Weekend Supplement 25th November 2011 ~ One Month til Christmas 2011!!

The same level of dread that some people feel knowing there is only one month til Christmas is around the same level of joy I get at the same news. I can legitimately play Christmas tunes to my hearts content without funny looks from people; the world feels a little brighter, a little more hopeful to me and it's sort of sad that it only lasts for 4-6 weeks of the year. And today is Black Friday! So if you are one of my Americanos (blue jeans and chinos) readers, you will have no doubt had a lovely thanksgiving and bought lots of discounted clothes at Hollister, Abercrombie and Express for me (for which I thank you!) Here are some new festive singles you may not have had chance to listen to yet...

CHRISTMAS 2011 ~ WE 3 SINGS:

• One Republic ~ Christmas Without You: I'm always smitten like a smitten little kitten with songs entitled Christmas Without You. Take a goosey goosey gander at my thoughts on such titled songs from 80s teen sensations Debbie Gibson and Tommy "better with age" Page respectively :D And now Ryan "you would, wouldn't you?!" Tedder and his One Republic boys have whipped up a melancholy little tune to add to this collection. It's constructed around an ethereal, almost whimsical piano opening that then grows into a swaying mid tempo bluesy vibe. The lyrics are quite sad, tinged with regret and recriminations. I do like that there's an air of hope and optimism despite being quite a downbeat song. Ryan does the desperate, pleading vocal quite well and there's no doubting his songwriting ability. You'll just want to have something a bit perkier on hand for when the song comes to a close...
• Plain White T's ~ Nuttin' For Christmas: ...and this will do the job nicely. Fresh from the hallowe'en song triumph House On Shady Lane, those boys in Plain White T's are back with a rollicking singalong from the third in the hilariously charming Prep & Landing cartoon specials (usually airing on ABC). It's called Nuttin' For Christmas and is all about the T's being on the naughty list this year but launching through a blistering power-pop punky instrumental with such gleefully devil-may-care vocals that you can't help but feel they probably don't care anyway :D A giddy little treat :)
• Natasha Bedingfield ~ Shake Up Christmas: Whatever happened to Natasha Bedingfield? Well she is back with an entirely enjoyable, tis the season style tune that, yes, does sound a bit like a Christmas remix of These Words, but is so delightful in it's delivery that you soon find yourself singing along. It's all part of the Coca Cola campaign which helps make sense of the title, but even without that association, it's quite quite mesmerisingly lovely...

Top 21 songs of the week:

21 ~ Jason Mraz, World As I See It
20 ~ Nerina Pallot, Butterfly (NE)
19 ~ Indigo Girls, We Get To Feel It All (NE)
18 ~ The Wanted, Lightning
17 ~ The Feeling, Dance For The Lights
16 ~ Darren Hayes, Bloodstained Heart
15 ~ Steps, Dancing Queen
14 ~ Gravitonas, Lucky Star
13 ~ Nicola Roberts, Yo Yo
12 ~ Marit Larsen, Coming Home
11 ~ Auryn, Last Night On Earth
10 ~ William Young, Come On
09 ~ Erasure, Be With You
08 ~ One Direction, Gotta Be You
07 ~ Shona White & Daniel Boys, As Long As You're Mine
06 ~ Olly Murs, Dance with Me Tonight
05 ~ Same Difference, Music
04 ~ JLS, Take A Chance on Me
03 ~ Elouise, Dear Santa (Bring Me A Man)
02 ~ Boy Banned, Stars Are Saying Yes
01 ~ Eric Saade ft Dev, Hotter Than Fire (4 weeks)

Coming soon: Duetting this Christmas, theatrical at Christmas, teeny bop Christmas and *GASP* a full video breakdown of Love Actually. IT'S EPIC!!