Happened to be in H&M on Fifth Avenue twice in recent days, and both times I heard the most wonderful jangly '80s-style Christmas song playing over the PA system. I was almost certain it was my girl Kirsty MacColl, but given the fact that I (believe I already) have her entire catalogue -- plus she's already known for a classic Christmas song with the Pogues -- something told me maybe not. So I texted myself some of the lyrics -- Things'll get better/ doesn't seem like it now but they always do /I hope you find yourself someone this Christmas -- and went home and did the equivalent of the flying cars we were promised as children: a Web search.
I have been looking for this song for about a year now. The main chorus lyrics are "I hope you find yourself someone this christmas" and a female sings it. It always plays on our satellite radio at work.
Anybody help?
Then after a few ill-advised guesses -- like someone this music/Web-savvy wouldn't know who the Waitresses, Mariah Carey or Darlene Love was -- the poster answered his own question, thus answering it for me too. Turns out the song was "This Christmas" by Shoes -- a under-loved power-pop band that was formed in the '70s and is fronted by a man (oops!). The answer was particularly amusing to me given that an online music friend of mine has been BEGGING me for years to give them a try, but I would never acquiesce. (I've since added the "Shoes Best" file he sent me ages ago to iTunes -- you were RIGHT, Spencer. Are you happy now?!)
"This Christmas "appeared on a 1991 alt-rock Christmas album the band organized called "Yuletunes" -- that featured actual '90s mainstays like Matthew Sweet and Material Issue -- but is clearly the standout track.
If you don't know it, have a listen and tell me this isn't the best Christmas song you didn't know about, too.
Spring has arrived on my block of the Upper West Side. Why doesn't my heart go dancing?
Fake Jan Alert
My blog is featured in Susan Olsen's tell-all about the ill-fated "Brady Bunch Variety Hour"!
Little Kenny
Growing up in Madison Heights, Mich.
Back to the Old House
The Web leads to an unexpected return to a house I grew up in.
Oceans 11
Carlsbad, Calif. (2008)
1983
Go Behind the Music of my high-school band, A La Plage
A Death in the Family
Little Larry left us too soon.
Once I Had a Love
With Debbie Harry
'Jungle' Fever
With Robert Buckley
Roger & Me
With Roger Federer
Step Brother McMullen
With Ed Burns
Headline News
With Thomas Roberts
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1 comment:
I loved the Shoes. Marti Jones and Don Dixon also appeared on Yuletunes with a less than stellar entry.
The two also collaborated on a song for - get this - a Shoes tribute disk and cover "Only in my Sleep".
Not as good as the original, but not bad.
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