Tom: There are at least two things in this track that you’ll love, Tim. And I’ve got to say – even as someone who doesn’t like novelty Christmas songs, this still made me smile.
Tom: The first one is, of course, the ridiculous “Scotland The Brave” guitar solo.
Tim: Ridiculous? Or brilliant? I think brilliant.
Tom: The second…
Tim: Really is quite something.
Tom: …it is a brilliant key change, isn’t it? It’s got a Proper Outro as well, which I always appreciate.
Tim: They are good, aren’t they? Also with a Proper Outro is Westlife’s Queen Of My Heart, which also has some lovely festive-sounding chiming bells. I mention this purely because for no apparent reason whatsoever I’ve recently fallen in love with it.
Tom: Bit of a history to this one: Radio 2’s Ken Bruce took it on himself to promote it when it came out five years ago, and has played it once a year ever since. And BBC Scotland briefly banned it for its negative stereotypes of Scotsmen (“loved everywhere he goes?”).
Tim: I’m guessing “too many pies, not enough exercise”.
Tom: Despite all that: it’s got quite a bit of traction Up North, apparently.
Tim: Good. And why shouldn’t it? Aside from the previously mentioned negative stereotypes, I suppose.
Tom: They’ve since tried to create a dodgy sequel. But nothing can really take away from that guitar solo and key change, can it?
Tim: Really not, no. That one also has a weirdly buff-looking Santa, who with his coat open looks more like a Ken doll than your average boyo from the valleys.