Tuesday Tunes 282: Advent 2025 Part Five 🤶☃️

Posted on by

 

 

Only nine days until it happens, and if your household contains little people I hope they are getting excited. I live on my own so I try to keep the levels down – not good for my blood pressure! But there is still plenty of music to play, so let’s get on with it.

I played my favourite covers band earlier this Advent, and said then that you would be seeing them again. And here they are, with one they first played in 2018:

 

First To Eleven, with Feliz Navidad,  which was written in 1970 by Jose Feliciano, who was the first to record his song. It has attained massive popularity in North America, and is regarded as a Christmas classic there, having reached #6 in the US singles chart and #10 in Canada. It has taken much longer to get going here in the UK, though, but thanks to the inclusion of downloads in our charts and the pervasive influence of American pop culture it finally became a UK single hit at Christmas 2016, and is now on an unbroken run of nine consecutive appearances which have to date amounted to a grand total of thirty three weeks: this year it is in its third week, and is currently at #30, though its highest placing was last year at #17. One more chart to go if it is to beat that. Regulars will know how much I enjoy the rock treatment First To Eleven bring to the songs they cover, and this is a typical example of that: I think it’s great.

Another of my favourites next. I play this one every year, and it wouldn’t be Christmas for me without it:

Kate Rusby, with Sweet Bells. I couldn’t leave out one of my favourite singers, especially when this charming animation was made just for her! That is such a lovely version of While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks, which is particular to the part of Yorkshire where Kate is from. Sweet Bells is the title track of her first album of Christmas songs, which I bought in 2008 when it was released, and have played so many times since then. The animation isn’t an ‘official’ one, but it is a really good fit for the song, and the depiction of Kate is perfect. As folk music isn’t a particularly big seller here the album did well to reach #91, I think. Christmas is a big tradition for her, and she has now released six albums of seasonal music. The most recent was Light Years, in 2023, which was a lovely blend of carols and familiar songs and was, as always, utterly gorgeous. It made #76 in the UK Albums chart. All of her records – seasonal or otherwise – come highly recommended by me.

Another female vocalist next, with a great treatment of a different Christmas Carol:

 

Annie Lennox, with God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. That is just so very good, which is why I have played it several times previously. Annie Lennox is a singer who I loved when she was in the Eurythmics, but whose solo career has largely passed me by. I think this is amazing: the folk, almost pagan, treatment is very much to my taste, and her powerful voice carries the song so well. The video is brilliant, too. If you want to hear more from her, you’ll find this on her album A Christmas Cornucopia, released in 2010. The carol is a traditional English one, known to have dated back to around 1650, though there have since been many variants on the lyrics. Annie sings the version I grew up with.

For today’s two other tunes I’m making one of my occasional dips into the pop charts. Both of these are long time favourites of mine, and both have been played several times before. First up is one of my favourite bands:

That was Jethro Tull and Ring Out Solstice Bells. Perhaps this is more Winter Solstice than Christmas, but I still love it! Jethro Tull have long been a favourite band for me. Ring Out Solstice Bells dates back to the period when just about every band was aiming for chart success with a Christmas song. Some were better than others, this being evidence of one of the better ones. This is described as a promotional video for the BBC, and I’m pretty sure it was shown on their Top Of The Pops show back then. It was released in November 1976 as the lead single on an EP containing four tracks, and reached the dizzy heights of #28 here. It also got to #78 on being re-released as part of another EP in 2004. The track was also included on the Songs From The Wood album, which was released in February 1977, reaching #13 in the UK and #8 in the US. A re-recorded version later appeared on The Jethro Tull Christmas Album, which was released in September 2003 and made #73 in the UK Albums chart.

And another chart hit to close with:

Mike Oldfield, with In Dulce Jubilo. He released this as a single in 1975: an instrumental version of a traditional carol, played in his own unique fashion. It spent the two weeks before Christmas at #22, went up to #21 the week of the New Year, and then rocketed up to #4 in early January, a position it also held for two weeks. Weird, eh? It is a typically quirky take on the tune, and I’ve always liked it – I’m a big fan of his, which helps. As far as I can tell it has never since made anther chart entry, unlike many that I think of as inferior. The current #1 here is Wham’s Last Christmas: I rest my case!

