Tim: Lest you think it’s just female pop soloists who do Christmas albums, Drops of Jupiter hitmakers Train have got one out this year as well, called Christmas in Tahoe. It’s “exclusively on Amazon Music” which is a bit wanky, let’s be honest.
Tom: But enormously lucrative for them, no doubt. Train are a strange band, aren’t they? Consistently successful, enormous licensing deals for commercials and “exclusives”, a lot of people clearly like them, and yet I’ve never met anyone who’s ever said “you know, I really like Train”.
Tim: Hmm, I’d never thought about them that way before. Anyway, this track’s from 2010 and therefore is on the YouTube.
Tom: Well, that’s absolutely generic, just like almost every other cash-in “let’s write a Christmas song” single. Or, indeed, most Train singles.
Tim: Pretty much, I guess. And that’s one bouncer that’s not coming to work tomorrow, so THANKS SANTA for that increase in unemployment over Christmas time, but for everybody else in that video, GLORY BE because they all get to see Train for free. Except for the people who’ve already paid, and will probably end up feeling a bit ticked off, but let’s not think about that, let’s instead WAKE UP THE HAPPINESS.
Tom: This is designed to be in every Christmas commercial. And it’ll probably work.
Tim: Could well be, because oh, what a happy track this is. Lyrics about kids wanting the world to be happy, and grandma to be happy, oh and also can I have lifelong happiness with a girl please I’ll just sneak that in on the end there THANKS. Music’s basically standard Train fare with added sleigh bells and glockenspiely percussion, which to be honest I reckon is exactly what a Train festive track should be. Basically, three out of four great Christmas tracks and we’re only five days into December, so I think we’ll be alright.
Tom: And, as ever with my harsher rating scheme, I’m still in “bah humbug” mode. Every year there’s one that gets me, Tim — it’s been Hurts, it’s been Kelly Clarkson — let’s just hope that one makes it through my Scrooge-like armour before Christmas Day.