(In the style of Jimmy Carr, deadpan) Ah, January, the perfect time to relive the magic of Christmas. Said no one ever. But Aileen Donohue, the Rosslare singer, decided to do just that by recording a Christmas album in January, because, why not? I mean, what’s the worst that could happen? A festive fervor so strong it could melt the polar ice caps?
(Rowan Atkinson-esque awkwardness) Ah, Aileen, you see, started recording her 13-track album, “It Feels Like Christmas”, just as the rest of us were trying to scrape the last bit of turkey from the plates. I do hope she didn’t get too many wonky notes from the sound of sleigh bells still ringing in her ears.
(Ricky Gervais-esque snark) And what a thrilling idea, releasing a Christmas album in December. How original! I mean, who wouldn’t want to listen to “Wexford Carol” and “O Holy Night” for the millionth time? Oh wait, perhaps a better question would be, who would? Ah, Aileen hopes her album will be the soundtrack to many a Wexford Christmas, because nothing says ” festivity” like the same 13 songs you’ve heard since you were a nipper.
(Lee Evans-esque energy) But, I mean, fair play to Aileen, she’s got some top-notch help on the album, produced and arranged by Robert Scott, who’s worked on all sorts of fancy West End and Broadway shows. So, if you’re looking for a Christmas album that sounds like it was recorded in a small French church (some of it was, by the way), then this might just be the ticket.
(Jimmy Carr-esque dry wit) Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Where can I get my grubby little hands on this masterpiece?” Well, you can purchase it online or at one of Aileen’s Christmas shows in south Wexford. Just don’t expect me to be there, I’ll be too busy playing the same Christmas songs I’ve been playing since 1987. Ah, the magic of Christmas.
(Rowan Atkinson-esque tone) Anyway, Aileen hopes you’ll all be listening to her album on Christmas Eve, while you’re getting the last few jobs done and sipping on some mulled wine. Sounds like a lovely, relaxing evening, doesn’t it? Unless, of course, you’re the one doing the cooking, in which case, good luck with that.
(Ricky Gervais-esque remark) Oh, and the album is also available on CD for a mere €15. A bargain, if I do say so myself. I mean, who doesn’t need another physical copy of Christmas carols to add to their overflowing shelves?
(Lee Evans-esque excitement) So, there you have it, folks! Aileen Donohue’s “It Feels Like Christmas” – the perfect album to, well, make you feel like Christmas is just around the corner. Even in January. Ho ho ho! (Just kidding, that’s never going to happen).
In a bold move, Aileen Donohue, the Rosslare singer, defied the post-holiday blues by diving headfirst into the festive spirit, just as the Christmas trees were being taken down across the country, to record her new Christmas album, It Feels Like Christmas, set to release on December 1.
Discussing her 13-track album, Aileen revealed that recording began in January, immediately after Christmas, while touring Scotland, with the aim of capitalizing on the fresh festive spirit, and initially anticipated completion within a week, but eventually required additional tweaks, leading to a summer retreat to France.
Produced and arranged by the accomplished Robert Scott, whose impressive credits include West End and Broadway productions, such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Singin’ In the Rain, It Feels Like Christmas presents a rich tapestry of traditional favorites, including Wexford Carol, O Holy Night, and Auld Lang Syne, alongside two original compositions penned specifically for Aileen, recorded in a trilogy of locations: London, Wexford, and a picturesque church in western France.
Aileen’s second Christmas album, It Feels Like Christmas, will be formally launched in the Wexford County Council buildings, Carricklawn, on December 5 at 1 p.m., and will be available for streaming across all major platforms, as well as for purchase as a CD, priced at €15, via www.aileendonohoe.com or Westgate Design, and at her Christmas shows throughout south Wexford.
One of Aileen’s highly anticipated performances will see her return to the church in Our Lady’s Island on December 7, a venue imbued with sentimental value, as it was the site of her wedding to Pete, and will feature a special appearance by the talented Lagoon Junior Choir, with whom she has been collaborating since the summer, and accompaniment by Robert Scott.
Aileen hopes that her album will become an integral part of Christmas celebrations across Wexford, providing a joyful soundtrack for festive family gatherings, and recommends it as the perfect accompaniment to the final preparations on Christmas Eve, as families come together to relax and unwind with a cup of tea or mulled wine.
