The Muppet Christmas Carol is my absolute favourite Christmas movie. It's the best, and anyone who says otherwise can get into the frozen sea.
It Feels Like Christmas is the song that the Ghost of Christmas Present sings...and it's hard as balls to play. (For me at least.)
Come get you some chords for this epic Muppety Christmas carol…
Read MoreIt's been a rough start to the year, and I'm just over being ill too. Again. I've written this stiltingly over the past week, in between mega-naps and nose-blowing fits – and it's not been an easy ride to get it into this kind of shape.
But I promised both myself and yourself that I'd stitch together my thoughts about the Advent Calendar, sooner or later. So here they are, in all their snuffly-nosed glory.
Read MoreMy word is my bond. I made a promise – and when I make a promise, I keep it. Always.
I completed my silly, wonderful Advent Calendar endeavour: to publish one Christmas Song per day on YouTube during December, up ‘til Christmas Day, and post the chords for it here. The recordings started off as one take, just me and my ukulele, and grew over time to incorporate multiple layers of backing vocals and harmonies. Some were pretty good, too!
It was an ambitious project, a lot of fun, a big mess, an incredible learning experience, and something I’m tremendously proud of. Come get you the songbook, I did internal links and everything.
Read MoreIt's the last day of the Advent Calendar, and my hands didn't want to behave at all today on this unfamiliar, UK uke. But this beautiful song from The Muppet Christmas Carol had to be *today's* song, so there was nothing for it but to turn away from the mic and will my silly, rebel hands to form the trickier chords.
I hope that you've enjoyed my Advent Calendar, such as it was, and that you're with the people you love this Christmas. If so, tell them that you love them, and cherish every moment. If not, make a toast to absent friends, and know that your heart is not alone this Christmas.
Read MoreAll you want for Christmas is this Wizzard track covered, with Santa beard hilarity, and multi-track harmonies? You got it. You’ve been good, after all.
This one is posted late because, well, it’s Christmas Eve Eve, and Tesco was mad (but full of good cheer), then cooking gravy was mad (but likewise), as was filming this in an unfamiliar setup, then realising I still needed to figure out the chords for the instrumental bit (sorted!), and then my sound recorder didn’t want to recognise my microSD card. I got there in the end...and I’m really proud of the potential this process shows. It’s proof of concept if nothing else.
Read MoreAfter a long journey yesterday, we finally arrived home...and with so few sleeps left before Christmas day, there’s a lot to do.
Today's Christmas prep involved a whole load of shopping, and decorating our UK Christmas tree - with time-lapse, naturally. Sadly with all the Christmasing, I didn't get to do proper backing or harmonies for this song.
I really would have liked to, but time was against me. Maybe next year...
Read MoreGosh, singing both parts of this is an (inhale) adventure in (inhale) trying to take big (inhale) breaths whenever you possibly (inhale) get the chance, lest you run out of breath to (inhale) siiiiiiing! Quite an adventure, let me tell you.
Naturally, Deck the Halls is a total classic, referenced in other Christmas songs, and catchy as heck, it’ll have you fa-la-la-ing all the way home.
Read MoreSo, I did that Slade song. No, not that one, the one everyone knows.
There's no screaming "IT'S CHRIIISTMAAAAAS!" in this. No need to get stressed. It's not coming. I thought about doing it, but, it just didn't fit right. I have an amusing version where I did, but...nah. That's for hilarity in karaoke booths, and I wanted this to be a *nice* version that we can all listen to without going, "When does the screaming bit come? Is it now? Now?" *worryworryworry*
Undue stress for sensitive types, no thank you.
Read MoreOne I like, but probably nobody really knows, unless you had a rad Cliff Richard Christmas album in the 90s. Bonus: this is a short one.
It’s fun to play and sing, and though the chords at the end aren’t quiiiiite perfect on the video, I know what they should be, but was having a ‘lacking in manual dexterity’ kind of day, so the simple version of the chords it was for the sake of Getting It Done!
Read MoreThis is quite literally my favourite Christmas song of all time.
Sure, I love the classics, in fact, the olde schoole of Christmas songs is my favourite genre, but as far as single tracks go, this one by the Eels is the absolute top. It’s easy to play, fun to harmonise (#FORESHADOWING), and just an absolute bop.
