James Corden - The Greatest Gift

38 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!!

Read my review of James Corden duetting with Kylie Minogue on Only You here
Find out more about the Sainsbury-Great Ormand Street Christmas Campaign here (external site)

Sainsburys were wise to pick James Corden as the engaging voice of their charming Christmas commercial. The chat show host-comedian-actor-all round swell dude has already graced us with festive magic in years gone by. It started when he gave us one of the iconic scenes from the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special, where his character, Smithy, and Gavin sing Do They Know It's Christmas down the phone to each other ("I thought it was MaTure. Like mature cheddar"). Then last year, he revealed the softer side of himself when he duetted with Ms. Minogue on the breathtaking Yazoo cover, Only You. The only way that song could have been more magical is if Santa delivered the latest iPhone with it on and placed the top of the range noise cancelling headphones on your ears to listen to it. This year, as the soundtrack to Sainsburys short film about a British family struggling with all the tasks that come with Christmas, he is the voice of one of the most chatty, relatable festive ditties that has been heard in many a year. Written by Flight Of The Conchords, Bret McKenzie, the song has a lovely, buoyant melody that sparkles brightly alongside vibrant piano chords, shimmering bells and effusive percussion. James sings through the rigours of the Yuletide mayhem as if you are two chums down the pub, discussing the day in lyrical tones. There is no denying the chap can sing, and his mellifluous performance makes the narrative feel even more poignant and heartfelt - for example, when he sings "but right now I don't have time to breathe", he really imbues the line with a sense of aching melancholy; later when he sings the final refrain of the song, he's giddy with exuberant joy and euphoric happiness. Entirely contagious, sending endorphin rushes to your brain and a glow to your heart. It is both timely and timeless, a new Christmas anthem for the ages - now if this could be the actual Christmas number one in the UK I'd be more than satisfied :)

**Ghosts of Christmas Past**

• 17th November 2015 ~ G4, G4 Christmas
• 17th November 2014 ~ Band Aid II, Do They Know It's Christmas (25th anniversary)
• 17th November 2013 ~ Rebecca Newman, Holidays Are Coming
• 17th November 2011 ~ Mariah's festive duets
• 17th November 2010 ~ Daniel Boys' heavenly cover of To Make You Feel My Love