Christmas
brings a slew of festive often sickly songs, repeated ad nauseam. So it takes a
real skill to find a different angle like the Pogues or Aimee Mann. The
Counting Crows took a bittersweet view of December as whole.
There had
already been a strong streak of melancholy on Counting Crows's debut album, and
even their biggest pop hit "Mr
Jones" analysed the illusion of fame and happiness. Charismatic vocalist
and writer Adam Duritz later revealed significant mental health issues.
As they
commenced work on their second album in December 1995, a friend of Duritz, was
seriously injured following a traffic accident. He regularly visited her in the
hospital during this month and recorded in the evenings. After one tiring
session, he unwound with local friends, and between 4am -6am the whole song
emerged. Alerting the band, it was quickly recorded live later that day in six
takes.
"A Long
December" is permeated with sadness and regret ("the feeling that
it’s all a lot of oysters, but no pearls”). He recounts the hospital,
friendships and the previous year. A plaintive piano and baleful accordion
(there should a more accordion in modern music) intensity the mood.
But it is not
all depression, as there is also a seesaw with hope. Each verse ends with a positive
thought (a beautiful girl, a friend visiting, precious memories). The optimism
that after a turbulent December, the new year will bestow renewed hope ("Maybe
this year will be better than the last").
A nananana chorus lightens the tone and adds a festive touch to the
sombre tale. A Christmas miracle as much as "It's A Wonderful Life".
"A Long
December" was an unlikely to be a Christmas hit single, especially running
to five minutes, but its reflection hit a chord (or people loved the nanana), entering
the US top 10 at Christmas 1996. Live in concert, it could be even more sparse
and overwhelming. A deserved success for an ambitious attempt.
Hear Now - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D5PtyrewSs (the video features Courtney Cox from
"Friends", one of Durtiz's several Hollywood relationships)
Hear Next -
"August and Everything After" is one the best debut albums.
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