Deej:

A very pleasant surprise in how the song started ... "straight off the bat", as it were, with those inverted, off-root chords. It got my attention straightaway, letting me know that a story was ready to be told.

Your voice comes in. Yes, it tells a story. The lyrics are stunning. But there's another quality to it, too ... the storytelling, the lower register (you're often up in the rafters, so it was wonderful to hear you an octave lower, also :-) ) ... and something else I can't quite pinpoint and/or express in words ... but it keeps one's attention all the time, it certainly kept mine.

I like the harmonies, too - nothing wrong with them at all. They add warmth to the song.

You go up an octave, towards the end. Because you kept us waiting for that for longer than usual, it really works, as does the return to a lower register, which is like a whisper, at that point.

HOWEVER: this song is much more than the sum of its parts. It's got that magic that cannot be canned, otherwise we'd all be rich. You say it's "nothing groundbreaking" - I disagree. It's somewhat of a new sound for you, I find - whilst retaining that trademark Deej quality - and it feels like you've gone up a notch with everything. It's so hard to pinpoint what it actually is ... argh ... but it's a top, top notch song that makes me want to singalong with it, and also to listen repeatedly to it. It's so melodic, too ... like I said, much more than the sum of its parts.

The sentiment of the song, the meaning of the lyrics, etc., is so moving, also. After listening a few times, to critique the song from a "technical" standpoint, I've allowed myself to just listen, now. I'm on my fourth listen, and it doesn't get old :-) . I don't think people mention just how good a lyricist you are - it kinda gets lost in between the praise for your musical writing and the praise for your voice, both of which are of course well deserved. But, the lyrics, too ... wow. I'm not even going to quote out of them ... they are ALL stunning.

So much more to say, no idea how to articulate and pinpoint that which I want to say. HOWEVER: a beautiful, beautiful song, deceptively (I suspect) effortless, and a wonderful sentiment to carry in one's heart at Christmas time, when many are so lonely inside and get warmed up in their hearts by such a song as this one. Bravo, Merry Christmas to you and the Happiest of New Years, which I really hope will have you happy with what you write and will have us blessed with even more of your songs.

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