Wonderful Old-Fashioned New Christmas Song ~ 'My Favourite Time of Year'.

Don't you just love traditional Christmas songs ~ the type that make you feel all warm inside, even on the coldest of winter days!

I can tell you about a new one ~ yes a new 'old-fashioned' Christmas song ~ and an independent release, at that!

It's by the Florin Street Band and it is called 'My Favourite Time of Year'.
Leigh Haggerwood would love this song to bring his band a Christmas number one in the UK ~ but will it happen?

In my opinion, it would be a worthy festive chart-topper.

And it has received some very positive reviews on YouTube!

According to the Florin Street Bands's website, Travis Shenanigans is Leigh Haggerwood 's Victorian alter-ego, who set up his Florin Street Band.

In 2010, this band decided to try to 'bring some magic back' to our Christmas music charts.

The song was released on December 6th of that year and I think that they are right; we do need something like this to cheer up the long dark cold winter days and nights.

'Lanterns lighting up the town,
Peace on earth is all around,
Everything is calm on Christmas Eve.'

* * * * * *

'Christmas Eve,
Still believe,
So excited,
Can’t sleep,
When the morning comes,
Church bells ring,
And he’s been'

Haggerwood decided to write a new, but traditional, Christmas song back in 2007, when he became disappointed with the festive musical fayre on offer.

As he composed, he considered his own childhood Christmases, and uncommercialised Victorian Christmases , and seasonal traditions, resulting in meaningful words and a strong melody ~ something which captures the essence of Christmas that most of us are seeking.

By July 2010, he realised that this was going to have to be an independent venture. He, his musical friends, some string musicians and the English Chamber Choir set about making the dream a reality.

It was recorded in August 2010 at the studios of Trevor Horn .

As well as being a heart-warming song, it has a wonderful seasonal video to go with it.

In October 2010, the video was filmed in an atmospheric overnight shoot. Extras arrived as the snow fell and lanterns twinkled. The Jackfield Band also joined in. It was filmed at Blists Hill, an open-air museum in the English Midlands ~ in Shropshire.

Nick Bartleet directed the video and John Perez was the cinematographer ~ an American who has worked with Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys and Jay-Z. According to Bartleet, Perez 'loved the idea of Blists Hill. When he saw pictures of this Victorian town he was blown away' and he was 'completely enchanted by the idea and setting for the video' .

The results certainly are enchanting! Haggerwood wanted a 'Victorian winter wonderland' for this video and he said that “Blists Hill is a wonderful place, very authentic and quaint and the result is a beautiful video that really captures the spirit of Christmas.” The Florin Street Band's site recalls that it was 'like being inside a Christmas card' .

Paul Gossage is the communications director for Ironbridge Museums. The Shropshire Star reports that he said: “Canal Street at Blists Hill Victorian Town was carefully selected by the producers as it offered a ready made authentic Victorian street scene, complete with period shop windows."

According to the Shropshire Star, a spokesperson for Blists Hill said: “This is a heart warming song with strong melodies and a style that echoes classic Christmas carols and evokes the festive tradition.”

In another article, the paper reports: 'James Ryan, creative director of boutique music consultancy Spin Cycle Music, and his new group The Florin Street Band are in no doubt about the the project’s aspirations. “With this song, My Favourite Time of Year, we are trying to get to Number One for Christmas,” says James matter of factly. “The Christmas charts no longer reflect Christmas and we feel that it is time to bring that back".

If you look on this newspapers's site, you will find a video interview about the song and the video ~ showing various parts of this wonderful museum.

Shropshire Star:
http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2010/11/18/will-blists-hill-video-help-band-to-number-1/#ixzz18QQClmXk'
http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2010/11/18/will-blists-hill-video-help-band-to-number-1/
http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2010/11/17/blists-hill-museum-features-in-christmas-video/

Florin Street Website:
florinstreethttp://www.florinstreet.com/

Leigh is a childhood friend of famous chef Jamie Oliver and on Oliver's site a quote from Leigh is posted ~ here are a few snippets:

“... Christmas songs have become a thing of the past in the UK because the ... X Factor tends to dominate the Christmas charts with a non-festive single. ... I loved Christmas songs as I was growing up and I wanted to ... bring back the tradition.

'As I was writing the lyrics to the song, I imagined walking through snow-filled streets in the Victorian era. It was a much more innocent time when many of our traditions began and the song just seemed to suit that setting with its traditional instrumentation and feel. ....

I imagined a working class man with a dog by his side, looking in on his fellow townsfolk as they enjoy the festivities. I imagined the Florin Street Band as a bunch of friends who play together at their local pub and have a good old sing song around the piano ...”'

If you love the song, and you wish to buy it, then you can do so on Amazon.

There you will find samples to listen to ~ the song and the instrumental version.

They can be downloaded as MP3s, or purchased on CD.