I Believe in Father Christmas

Infobox Single
Name = I Believe In Father Christmas


Artist = Greg Lake
from Album =
B-side = Humbug
Released = November 1975 (UK)
Format = 7"
Recorded = 1974
Genre = Progressive rock
Length = 3:32
Label = Atlantic Records
Writer = Greg Lake / Peter Sinfield
Producer =
Certification =
Last single =
This single =
Next single = "I Believe In Father Christmas" is a song by Greg Lake (most famously a member of Emerson, Lake & Palmer). Although it is often categorised as a Christmas song this was not Lake's intention. Lake wrote the song in protest at the commercialization of Christmas. [cite web
title = Greg comments about "Father Christmas"
work = The Official Greg Lake Website
url = http://www.greglake.com/newsite/html/discpops/commnt11.mp3
format = MP3
accessdate = 2007-12-22]

The song is often misinterpreted as an anti-religious song and, because of this, Lake was surprised at its success. He said in a "Mojo" magazine interview:

"I find it appalling when people say it's politically incorrect to talk about Christmas, you've got to talk about 'The Holiday Season.' Christmas was a time of family warmth and love. There was a feeling of forgiveness, acceptance. And I do believe in Father Christmas."

The song was recorded by Lake in 1974 and released separately from ELP in 1975, becoming the Christmas number two in the UK charts. [cite news
last = Adams
first = Owen
title = A song for a secular Christmas
work = Guardian Unlimited: Arts blog
publisher = Guardian News and Media
date = 2006-12-22
url = http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2006/12/a_song_for_a_secular_christmas.html
accessdate = 2007-12-22] It is currently his only hit solo release. The original later appeared on the group's 1977 album "Works Volume II". It has also appeared on several other ELP and Christmas compilation albums. Mostly notable of these re-releases is the 1995 album titled "I Believe in Father Christmas" which also featured a re-recorded version of the song by the whole band.

The video for this song, the bulk of which was shot in Israel,"100 Greatest Christmas Moments". 2004-12-24.] contains shots of the Vietnam War, which has led to complaints from some that it should not be shown with light-hearted Christmas songs. These images of rocket barrages, air strikes, and mobile artillery are a violent backdrop to a peaceful sounding song and create a hard-hitting message.

The instrumental riff between verses comes from the "Troika" portion of Sergei Prokofiev's "Lieutenant Kije Suite" written for a 1934 Soviet film, "Poruchik Kizhe". [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025671/ Poruchik Kizhe] ]

In 1982, it was covered by Toyah Wilcox for the ITV television special "Pop Goes Christmas". [cite web
title = The Official Toyah Wilcox Discography: Albums
url = http://www.toyahwillcox.com/disc-albums-originals.html
accessdate = 2007-12-22] In recent years it has been covered by Human Drama (1999) and Vertical Horizon (2002). Its melody was used in Weird Al Yankovic's dark comedy song, "The Night Santa Went Crazy." Canadian band Honeymoon Suite covered the song in 1989 for a compilation album (titled Revellion) featuring WEA (now Warner Music Canada) recording artists. It was not featured on an HMS album until the 2006 collection Feel It Again: An Anthology which is now out of print.

Sarah Brightman recorded the song in 2008 for her album A Winter Symphony.

References