The sun has risen on the beginning of the end of 2020, as December rolls in. The Christmas season is officially upon us in Ireland, following a touching broadcast of the Late Late Toy Show on Friday, and amongst calls to support Irish businesses in these difficult economic times it is equally important to support Irish artists. Here are some Irish Christmas songs to listen to this Christmas.
D. Cullen and Sinead McConville – Christmas Ain’t the Same (Miles and Miles Away)
D and Sinead’s gorgeous duet is an appropriately mellow offering to mark a subdued Christmas this year. The lyrics, about a couple missing each other at Christmas, likely will ring true for many people around the globe this Christmas. However, its message it ultimately uplifting: “we’ll share the same sky and ring our bells high till you’re home.” An elegant and understated Christmas track.
‘Christmas Ain’t the Same’ will be released this Wednesday, 2nd December, and you can pre-save the track here.
Callistan feat. Evelyn Finnerty – Come Home This Christmas
Callistan’s track featuring Evelyn Finnerty is a more quintessential Christmas song than D and Sinead’s, but it still carries themes relevant to 2020; it is also about being apart from those you love at Christmas and longing for their return. It features a catchy and singable melody that I can see myself singing year after year at Christmas. Choral backing vocals and bells galore complete the Christmas feel.
You can listen to ‘Come Home This Christmas’ from Friday, 4th December by pre-saving the track here.
Irish Women in Harmony – Together at Christmas
‘Together at Christmas’ is no hidden gem when it comes to Irish releases this Christmas. The song follows on from the Irish Women in Harmony’s cover of the Cranberries’ ‘Dreams’ earlier this year, and features over 30 prominent and upcoming Irish artists, plus a heart-warming tween choir. ‘Together at Christmas’ features a patchwork of lyrics from other Christmas songs, blended together to create a new, affecting story, written and produced by RuthAnne.
‘Together at Christmas’ is available now, and you can watch the official video here.
Zaska – Santa Don’t Come to Everyone
Last Christmas, avid collaborator Zaska released a lively, jazzy Christmas song featuring Carly Coonagh and Niall McCabe on duet vocals. It is a song to return to this Christmas for a cheerful but realistic message. The song playfully rejects the overt consumerism of Christmas, “I know you probably don’t want it, I bought it for you because it’s Christmas time,” but ultimately it expresses that “all we need is love this Christmas time.”
You can listen to ‘Sant Don’t Come to Everyone’ here.