Frightened Rabbit - It's Christmas So We'll Stop (Fat Cat)
UK release date: 15 December 2008
Christmas singles are usually affairs of forced jollity that you're sick to death of by December 27th. Apart from The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl of course, which is the best Christmas single ever, and would sound just as good in the middle of August.
Yet here come Frightened Rabbit with a festive single that could even rival Shane & Kirsty for sheer poignant beauty. It starts off in a very frail manner, with Scott Hutchinson pleading with his beloved to stop arguing for just one day, his voice almost breaking with the emotion of it all. Then, as the song builds up and up, a choir and string section appear, and Hutchinson seems to grow stronger as the lyrics become gloriously romantic - "I'll protect you, I promise I will, and the rest of our lives will be just like Christmas with fewer toys".
It's five minutes of blissful festive loveliness, and a fine way for one of the country's most promising new bands to end a successful year.
