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andy-hughes | 18:00 Wed 07th Dec 2011 | ChatterBank
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It has to be because Christmas is near ...

How else can we explain the cod weep-fest that surounds this rather banal song sung not particularly well by a choir of women who cry afterwards?

It's another in a long line of similar cash cows - a group of people who happen to share a common link - priests / nurses / slaughtermen ... OK, I made the last one up, but keep your eyes open!

Leave out the wave of (from where?) emotion, and what do we have here?

A group of women whose wives are soldiers. Just soldiers, doing the job they signed up for, and trained for, with the full knowledge that they are being trained to fire guns because one day they willhave to fire them at someone, who will quitre probaby be firing back. So it's not a major feat of courage or endurance, or anything except men doing their jobs.

So their wives get banded together as as 'choir' based on nothing more than a common link with their husbands' occupation - and suddenly they are headed for the Christmas Number One.

The only saving grace is that for another year the predictbility of the X-Factor winner getting it - close in front of the sun rising tomorrow - is likely to be thwarted, but honestly people, it's a rather lame song sung not especially well, and but for the hype, it would not be selling anywhere.

OK - rant over ... incoming!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h39vBsiR68
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Really? Wow, he DID make it to stardom then!!

This ought to be number one for Crimbo, well, the video at least.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...ngland-devon-16066600

Fair play to the matelot's and bootnecks who made this.
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DT - I haven't insinuated anything - I don't do 'insinuation'.

Prudie - I may not have expressed the root of my ire clearly - it is nothing against the ladies, or the cause, of the money they make.

My cynicism is directed at the British public who allow themselves to be swept along by a wave of emotion that I do not believe to be real, coupled with the notion that a group of tenulously linked people - priests, nurses, what ever, are going to make decent music which deserves the all-encompassing wave of emotion that goes with it.

It doesn't - and it does belong squarly in the applause and whooping the X-Factor and Strictly shows have dubbed on - as raised in AOG's thread.

It is false, schmaltzy, maudlin, and frankly rather dull - but that is not in any way to detract from the sincerity of the particpants, and the funds it will raise - I simply balk at the tears and sentiment which overwhelms everything about it.
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DT - if you are offended - pray explain why?
Agree with you Andy, and feel the same.
AH - am heading to bed - but didnt say I was offended - I thought your remarks were a little "off colour" to what they (the wives and led by Malone) achieved in coming together while their men folk were away, the common purpose and the raising of the money. And maybe insinuation was the wrong word - implication perhaps.....anyway, it's no great thing and no offence to you on my part meant.

As to folk falling for it and we know better where you are coming from better now given your explanation, I think they see it as one more cause to be able to give money to Help the Heroes etc, rather than for the "musical quality" of the piece etc. Though its no worse to some of that X factor dross!

Haven't the Brits been suckers for all sorts of Xmas shmaltz over the years and by years I mean decades.

I think it would be rather good if Cowell gave them a fat cheque but then, to be fair to him, I don't think his charitable works are that well known. (I maybe wrong and if anyone knows???). Gary Barlow, good on him, is giving up his profits from the Royal Albert Hall to the Princes Trust and the Wills/Harry Foundation, so good on him. His voice sounded pretty good last night...
So many miserable people! Good luck to the military wives.Why should they not sing together and raise money for a good cause?
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DaisyNonna - I have no problem at all with the MW's singing and raising money - my gripe is with the wave of cod sentiment surrounding this exercise, with people seeing skill and wonderment that simply isn't there.

That coupled with the public blubbing and hugging makes me uncomfortable - that's the point i am raising - noting against soldiers, or their wives, or money - just the British public's insatible need for this pseudo-involvement which is as real as a politician's promise.
OK now I understand your point Andy and can agree with you. I'm not sure why the British do this (US do as well) and it's certainly fuelled by the media. Diana's funeral was possibly the ultimate example.
On another note - cod? is that a filtered word or part of new speak? :-)
My sentiments exactly Andy. Most Christmas hits are pants anyway
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Thanks Prudie - i was going to re-post with a fuller explanation, i can see that I may have appeared to diss the concept and meaning, which i don't - just the reaction.

Thanks DT for your post too - i must learn to slow down when I am rant-typing, and explain a little better first time around.
Agree DaisyNonna

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