Monday, December 04, 2006

If you kiss me now, I know you'll fool me again

Do you know what album arrived in the mail today, more than a week before I was expecting it? A New Chapter! My feelings are a bit all over the place about it before even listening to it, but I won't be writing about it until the Christmas special is over at the earliest.

Today's song, like yesterday's, comes from a compilation album--this time, a holiday album put together by Rosie O'Donnell. Many of the songs on the album feature a famous singer and her; however, there are some that don't include her, and this is one of them. It's also a song most people have probably heard covered dozens of times (though this version of the song was the first version I ever heard of it): Wham's "Last Christmas." However, before you run away at the thought of another "Last Christmas" cover, let me point out one more thing: Darren Hayes is singing it.

Last Christmas--I think a lot of people might even have heard this particular cover already, but it's so good that it's worth sharing anyhow. In fact, I like it so much that, despite my leeriness of covers, I haven't even bothered to seek out the original in its entirety yet. That does limit by ability to compare and contrast, and to know how much Darren himself brings to the song, but I have a feeling it's a good deal. I know this is an overused word, but there's the tiniest bit of something ethereal about it--it just has this slightly floating feeling, both in instrumentation (though occasionally a certain type of electronic beep occurs that does pin it back down) and in Darren's singing. It's a bit like "Like It Or Not" with more energy and a tad more cuteness, or maybe a slightly more mysterious version of "Miss You."

To buy A Rosie Christmas, go here (physical) or here (digital; only valid for U.S. residents).

Next up: possibly something horribly stereotypical.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the Darren version of 'Last Christmas', I knew it existed, but had never heard it. It's very sweet, with obvious Darren-esque whoa-ho's (if that makes sense) in the middle. Good fun.

Paul said...

ooo i have a whole last christmas themed post coming up :) This song is now christmas canon - as is Mariah's All I Want For Christmas is you. i tells ya - write a christmas hit and watch the yearly dividends come rolling in :) darren's version is quite nice of course. That Rosie album though - i like the "duet" with the rugrat ;)

Poster Girl said...

No, that makes perfect sense--I know exactly what you mean! At least you figured out how to write it out--I wasn't even going to try to do that (much like my dilemma for a lot of McFly songs that leads to me writing things like "bap bap badda ba--BA!") ;) Those are definitely very Darren.

Paul, can't wait for the "Last Christmas"-themed post--I really can't believe I haven't heard the original, which is such a classic! Odd you should mention "All I Want For Christmas"...and the duet with the Rugrat? What about the one with Elmo? ;)

Nick said...

My absolute favorite Christmas song. I haven't even listened to it this year yet, but it is still #1.

D'luv said...

Poster Girl, you've never heard the Wham! version? Golly, turn on your local lite-FM station anytime this month and I'm sure you'll hear it.

Dazza's version is 'okay.' I downloaded it from the Rosie album last year this time... Don't get me wrong, I love Darren... but there's something missing from his version for me..

Poster Girl said...

Hmm, saving it for later, Nick? I'm not sure if I've ever decided on a favorite, but this would be in the running if I tried to.

I don't know how I've lived this long without hearing the Wham! version, J'ason...my family must have been too busy listening to Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Mannheim Steamroller to bother with it. I could ventue into the realm of Christmas radio stations to hear it, but it would mean sitting through a bunch of not-so-great songs. Maybe I'll go YouTube it.

Maybe if I knew the original I might feel something was missing from this version; I'm not sure. Or maybe it just doesn't stand up to his originals for you?