If you’ve not quite grabbed that Christmas spirit by it’s fake-fur-trimmed hat yet, this will sort you out. ‘One Wish For Christmas’, by 80s legend Limahl. An ode to London Town and eight years in the making, it’s one tootsie-warming, brandy-soaked, snogging-under-the-mistletoe, Santa-hug of a yuletide song. And boy do we need that this year.
Alongside a Christmas cracker of a team including jazz musician Jon Nickoll and Ian Curnow, the producer behind East 17’s ‘Stay Another Day’, Limahl has rustled up one hell of a festive feast of a song, with all the trimmings. Plus seconds.
Everyone’s favourite Kajagoogoo front-man first had the idea for a Christmas tune eight years ago, but 2020 – we don’t need to go there if you don’t want to – got him to thinking about the stuff that really matters.
“I was thinking about the lyrics and how they have more value and poignancy because they talk about the many things we’re all unable to do, so we decided to revisit the production,” explains Limahl, who also managed to put together a (Covid-compliant!) video during lockdown, filmed in Watford’s historic Palace Theatre. There’s even a cameo by Selfridge’s, which Limahl name-checks in the lyrics to ‘One Wish For Christmas’.
“I was very happy with the song, but with all the time in lockdown to be creative we decided to revisit the production.”
And thank the baby Jesus he did, for it’s a heart-warming ballad with more Christmas cheer than even Tiny Tim could muster – and he had a gammy leg!
www.facebook.com/limahlofficial