Reeny Smith is venturing into the festive territory of original Christmas classics. She merges the familiar sounds of the genre with some big twists on the tropes of the season with “Dear Santa.”
There’s a good deal of the Christmas songbook canon dedicated to the season’s more consumeristic aspects. Firesides, feasts and families aside, the remaining topic of interest seems to generally be the accumulation of stuff — even if it’s just your two front teeth. With “Dear Santa,” Reeny Smith turns all of this gently on its head with a simple message: that she’s doing alright, but would he mind spreading a bit of extra love to those who need it more?
Written by Reeny, Barbra Lica, and Bobby “B Morales” Hobart, “Dear Santa” puts the focus solidly on Smith’s vocals, paired with a piano, and allowing for the message of the song to come into focus, front and center. “I don’t want a present, what would I even ask for / It’s that time of year when all I really feel is thankful,” sings Smith.
In the great spectrum of the holidays, “Dear Santa” certainly falls a lot closer to Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” than to Lou Rawls’ “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme”—both in message and vocal range.
Reeny Smith will be performing throughout the month of December with Matt Anderson and friends as part of The Snowman’s Ball.
The Snowman’s Ball: Christmas with Matt Andersen and Friends
Tour Dates:
12.01.21 | Fredericton, NB – Fredericton Playhouse
12.02.21 | Saint John, NB – Imperial Theatre
12.03.21 | Moncton, NB – The Capitol Theatre
12.04.21 | Pictou, NS – deCoste Performing Arts Centre
12.06.21 | Truro, NS – Marigold Cultural Centre
12.07.21 | Truro, NS – Marigold Cultural Centre
12.09.21 | Glacé Bay, NS – The Savoy Theatre
12.10.21 | Charlottetown, PE – Confederation Centre of the Arts
12.11.21 | Wolfville, NS – Acadia University
12.16.21 | Halifax, NS – Dalhousie Arts Centre
12.17.21 | Halifax, NS – Dalhousie Arts Centre
12.18.21 | Ottawa, ON – National Arts Centre / Centre national des Arts