Sunday, 13 December 2015
The Neales - Christmas Way
12 DAYS TIL CHRISTMAS!!
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You will, of course, remember The Neales as the father-sons quartet who bought inter-generational harmonic convergence to this year's Britain's Got Talent. Since that time they've been continuing to charm a nation with their tightly blended vocals, culminating with a Christmas tour that is currently happening (I myself will be spending an evening with The Neales in Birmingham tonight). While I have no doubt that their intepretations of seasonal favourites will be entirely delightful, I was instantly and absolutely smitten with their own holiday single "Christmas Way". It is a lovely lyrical tale of all the things that make Christmas so special. I particularly love the George Bailey/It's A Wonderful Life reference as it fits so well with the song and with this ethos of family values that The Neales celebrate. It starts with a delicate, lilting piano and vocal solo that glides the sound through the air like an elegant snowflake falling through the sky. As the other Neales join in for the chorus, chimes are added and the textured singing is a joy to behold as they sing about what Christmas means to and for them. It takes you back to a simpler time when radio was dominated by the power of melody and singing rather than what can be created with studio gimmickry. It feels very organic, earnest and honest. Adding the serendipitous sound of Bethan-Wyn Davies to the second verse brings a sweet charm to an already engaging number - and when The Birmingham Gospel choir joins in, the effect is enough to fill you with joy. Hark the herald angels sing indeed, because that is what every second of this song feels like - and surely at Christmas you'll find that love, actually, is all around.
**Ghosts of Christmas past**
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