Queen have released a brand new animated video for their hit 1984 holiday single “Thank God It’s Christmas.”
A rare songwriting collaboration between Brian May and Roger Taylor, the song was released as a non-album single in November 1984, spending six weeks on the UK charts that holiday season. It enjoyed a second wave of popularity at Christmastime in 1995 when coupled with the hit single ‘A Winter’s Tale’ from the Made In Heaven album. Eventually “Thank God It’s Christmas” made its way on to Queen’s Greatest Hits III album in 1999.
The visuals for “Thank God It’s Christmas” were directed by animator Justin Moon and depict the tenants of an apartment building, each celebrating the holidays in their own unique ways. Near the end of the clip, they all congregate together on the roof under the gently falling snow to watch the Northern Lights.
The concept for this new animated film came directly from the songwriters who explain their thoughts behind it with Taylor saying:“Ironically, Christmas tends to be such a stressful time for so many of us. So many emotions, joyful memories of past Christmas’ as delighted children and responsible adults/parents. It’s just a great relief when it finally happens.”
May adds: “The video goes a little further by including a subtle reminder that we as humans now need to feel a responsibility for the welfare of ALL creatures on Earth – not just for our own benefit, and that of our grandchildren, but out of respect for the rights of the animals themselves.”
Watch the new animated video and lyric video below:
