Tealand Smith

There are a lot of ways to make a Christmas song; from paying homage to the classics to getting downright experimental, the options are a lot more expansive than some might believe. For his contribution to the soundtrack of the season, smooth crooner Tealand Smith presents us with a new single and music video in “Christmas Day in America” that is both a throwback to the old school holiday R&B classics of yesteryear and a modern take on what is undeniably one of the most beloved subgenres in popular music. Smith proves himself to be quite the versatile player here, and with any luck he’ll win a special place on the stereo every year from here on out. 

The music video for “Christmas Day in America” captures the essence of a familial Christmas celebration flawlessly, and although it flirts with some common themes found across the lot of holiday videos you might see over the course of this month, it definitely feels more unique than not at the conclusion of its nearly four minute running time. 

There’s a humbleness to the concept of this piece that makes the music all the more endearing, and considering it’s usually the other way around, you could say Tealand Smith was being extra ambitious with his handiwork in the spirit of the season this year. If you weren’t sure what new holiday jams to pop on in the weeks leading up to Christmas, “Christmas Day in America” is definitely a song that I would recommend taking a look at as soon as possible.

I wasn’t familiar with Tealand Smith before I got ahold of this incredible track and peeked at its music video just recently, but if he can bring this same kind of heat to a secular ballad, I don’t believe this will be the only time his name and music make headlines together. 

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Trace Whittaker

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

12/2020