Elie "Whitebone" Rivollier and The Rocking Horse Five - It's Her First Christmas
Pop, Christmas
Florida, U.S.
Overall Impression: Elie "Whitebone" Rivollier and The Rocking Horse Five imagine a young child's Yuletide introduction, with their release of "It's Her First Christmas." This mid tempo track features a sophisticated pop/rock arrangement that's fueled by acoustic guitar and driven by a strong backbeat and solid bass line. Soulful saxophone and warm Hammond organ provide additional color behind Rivollier's gorgeous vocal, as she conveys the wonder and spectacle of Christmas as experienced through the eyes of a child. Elie "Whitebone" Rivollier and The Rocking Horse Five's "It's Her First Christmas" deserves a spot on your next family gathering's holiday playlist, thanks to its cozy vibe, charming sound and familial themes.
Strongest Point(s): Excellent production, solid mix. Good clarity and tonal balance. Compelling chord progression that paves the way for a stirring melody. Vocal sounds fantastic; beautiful timbre, nice style and delivery. Solid rhythm section. Lovely instrumentation, the organ adds a great texture. Sax plays a very complimentary role to the vocal. Nice clean electric guitar tone. Both solo sections are effective and exceptionally well executed. Love the bridge, breaks up the arrangement nicely and provides a great harmonic and melodic variation. Lyrics are brilliant; vivid, descriptive and tender, with a great Roy Orbison reference. Will absolutely resonate with listeners. Overall this is a terrific contemporary Christmas song that's perfect for young families, and plays heavily into nostalgia for older generations as well. tremendous work, by everyone involved!
Target Audience Appeal: Fans of Pop/Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Adult Contemporary, Holiday
Artist target suggestions: Natalie Merchant, Sarah McLachlan, Beth Orton, Joan Osborne, Aimee Mann, Suzanne Vega, Kate Bush, Heather Nova, Dar Williams, Grace Potter, She & Him, The Cowboy Junkies
Interested in having your Song Reviewed by our Professional Staff? Head to your RadioAirplay.com dash and click Song Reviews under the Special Offers menu!
About the Reviewer:
Steven Azami is a multi-instrumentalist with over 25 years of experience in the music industry. Both as a touring/session player and as a producer, his career has spanned nearly every genre from bluegrass to jazz, from rock to reggae. In addition, his work as a music educator has allowed him to cultivate and foster talent among the next generation of musical explorers.