Elbow's Golden Slumbers: The John Lewis Christmas advert 2017 song that everyone's talking about

All you need to know about the song from this year's John Lewis Christmas advert
Harry Fletcher10 November 2017

Well, it’s that time of year again…

It used to be the first sight of the red Coca-Cola truck on the telly that marked the start of Christmas for consumers all around the country, but these days it’s all about the John Lewis Christmas ad.

For seven years now John Lewis has marked the run up to December 25 with a huge promotional campaign, and - like it or not - the eager wait to find out what music they’ve used in this year’s ads has become a 21st century Christmas tradition.

This year, that music comes from Elbow.

Who are Elbow?

Eclectic: Guy Garvey flirts with New Orleans horns and shuffling jazz on his solo debut
Stuart C. Wilson/Getty

Elbow are one of the most celebrated British bands of the past 10 years, but for many people, this will be the first time they’ve come across them.

The band have been making music together for twenty seven years, with key members Guy Garvey, Craig Potter, Mark Potter and Pete Turner first uniting in Bury, Greater Manchester, back in 1990.

They released their debut album Asleep In The Back under the name Elbow in 2001, which featured a mature selection of delicate songwriting and emotive balladry.

Two more albums followed, and the band made a mark with songs such as Fugitive Motel and Great Expectations - the latter arguably representing one of the most beautifully-written love songs by a UK artist in the last 15 years.

However, it was in 2008 that things really changed for the band. Winning the Mercury Prize for their album The Seldom Seen Kid launched them from cult favourites into the mainstream, and they were quickly selling out stadiums up and down the country.

The album featured the track One Day Like This, which remains one of the band’s standout songs and a wedding favourite.

Now, the group - led by charismatic frontman Guy Garvey - lend their talents to The Beatles’ Golden Slumbers, all in the name of Christmas and John Lewis.

What is the song?

John Lewis is returning to the Beatles’ back-catalogue this year, following its 2014 ad which saw Tom Odell perform a cover of John Lennon’s Real Love.

This time round Elbow perform a rendition of Golden Slumbers: a grandiose, but ephemeral piano ballad featured on the second-half of classic 1969 album Abbey Road.

The track - delicately sung by Paul McCartney - is one of the short songs near the end of the album, which blends beautifully with other tracks Carry That Weight, a reprise of You Never Give Me Your Money and The End.

Golden Slumbers is itself based on the poem Cradle Song by Thomas Dekker, and the lyrics (“Golden slumbers fill your eyes/Smiles await you when you rise”) actually match the anticipation of Christmas Eve pretty well.

Guy Garvey’s soaring delivery is a pretty perfect fit for the song too.

How does it compare to previous years?

John Lewis

For years, John Lewis had a set formula when it came to the music used in their Christmas ads: A female vocalist would perform a stripped-down version of a classic pop song, be it Ellie Goulding, Gabrielle Aplin or Lily Allen.

However, the pattern ended in 2014 when Tom Odell perform a cover of the Beatles’ Real Love, and Elbow reimagine another Beatles track here.

While most of the songs used in previous years are piano-led, it is classical guitar that plays a more prominent role in the new track, providing a subtle change to the formula.

The undisputed star of the track, though, is Guy Garvey. There's no doubt that the Elbow frontman has one of the most beautiful voices in UK pop, and it's really shown off here.

While previous efforts have typically been delivered in a softer, more reserved manner, Garvey really projects his vocals on this one, with his delivery absolutely at front and centre of the track.

A simple arrangement boosts the bold, but understated song, and the moments Garvey hits the higher register for the 'Sleep pretty darling' refrain are pretty stunning.

Other Elbow songs to listen to:

Lippy Kids

Grounds for Divorce

One Day Like This

Great Expectations

Magnificent

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