Is this Happiest Christmas song in the world?
Music and science combine to create the joyful track for choirs to perform at intu centres to make festive shoppers happier
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
The annual tyranny of cheesy Christmas music is pretty much unavoidable from late November onwards.
Now musicians, musicologists, composers and choirs have come together to create what they’re deeming the ‘happiest Christmas song ever’.
The three minute track has been designed to bring some festive joy to shoppers who are struggling to hang on to their sanity while being subjected to Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas for the hundredth time.
It's part of an initiative by shopping centre intu’s pledge to make shoppers smile and features sleigh bells ringing in the chorus and 21 mentions of the word ‘Christmas’ – proven to evoke happiness in people.
The guide to writing the happiest Christmas song was developed by musicologist Dr Joe Bennett, who analysed the lyrical theme, tempo, musical key and vocals of 200 Christmas hits from Mariah Carey to Slade. The key attributes of the ultimate Christmas cracker include lyrical references to Santa, snow, home, peace and love, sleigh bells in the chorus, a major key and an average tempo of 115 beats per minute.
‘Love’s Not Just For Christmas’ was written by British songwriter Steve Anderson – who has written and produced a stream of major hits for artists including Take That, Britney Spears, Westlife, Leona Lewis and Kylie Minogue – and singer-songwriter Harriet Green.
Steve Anderson said: “Over the years I have been lucky to enough to have written and produced Christmas tracks and albums for a number of artists including Kylie, Susan Boyle and Harriet, who co wrote this song with me. Hopefully we’ve risen to the challenge and provided a song people will love not only this Christmas, but for every Christmas to come.”
The track has has been recorded by the London Community Gospel Choir, who have previously sung with artists including Madonna, Blur and George Michael, and is available on Spotify. The song will also be performed by local choirs at intu shopping centres around the country in the lead up to Christmas to help boost happiness around the country.
Watch the music video to ‘Love’s Not Just For Christmas’ here
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments