We have all this week’s Christmas singles and Album new releases for you all on one place.
1. Dion feat. Joe Bonamassa – ‘You Know It’s Christmas’
Dion releases his second Christmas single ‘You Know It’s Christmas’ featuring Joe Bonamassa. The song was written by Dion along with Mike Aquilina who co-wrote many of songs that are heard on Blues With Friends and is released today on KTBA Records.
Dion says: “Blues is my home and I wanted to write a Christmas song with that feeling. Mike suggested a ‘brag blues’ [in the tradition of “The Wanderer”] so we thought what would a bluesman brag about at Christmas? How he bought just the right gift for his girl and how she’s going to love it! Christmas is all about giving and I think the song catches that vibe perfectly. Joe Bonamassa gave me a great Christmas present by playing lead on it.”
2. Liz Berry + Cerys Matthews release ‘This Christmas’
There’s something magical about Christmas, and the stories told about it… We’ve had – Dylan Thomas’ ‘A Child’s Christmas’ , Clement Clarke Moore’s ‘The Night Before Christmas’ and now, we have Liz Berry’s ‘Christmas Eve’.
Set in her native Black Country, with snow whirling around the high rises, there’s a plaster-cast Mary for the nativity scene, and Christmas toys and bikes being wrapped for the big day…
A tale for a modern world told in Black Country lilt recorded at Abbey Road studios, with winter music by Cerys Matthews and Hidden Orchestra.
3. BlitZ to release ‘I Believe In Xmas (Do You Believe In Rock And Roll)’
BlitZ release their Christmas single ‘I Believe In Xmas (Do You Believe In Rock And Roll)’ in aid of Cancer Research UK on Friday 4 December 2020. BlitZ ask their fans to donate to the online page and then download the song. Donate here – https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/blitzs-giving-page
This is more than a Xmas song it’s a rallying call to try and help and send out a lifeline to people fighting Cancer and our awesome NHS – a cause close to the band’s hearts.
4. Raff Pylon and Snoop Dogg release ‘Christmas in California’
After a hard and struggling year for everyone, Raff Pylon warms our winter up this year with his upcoming yule melody ‘Christmas in California’, featuring west coast rapper and ‘iconic figure’ Snoop Dogg.
Raff Pylon captures R&B inspiration intertwined with soft electric beats and a gentle Christmas chime obtained in the background. Long behold Snoop Dogg featured in the melody, that at first was added as an experiment to the track in the studio with Raff Pylon and Grammy-Award winning producer Earl Powell. It was then decided to properly mix in Snoop’s element after he agreed to be involved in the Christmas magic. This track invites optimism for this Christmas, visualising a perfect Californian city-like Christmas, perfect to spend with your loved ones.
5. Andrea Corr releases seasonal ‘Christmas Songs EP’
Last Christmas Andrea Corr visited Dublin’s Our Lady’s Hospice in Harold’s Cross and sang a selection of her personal Christmas favourites. It was an incredibly moving experience that inspired her to record the songs this year.
The four beautiful, moving songs featured on ‘Andrea Corr Christmas Songs’ have a special place in her childhood. Christmas is always an emotional time, this year more than ever.
‘Next year all our troubles will be miles away,” she sings in ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ before adding “some day soon, we will all be together/until then we will have to muddle through somehow.” These words resonate deeply as we approach Christmas 2020
‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ Christmas Songs EP Out Now on EastWest
6. Paloma Faith & Gregory Porter Announce ‘Christmas Prayer’
Grab your eggnog and raise your glasses as Paloma Faith and Gregory Porter have teamed up for their upcoming single ‘Christmas Prayer’.
Sure to make spirits soar, ‘Christmas Prayer’ is a timeless, uplifting love song. With jingle bells and both Paloma’s unmistakable voice and Porter’s smooth baritone vocals front and centre, this up beat original Christmas song is set to quickly become a festive classic.
Talking about the single Paloma said: “I love Xmas and this year I think we need it more than ever. This song lifts the spirit and gives us the optimism we need!”
Talking about the collaboration Gregory said: “Working on this Christmas song together with Paloma has been fun, I hope the passion and sheer joy that we put into this record will bring a little magic to everyone this Christmas! In the spirit of giving, Paloma will join me on The Hang (My podcast) on New Years Eve – so tune in to ring in a bright future for us all in 2021.”
7. Pentatonix release video for holiday single ‘Thank You’
Three-time Grammy Award-winning and multi-platinum-selling artist Pentatonix have premiered the music video for their original ballad, “Thank You,” from their new holiday collection We Need A Little Christmas. The track and video pay homage to those in and around our lives who’ve made the past year just a little bit brighter and features Scott Hoying on piano and Kevin “K.O.” Olusola on cello in addition to the quintet signature vocals.
Released earlier this month, We Need A Little Christmas is the sixth holiday album Pentatonix have released. The five previous albums from the Pentatonix holiday collection (which includes 2x platinum-selling That’s Christmas To Me) have sold almost 13 million albums worldwide. Get the new album here.
8. Amanda Holden releases new Christmas single.
Following the unprecedented success of her debut album, Amanda Holden has released a new Christmas single ‘Home For Christmas’
On her new Christmas single Amanda explains: “It’s been a difficult year for us all but one of the positives to come from 2020 has been the extra time we’ve been given to engage with friends, neighbours, and our families. ‘Home’ means love. This Christmas let’s all make that extra special effort to connect in whatever way we can with one another. Making someone feel they are not alone is one of the greatest gifts we can give in 2020.”
Amanda’s debut album Songs From My Heart was immensely successful on release (October 2nd). A UK top 5 debut album, it peaked at No.4 on the UK Official Charts and she made chart history this year as the first British female to score a top 10 and the only female to be in the top 10 for two consecutive weeks – a feat that Lady Gaga and Dua Lipa have achieved.
9. Pearl Charles releases rendition of The Band’s ‘Christmas Must Be Tonight’
Following the release of her dreamy new single ‘Imposter’, Pearl Charles has today released her assured rendition of The Band’s festive track, ‘Christmas Must Be Tonight’ with special guest Micahel Rault. Pearl’s stunning new album, Magic Mirror, is out on 15th January 2021 via Kanine Records.
“This song by The Band has been my favorite Christmas song ever since the first time I heard it. I’ve always felt like it transcended the “holiday song” genre and has become an all-year listen that holds up alongside the rest of The Band’s repertoire.” Pearl muses of the track. “It just so happens to tell the story of the birth of Jesus in the same tone and style that The Band brought to many of their other biblically themed and secular old-timey stories throughout their career.”
