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White Christmas. I'll Be Home For Christmas. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.
These are all classic Christmas songs people love belting out at this time of year. They were also all released in the mid-20th century.
Local singer-songwriter Sean Barrette said he's noticed that there's been very few Christmas songs put out since that have become classics.
With the release of his new Christmas single, Angel on My Tree, Barrette adds to the catalogue of holiday tunes, although he said he isn't big-headed enough to think his song will become a classic.
You never know, though. “Maybe people will be looking for something they can really latch onto,” Barrette said. “Who knows?”
It was the Christmas before last that Barrette had a conversation with his then six-year-old daughter, Marley, that gave him the idea for the song.
“We were getting ready to go off to school, and we were talking about their Christmas lists — all the toys they wanted and everything else,” Barrette said.
“Marley said 'Daddy, you're No. 1 on my list. You'll always be my favourite gift.' The daddy in me is going 'Awww!' but the songwriter in me is going 'Ohhh!'”
Barrette got down to work, and penned the song. He said the tune has a warm vibe and accessible groove, and captures the imagery and feelings of longing, anticipation and love that define the holiday season.
He gave Marley, now 8, a songwriting credit — something not unusual in his family. His 11-year-old son, Evan, inspired the title track of his second album, Signs, and was also given a songwriting credit.
“We're a pretty creative household,” Barrette said. “We want to foster that in our kids.
Children often have creative ideas and creative minds, moreso than adults.”
Last year, Barrette's single Cool Side of the Pillow attracted the attention of acclaimed producer Alan Glass — known for his work with famed musicians such as Aretha Franklin. Glass produced a remix of the song.
Barrette has now teamed up with Glass to put out Angel in My Tree.
The musician also decided to work with local translator and songwriter Normand Renaud to translate the song into French, in the hopes it'll become a francophone Christmas classic.
“I really like the tune,” Barrette said. “It's going to have a lot of broad appeal for a lot of people.”
Angel on My Tree will soon be available for digital download. Barrette advises people to like his fan page so they'll know when it's available. In the meantime, click on the sample of the song we've made available with this story.
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