Reviewed by Tony Cummings

It wouldn't be true to say that I'm a big fan of songs about Santa Claus. Despite the length of my beard and the length of my years, I've heard too many wretched ditties about reindeer-drawn sleighs and fat chaps bestowing presents to be naturally drawn to this single even though the London-based boys choir Liberia are today a worldwide phenomenon having performed before crowds now in excess of 16 million. And I'd be the first to admit that their blend of voices and particularly their achingly beautiful lead vocalists make a sound which lives up to the choir's original name, Angel Voices. I am also aware that "Santa Will Find You" was co-written by Mindy Smith. If you are not familiar with that lady's name she is an American singer/songwriter whose music can be classified as country, Americana, bluegrass, pop, rock and alternative (which more or less covers everything!). If you are au fait with Mindy's work you'll know of the singer/songwriter's background as a Tennessee-based churchgoer whose one US Top 40 hit was called "Come To Jesus". With all this going for the single under review, what is my problem? It's the lyrics, folks! Here's an example: "Because you're there and you're shining/Bright like a beacon, bright as a northern star/So don't worry because Santa will find you wherever you are/Santa will find you tonight." Remember this is a song directed at the red-coated fat one not the living God who can indeed find us in our need. Such crass quasi-religious clap trap plummets new depths (or maybe that should be chimneys). I was originally going to allocate this single one square due to its downright creepy lyrical content but in all fairness it is just as good a version of the song, and possibly even better, than the recording that appeared on Mindy Smith's 2007 album 'My Holiday'. After all. beautiful singing is beautiful singing.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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