I promised that I would play you the full set of four videos made by Hafod Hardware. I have already given you their first and this is their second, from 2018:

As you may recall, Hafod Hardware is a shop in Rhayader, in mid-Wales, who made four wonderful Christmas ads from 2017 to 2020. I played the 2017 one a few days ago and this is what they gave us in 2018. Part of the beauty for me of replaying these ads is to see little Arthur growing up. In the first one he was at the crawling stage but capable of unwrapping presents, whilst here he makes a timely appearance at the end with that wonderful gurgling laugh. You probably recognise the accompanying song but as a reminder this version is by Andrea Von Kampen, whose lovely voice featured on all four of the ads. She makes beautiful records of her own, too.

That’s it for Part Five, just three more to go now. As always, I hope you are enjoying the music, even if I am mostly relying on repeat airings! But I like them all, so why not?

See you again soon for Part Six. Until then, stay warm, healthy and happy 🎄

53 thoughts on “Tuesday Tunes 282: Advent 2025 Part Five 🤶☃️”

  1. great rendition of Feliz Navidad.

    I love Kate Rusby’s voice, seems to have an Irish lilt to it. And the animation is great.

    another cool video to go with Gd Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

    and who doesn’t like a little Jethro Tull!

    and catchy final tune.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Yes thanks, I’ve just replied to it. I have comments set so that I have to approve first timers, to avoid spam. Now that I’ve done that you’ll see any comments straightaway.

      Like

      Reply

  4. The Hafod Hardware video stole the show – what a cute toddler and I so envy people that can just whip up a project like that. I also liked the Feliz Navidad cover and the Jethro Tull video. Wishing you a Merry Christmas.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. Only a few of your song picks I know, the most obvious ones as you probably guessed. I am familiar with many of the artists except Kate Rusby and Mike Oldfield. In Dulce Jubilo has that familiar sound yet something new going on. I rather enjoyed the cheery arrangement and it certainly felt Christmasy.

    The Hafod Hardware commercial has such a warm vibe. I loved the little Hafod Hardware store the fella built to put on display! 🙂

    Thanks for joining us on the 4M dance floor, Clive. Have a boogietastic week and a very Merry Christmas!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • I guessed some of these might not be familiar over there, though I’m surprised you didn’t know Mike Oldfield: Tubular Bells was a massive hit worldwide! This one is him in fun mode, and he has several more like it.

      I’m re-running the full series of four Hafod Hardware ads, as they are all superb. Glad you liked it.

      Merry Christmas to you too 🧑‍🎄

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  9. I remember them all. I’m sure it’s no surprise that I like First to Eleven best. I listen to music every night, and it reminds me I haven’t heard their stuff in a couple of months. I’ll change that tonight. The runner-ups are Jethro Tull and Kate Rusby.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • I thought you would, and no surprise on your top choice. They have been as prolific as ever so you have some catching up to do! I’m pleased you also liked those others, both favourites of mine 👍

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  13. Again, this is a very good list in general. In particular, I love the Annie Lennox song. I have not heard it before, but her voice fits the song so well, the way she performs it. Great version!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  16. Big Tull fan as well, Clive, especially the early stuff. Ian Anderson must have a “thing” about this season/holiday, as he has so many songs, and does them well. Cynical, yes – calling out the hypocrisy of so many Xmas celebrants – but my favorites are “Birthday Card for Christmas” and “A Christmas Song.”

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  17. Well, my bells are jingle this morning! That has to be my favorite version of Feliz Navidad. How does anybody not like those awesomely talented young people? And let us not forget the goddess herself, Annie Lennox with her rendition of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. Those are my top two this morning, Clive. 🎅🏼

    The Hafod advert gave me a great big old smile. Just lovely. 🌲

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • It’s a joyous little song, isn’t it, and I like the way FTE did it. Glad you enjoyed these.

      I’m pleased the meme was to your liking, too – I’ve used it before as I also like it!

      Like

      Reply

Please leave a reply, I'd like to know what you think