My client and friendCurt Smith, co-founder of Tears for Fears, released “This Is Christmas,” his first original holiday song, on November 29. He released the track via his KOOK Media label as a standalone single, which will be available in digital format from his website, iTunes, AmazonMP3, and other online retailers. It will also be available as a signed, limited edition CD single, sold only at concerts and via Smith’s website.
“This Is Christmas” tells the story, Smith says, “of an adult visiting his parents at Christmas and lamenting how he’s always made to feel like a child when he returns home. It culminates in his realization and acceptance that they’re family after all, and nothing will (or even should) change that.” Fittingly, backing vocalists on the track include Smith’s daughters Diva and Wilder; Charlton Pettus (Smith’s longtime friend and collaborator) and his children Georgica and Harry; Jason Joseph; Simon Steadman; and a chorus comprised of local school children.
“This Is Christmas” will be featured in the December 15 episode of the USA Network series “Psych.” “I’d been attempting to write a holiday song for years,” Smith says, “but always found them a bit trite and forced. I was trying again when Psych’s James Roday approached me about licensing a song for the holiday episode of “Psych.” Once he sent me a clip of the scene he had in mind, it all made sense and the song came together naturally.”
Like Smith’s previous solo efforts, he released “This Is Christmas” under a Creative Commons license. The license Smith uses allows others to freely share, perform, and remix his work, so long as the uses are non-commercial, Smith is credited, and any derivative works carry the same license. Smith shares production credits on the song with Charlton Pettus.
To listen to the full song, click the player below. Let me know what you think in the comments!