Harriet ~ Cover Stories

**4 MONTHS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!**

Buy The Diamond Edition of Cover Stories here (Harriet's Shop)
Read my review of Harriet's Maybe This Christmas here
Read my John Lewis Christmas Ad reviews (2013 / 2014) here
Read my review of Harriet's Covers EP here (myfizzypop)

Christmas (at time of writing) is only four months away. This may seem like an eternity but as of Friday 28th August it's only 17 short weeks (which is only one more week than Mariah & Boys II Men spent atop the US charts with the still quite pleasant One Sweet Day)! And if you look carefully I think you'll find that Christmas, actually, is all around. Elf The Musical tickets are already on sale (see you there Dec 2nd). Kylie and Katy Perry are both rumoured to be doing festive albums. I even heard Steps Light Up The World in Primark this week. And you can bet your sweet patootie that John Lewis are already so entrenched in the final stages of their all-conquering Christmas campaign for 2015 that they can't see the wood for the (Christmas) trees. In recent years Lily Allen has sweetly serenaded us to the joys of Hare getting Bear an alarm clock so he can see the joys of the most wonderful time of the year; Tom Odell crooned the Beatles at us as a young boy's imagination bought a penguin to life (and actually found him a mate. Magic)! Heaven knows what deliciously sentimental delights they have in store for us this year...

It's probably too late but I do have a suggestion for Mr Lewis (it seems too forward to call him John). Harriet. Her voice is like a song you didn't know existed in a dream you never knew you had. It transports you to giddy heights and provides you with emotional sustenance when you most need it. In short, she's one of the most important vocalists around right now, on the cusp of greatness thanks to an ever burgeoning fanbase that includes the likes of Paul O'Grady and Graham Norton. She's already proved her Christmas chops thanks to the enchanting 2014 EP "Maybe This Christmas" (which featured a version of A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes so enchanting that it instantly felt as comforting as your favourite childhood toy). Her recent Covers EP contained 3 world class interpretations of other people's songs that were all worthy of selection for whatever John Lewis has going on this year. In fact, if you are looking for a gift for your loved ones then her upcoming CD entitled Cover Stories will more than satisfy the most discerning of picky gift getters (and may I recommend the Diamond Edition if there are any remaining. The girl knows how to put together a package that's timeless and opulent). Granting a relative unknown with the task of soundtracking this year's advert would guarantee as many column inches and social media mentions as whoever the stars of the commercial may be.

Picture the scene: It's December 1st at the dog shelter and Mike, the 20 something manager, is busy trying to find as many homes for his stray dogs as possible. As the calendar days fall away, you see happy families come in and pick out a golden retriever, a loved up couple grant respite to a hard luck pitbull terrier and a sweet old lady open her heart to a poodle, both of whom whose hair have seen better days. Each day an adorable 3 legged Shih-Tzu looks to be picked, his happiness at his friends finding homes mingled with sadness at the increasing space he has at the shelter. As this is happening you see a lonely young man walk by the shelter each day, a sole figure lost in a crowd of merriment. He sees two men, wrapped up in scarves, wrapped up in each other and it's clear that this is the lost love of the lonely young men as he stares with a tangible hurt and bewilderment in his eyes. The Shih-Tzu stares out the window at him, feeling empathy at his burgeoning sense of loneliness. As 5 o'clock on Christmas eve approaches, Mike lets the last but one dog go - a lady to a family with a tramp to keep her company. The Shih-Tzu sees the lonely young man walk past and seizes his chance. He runs out the open kennel, into the street and runs around the feet of the lonely young man. The man's heart is soothed by this show of affection and picks up the Shih-Tzu; both man and hound instantly smitten and the answer to each other's prayers...

Cut to one year and one day later - it's Christmas morning. Lonely young man is staring out the window at the snow falling, next to a roaring fire and fabulous festive tree - content with Shih Tzu on his lap. Mike then comes in with a wrapped gift box which topples over and out bursts another little Shih Tzu-2 to complete this lovely new family unit :)

All you need now is the perfect soundtrack. Option one is Harriet's very own Can I Keep You. Lovely and perfect. Option two would be a Steve Anderson produced version of Bird in Flight. Lots of heartbreak in the verse before he builds up to a swooping orchestral chorus filled with majestic piano chords. If he wants to work in a bit of a ballad version of Harriet's Fly I'm happy with that too :D