Deacon Blue - Bethlehem Begins

14 DAYS (2 WEEKS) UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!

Buy Bethlehem Begins here
Read my review of Deacon Blue's 2013 Christmas song You'll Know It's Christmas here
Read my 25th anniversary celebration of When The World Knows Your Name here

I love Deacon Blue. Their songs redefined how the teenage me viewed music and Dignity in particular made me take my piano lessons seriously (I really wanted to sound as good as the piano playing in that song). Last year they released a genuinely effusive festive song (see link above) and their latest album, the very excellent indeed A New House, has spawned the single Bethlehem Begins which if not a Christmas song is at the least a seasonally themed gem. It's set to a rousing percussive beat and more of that mellifluous piano that resonates throughout the song (with some fuzzy guitar searing into the very heart of this rhythmic groove) - a vibrant, engaging instrumental that adds to the narrative of the lyrics. It's not overtly a Christmas song but the implications are there (references to starry nights and of course Bethlehem) and it's the time of year where emotions are heightened, where people examine the mistakes they made and how on earth they can put things right. It's a song of reflective pondering and ultimately of how we seek redemption by learning how to be better people through not repeating the errors we previously made in our lives. Ricky and Lorraine are, as always, in fine vocal fettle and that rapid sung chorus is like a Christmas gift from the pop gods - effortlessly catchy and making you want to learn every lyric so you can sing a long without missing a beat. If the aim of the song was to at first make the listener review their own situation but then provide edifying and uplifting gratification then it absolutely succeeds. A testament to the art of fine song craft and a superb way to round off a brilliant year for one of Scotland;s most enduring and musically delightful bands.

Ghosts of Christmas past:

• 11th December 2013 ~ The Tzukettes, Christmas with the Tzukettes
• 11th December 2012 ~ 10 Reasons To Live, Christmas Time
• 11th December 2009 ~ Hugh Sheridan, Christmas Waltz
• 11th December 2006 ~ Christmas With S/A/W