It’s Christmas – Davy Jones
release date 9 December 2008EXCLUSIVE RING TONES AND WALLPAPERS ONLY AVAILABLE HERE
The new single by Monkees legend Davy Jones, ‘It’s Christmas’, brings us wide-eyed Christmas cheer.
‘It’s Christmas’ is a Christmas present, direct from Monkees legend Davy Jones. A Christmas single, it’s filled to the brim with the raffish mischief and bonhomie that has so long been Davy’s trademark, and it’s just plain good fun.
As Davy says, ‘It's been a dreadful year in some ways, but this song is full of hope for the future. It's about the true meaning of Christmas, and having a good time with those who matter most to us. Christmas has always been ‘more than tinsel, cards and gifts.' If it lifts people that's enough.’
The start of the song is a none-too-subtle nod to the classic spoken word introduction to ‘Daydream Believer’. ‘What day is it Skip?’ Davy asks.
A dozen children shout in reply. ‘It’s Christmas Day!’ ‘Oh right! No need to get excited, it’s because… I'm sure you know.’ At this point Davy is interrupted by a sudden thwack on a snare, and we quickly find ourselves rollicking through the first verse. ‘Santa’s tuning up his band, Reindeer revving up as planned…’
‘It’s Christmas’ is that most glorious of things, a ridiculous Christmas single, fully adorned with sleigh-bell solos, children’s choirs, and vast quantities of Christmas cheer.
FACTSHEET
Who: Davy Jones
What: ‘It’s Christmas’ single release
At radio: From November 17
For download: From December 9, available from iTunes worldwide, Rhapsody, Napster, Amazon MP3, Lala, Shockhound, Groupie Tunes and Amie Street
Physical sales: A limited edition CD is available only from Amazon’s UK store, amazon.co.uk, from December 1 (featuring the radio mix along with two Christmas cracker remixes)
A little more about Davy Jones and the Monkees
Born and bred in Manchester, Davy Jones began entertaining at 11 years old as Ena Sharples' grandson on Coronation Street. Theatrical agents rushed for his signature, and he quickly found himself starring in the West-End as Oliver’s The Artful Dodger. By 16, he was playing this role on Broadway, and it was for this role that Davy was nominated for the prestigious Tony Award. Soon he found himself on the legendary Ed Sullivan Show – and his debut there was the very episode that introduced The Beatles to the US. From this moment Davy was infected with a desire for pop-star adulation. He says:
‘I saw those guys [The Beatles] on Ed Sullivan. They’re from the North too, you know. Well, there they were performing in the US, and everyone was going crazy. That just changed my life, I guess.’
A miraculously short time later, Davy found himself with all the adulation he could handle, bobby-sox tumbling all over the world as his made-for-TV band The Monkees enjoyed hit after hit. Davy compares The Monkees TV show to legendary pseudo-documentary A Hard Day’s Night:
‘There was no plot to The Monkees – it was just A Hard Day’s Night all year long. They were great times, the Monkees days. It was crazy, but we had so much fun!’
Four handsome boys with clean hair and irresistible smiles, the band (and the show) brought happiness to everyone who came across them during their flight through teenybopper stratospheres in the mid-60s, and have continued to do so ever since. Their hits, ‘Daydream Believer’, ‘Last Train to Clarksville’, ‘A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You’, and ‘Pleasant Valley Sunday’, all sold in the millions. The biggest hit of all was ‘I’m a Believer.’
‘And then I saw her face,
And now I’m a believer!
I couldn’t leave her if I tried…’
These simple lyrics, delivered over a beat backing with energy and joy, proved irresistible. The track eventually spent an incredible 7 weeks at no. 1 in the US, along with a four week stint atop the UK charts.
Following the demise of The Monkees in 1970, Davy has observed entertainment fashions as they come and go, whilst still sneaking out for occasional forays such as featured performances as Fagin in Oliver, occasional music releases, and his many live performances. Lately, he’s also tried his luck with the pen, writing a successful memoir, Daydream Believin’.
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