For those of us who suffer with depression and anxiety (waves hands wildly) it’s also a beautiful message. Because everything is going to be cool this Christmas, my darling. We got this.
Read MoreIT SNOWED! When I woke this morning it was snowing – sadly, it stopped by the time I’d set up my camera, aaand then started again after I was done. Clearly, Lady Luck isn’t on my side for a snowflakes tumbling shot today.
In my haste, here I am, bleary, puffy, makeup-free and in my PJs for a sultry(ish) rendition of a very pretty song by Olivia Holt off the Disney Holidays Unwrapped album. It’s a song that I like very much, and I think it came out alright, if I’m honest. Even with the camera randomly refocusing on the background every few moments…
Read MoreI cloned myself! How else could I do this two parter?
I am immensely proud of this video. I know it's not perfect, and that's the lowest my register goes so it's not the nicest sound I can make, but the relationship between the two melodies is the most important thing - and it's there.
I’d like to think that David and Bing wouldn’t hate it. They probably would, but that’s okay. I grew and learned as I made it. And I was playing for me.
Read MoreWho’s looking and sounding their best? Not I.
(Probably you, though. You’re looking so pretty today!)
I'm exhausted after a long week, and still snuffly with cold, which is why (in the video) I'm all up in my PJs, ready for a cosy night watching movies in bed. But day 14's Winter Wonderland is done!
Read MoreI’m nearly (so nearly!) recovered from my cold…so it’s time for White Christmas. A belter if ever there was one, which I held back on out of respect for you, dear listener.
It’s a gorgeous song, sung to perfection by Bing, Dean and all those crooner guys. Heck, even Cliff Richard does a nice version, but then, I am partial to a bit of Cliff.
Mine was recorded hastily before I head out to the company party, where all shall make merry on pain of death. While I endure, come get yourself some chords!
Read MoreI had to record this song yesterday, as life is going to get in the way today. Hence why my voice is still all addled with cold in the video. Needs must.
Today's song is a simplified cover of Best Christmas Ever by Julian Moon, and I think it came out quite pretty, given the circumstances. The chords are comfy and cosy, the words are romantic, and it’s got a nice, chill vibe which fits with my intense inability to put any force behind notes right now…
Read MoreMy voice is so messed up from my cold that I can barely sing. When I call on it, the sound doesn’t do the usual…stuff it does. It’s quite upsetting, actually. I cannot wait to be over with this cold so I can stop just trying to stay on the right melody, and can start really enjoying singing again.
Today’s video is a soft and smoky version of Christmas Is Coming, an R5 song from a Disney Christmas album I love to bits, no matter what anyone says. *shrugs*
Read MoreThis cold is the worst. I sound like a Smurf.
In other news I threw a party, and December 8th’s song is late because it was recorded hastily in the five minutes (that I wasn’t cooking masses of food or dressing my infected frame) before my guests came round. It’s a reedy rendition of the fun, festive bop, Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree. In hindsight, it came out better than expected, given how difficult it was to breathe… Shame I couldn’t upload it last night, but still.
I’m pretty sure you can do better, so come get the chord sheet!
Read MoreGuess who got a cold? Yes. I know. It is the worst possible timing, isn’t it?
I flail internally with impotent sadness, but, this is the body I’m stuck in, and the endeavour’s about radical acceptance so, *shrug*, not much I can do.
Which means I must bring out, as the Blue Peter crew might say ‘one I made earlier’ for today’s song. In this case, Silver Bells, recorded last night, where I’m mega puffy and a little off because my cold was taking hold like mad.
Read MoreLet It Snow! Possibly one of the best Christmas songs of all time, no? And it doesn’t even mention Christmas once in the lyrics. The song title itself has an exclamation mark in it, to really hit home how little they cared about the snow while canoodling!
I love the smooth-as-butter Dean Martin version for my classic Christmas Playlist. But regardless of who’s singing, it’s a ditty that makes you feel all cosy, doesn’t it?
Read MoreLook, a video with B-roll! Intercut! What Christmas magic is this?
Marvel as we decorate our mini tree, in time-lapse footage that I’m immensely proud of.
Listen in awe at the okay take of It’s A Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, as made famous by smooth operator Andy Williams. (HIs was better!)
Goggle at the part where we jig briefly because that Mike Oldfield track comes on our playlist.
Go ‘Aaaaaaah’ when it’s done and we put the lights on.
Aaaaaah.
Read More
