Nick Pitera - Where Are You Christmas (Faith Hill cover)

05 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!

Buy Nick's version of Where Are You Christmas here (iTunes)

Faith Hill sang this song (Where Are You Christmas) so beautifully for The Grinch 2001 movie that I thought if anyone dared to cover it I'd be channeling the big green balook and saying "the nerve! The audacity!! THE UNMITIGATED GALL!!!" When it comes to Nick Pitera, howver, I think my heart grows three sizes every time I hear one of his innovative cover versions because they are as aurally pleasing as they are visually arresting. You only have to peruse his YouTube channel to evidence this (more entertaining than a month's subscription to NetFlix) and this version of a modern day perennial Christmas classic is stunningly gorgeous from start to finish. I'm a sucker for a guy who sings alongside a piano and Nick brings a sincere earnestness and conviction to the lyrics that is utterly compelling. His vocal ability is both magical and beguiling as if conjured from the wand of Harry Potter himself, able to infuse the words of any song with the right nuance and emotion to bring the story to life in new and intriguing ways. It's a song about losing the real meaning of Christmas within the crass commercialism that this time of year brings and Nick imbues every syllable he sings with a sense of melancholy pathos yet hopeful wondering. Nick has enhanced (as always) his vocal accomplishments and insightful intuition with a delightful video. It focuses mainly on him and his MAX-esque piano player, but is littered with little references to the book/film that are like a festive treasure hunt for you to watch over and over again. Christmas, I just found you all over again. Thanks Mr Pitera and a very merry Christmas :)

Ghosts of Christmas past:

• 20th December 2013 ~ Asher Monroe, Christmas Is Here To Stay/Warm Winter Night
• 20th December 2012 ~ The Tzukettes, Winter Wonderland
• 20th December 2010 ~ Top 20 Christmas songs of the year