the orchestral parts to ensure that it sounded as if a real orchestral player was playing. It's the attention to detail which pays off here. There are no guitar or keyboard parts to worry about so I could focus all my attention on the orchestral parts.
I had limited time to create the video, with less than a week to go before Christmas. So I thought of singing into a phone while sitting in front of my Christmas tree and then green-screening the result against a Christmas setting with cosy log fire and falling snow outside. Sometimes working to a tight deadline can give simple, but very effective, results.
Instrumentation: All instruments programmed by Brian Parks:
Programmed strings, woodwind, French horns, and percussion. Lead vocal, harmony and backing vocals.
Lyrics
Why don’t we meet up for Christmas and never ask why?
Before the holly and the mistletoe are withered and dry
Well, there’s no reason to wait till spring flowers appear
So, we should meet up for Christmas this year.
Before the last leaves of autumn scatter down from the skies
And winter’s dominion has cast away his disguise
Oh, we can sit by the firelight sipping summer’s sweet wine
While the warmth that we radiate is like the August sunshine
So, we should meet up for Christmas and never ask why.
Before the holly and the mistletoe are withered and dry
So why on earth should we wait till spring flowers appear
Why don’t we meet up for Christmas this year?
We’ll have some drunken conversations by the Christmas tree lights
And all of our opinions will set the world bang to rights
Oh, we can share so much laughter – maybe shed a few tears
But there’s no time to deliberate. Let’s meet at Christmas this year.
Why don’t we meet up for Christmas and never ask why?
Before the holly and the mistletoe are withered and dry
Well, there’s no reason to wait till spring flowers appear
So, we should meet up for Christmas. Make it this Christmas
Meet up for Christmas… This year