The Imaginary Kind
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This blog started off pretty preoccupied by Swedes (and their neighbors), but has moved around the globe to French Canada and Australia of late. There is one country that I keep a particular eye on though… Scotland. When Scottish bands release a Christmas song, nine times out of ten… it’s fantastic. I’m thinking Kid Canaveral, Frightened Rabbit, Pictish Trail, Randolph’s Leap, Annie Booth, U.S. Highball to name few. This entire post would be a list of names if I let it get away from me. Thus, when There Will Be Fireworks dropped their Christmas single last year, I took note (I should have written about it then… but I am not a machine!). If you aren’t familiar with There Will Be Fireworks, they are big, emotional indie rock in the vein of Frightened Rabbit/Twilight Sad/We Were Promised Jetpacks. That’s a recipe for success in my book. Not a new band to me, as they featured on a very early mix of mine, 2010’s Write About Christmas, with their excellent song “In Excelsis Deo.” Initially only available on Avalanche Records’ Alternative Christmas compilation, you can now grab this great track on their excellent Because, Because EP.
Side A of this Christmas single, “No Christmas Bells” begins with a Sigur Ros-esque piano melody, setting an emotional scene that is only heightened by lyrics that are honestly, getting me a bit misty as I write. I tried to think of a lyric that I’d want to highlight… but fuck it… I keep changing my mind. The entire song is below. Let’s listen along.
This weather’s getting old
And Tinseltown is grey
And work, it gets me nowhere
I need a holiday
But the Christmas lights are on
In the home that we have built
And the love that we’ve put in it
Is all that matters still
And it’s not like me to say this
And I know you never asked
But you know you are the greatest
And there’s a time for saying that
When the kids are in their beds
And the tv flickers on
And we stumble round the kitchen
Dancing to those Christmas songs
I’m done with looking back
There will be time for that
A movie reel of memories
Shines golden through the black
Next year will be our year
I feel it in my bones
But for these short few hours
For once we are alone
No Christmas bells are ringing
No star in Glasgow’s sky
No choir of angels singing
But who needs that tonight?
If this is all there is
It’s all there needs to be
A simple quiet moment
Unfolding happily
Damn. It really gets going in that second verse and doesn’t let up. Why is it that you hear a song one day and are completely fine… walking the dog… just listening, then hear it another day and you are in fucking tears. I never claimed to have this be a real musical review blog… this really has always been an emotional review blog. Anger, sadness, anxiety, nostalgia… those are my references, the tools of my trade. Christmas music is just the vessel I suppose.
Now… can I maintain and talk about the back half of this single, “This Christmas is Forever?” I’ll give it a run. This song is a quick snapshot of a loving family at Christmas. I’m tempted to post the lyrics here as well… but instead, drink in this stanza that sets up the dramatic finish – it is so damn great.
And maybe I’ll sing a little thing
Some half-remembered hymn
It’s here and it’s gone
But aren’t we all?
Do you have a family to share this Christmas with? Well, this song will tear you up. Are you without a family to share the season with? Well, this song will tear you up. These guys are laser-focused on your heart, so don’t press play if you sometimes cry at commercials and you happen to be in public.
All proceeds go to Social Bite, which provide meals, gifts and essential items to homeless and vulnerable people. Easy purchase.
Bottom Line: There Will be Fireworks are back in the game with a 1-2 punch of beautiful, heartfelt Christmas songs.
Christmas Underground 