Toko Furuuchi -- Xmas Present

I'm writing this just some minutes into Christmas Day 2014. It's going to be a Green Christmas this year in the Toronto area, but like many others in my burg, I don't particularly lament the fact that this December 25th will go snowless. A long winter last year and that Ice Storm of 2013 pretty much have us celebrating to a certain extent that we won't be fighting snow and ice on the roads this time around.

Still I'm hoping the Xmas spirit is permeating throughout folks around the planet. And so allow me to add another J-Xmas tune in the form of this mellow ballad by the beautiful songbird, Toko Furuuchi（古内東子）. "Xmas Present" was written and composed by the singer-songwriter as a track on her 9th album from December 2000, "Dark Ocean".

Actually, I had been planning to profile her silky and sultry cover of Wham!'s "Last Christmas" but couldn't find any copy of it on the Net. However, I did find this romantic ballad about a woman trying her utmost to melt the heart of a young man she fancies and get him to finally open up to her. After all, it is Xmas! Hopefully, she succeeded. In any case, "Xmas Present" makes for some nice listening while wrapping the presents or basting the turkey. And it was nice of Furuuchi to include a hint of an old Xmas classic near the end there.

Wherever you are, whether you are reading this on Xmas Eve or are already full tilt into Xmas Day, I hope all of you have a wonderful start to the Holidays!