Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

[Lux Aeterna]

Happy Xmas is set to be released this saturday.

[Lux Aeterna]

The video comes with a fundraising campaign

Marking our version of the iconic anti-war song, Happy Xmas (War Is Over), Libera is supporting the work of UNICEF. As well as being a performing group Libera is also charity with the aim to keep alive and actively encourage the tradition of boys’ choral singing. At Christmas we reflect on those less fortunate than ourselves particularly other children whose lives are affected by war and conflict.

[Surpinto]

This is excellent! So many music videos to promote this album and I think it'll be good for them. That they have tacked on a fundraiser too it is also really cool.

I've been led to understand that English culture is a bit more indirect and hesitant in respect of directly asking for money (as compared to the overbearing way we do things here in the US ) but it is my hope that eventually they feel comfortable asking for donations for themselves and their music programs as well. They sort of did so indirectly when referring to the UNICEF campaign...

[fan_de_LoK]

I'm surprised to see that the static image on YouTube matches the studio recording of the song.

I thought the green-screen photos shared by the official account a few weeks ago were related to Happy Xmas.
Perhaps that's not the case after all.

Or could this static image have been chosen deliberately to avoid revealing the final visuals for the green-screen setup too soon?
Either way, it's quite intriguing

[gingerthedog1]

Just for fun, here are my soloist predictions (to be confirmed or disproved by the video):

Verse 1: Luca, then Caleb
Verse 2: Frederick, then Hal
Verse 3: Luca, then Ben

I know some might disagree Please post if you do.

[Cat-a-tonic]

Going by what I've heard of the album and the order in which the soloists are listed, I agree with you. But we'll soon see!

I'm surprised to see that the static image on YouTube matches the studio recording of the song.

I thought the green-screen photos shared by the official account a few weeks ago were related to Happy Xmas.
Perhaps that's not the case after all.

Or could this static image have been chosen deliberately to avoid revealing the final visuals for the green-screen setup too soon?
Either way, it's quite intriguing

Maybe they're going to cut between the studio recording and the green screen scene? I've seen quite a few music videos that do that, though I don't think Libera have ever done one quite like that.

I'd be surprised if the green screen was yet another video - this will already be number 5 for Dream with Dido's Lament still to come. 2 more already than for Forever. So my guess would be that either it's for this video or some other project entirely, though I still maintain my original theory that the pictures of the green screen would fit with a music video for Resurrectio.

[Surpinto]

The song seems to have disappeared from their YouTube premiere schedule and channel. Hopefully this is a temporary situation unless they have decided to move the release of the video closer to the Christmas holiday. I guess it remains to be seen.

[dani]

Yes now all I see is When I Am Laid In Earth 7th December.

[fan_de_LoK]

Hopefully this is a temporary situation unless they have decided to move the release of the video closer to the Christmas holiday.

Or perhaps they will release another file, another youtbe id, for the video that uses the green screen

[Jake4263]

From my side, I see a diffusion Tomorrow - friday 29. 19h30 - French Hours

Screenshot_20241128-213449.png (520.12 KiB) Viewed 444 times

Screenshot_20241128-213449.png (520.12 KiB) Viewed 444 times

[dani]

Yes it’s back for tomorrow at 6.30pm

[Surpinto]

Hopefully this is a temporary situation unless they have decided to move the release of the video closer to the Christmas holiday.

Or perhaps they will release another file, another youtbe id, for the video that uses the green screen

It's back as the original file, so maybe everything is still a mystery after all?

[Surpinto]

Well this music video was released sooner than the original time allotted but I'm not going to complain I guess they reconfigured the release date during the brief window when the video was down.

Anyway, it seems the mystery is solved, that it's not a green screen after all but just a video of them recording in the studio much like what they did with Sing for our World. In fact the only reason the blue curtains look green is because of the early morning (maybe early evening) light shining through.

Anyway, I like this earworm song and the video gives us a nice behind-the-scenes look at their recording studio work. I especially liked that all of the multiple soloists were given adequate camera time during their respective solos, as well as lots of shots of the choir as a whole showing just how much of a team effort these productions really are.

Nice job, Libera!

[dani]

It’s lovely and it was good they got to be on ITV News Live just before to promote it. I hope it gives it a good boost to get the YouTube algorithm going.


I have to say Freddie H’s voice has really matured into a lovely rich tone.

[Surpinto]

Did anyone manage to capture or find the ITV segment? Those of us outside the UK would appreciate it.