Military Wives Christmas No.1: I’ve shed a few tears

December 24th, 2011

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

By
David Thomas

Last updated at 12:50 PM on 23rd December 2011

The Military Wives are storming the Christmas charts with their tear-jerking 'Wherever You Are'

The Military Wives are storming the Christmas charts with their tear-jerking ‘Wherever You Are’

Pass the hankies, someone, they’re playing Wherever You Are again. Let me be honest, it’s been a soggy few weeks since I first heard THAT song on the final episode of the Military Wives Choir.

Just watching the girls’ triumphant performance at the Albert Hall was a total three-hankie job, but once I had recovered at least some of my composure, rediscovered the ability to see and apologised to the cat for drenching its fur with my sobbing, I turned to Mrs Thomas and said, ‘Pity that’s not a single. It would be a nailed-on Christmas No.1.’

Little did I know. The next morning on Radio 2, Chris Evans (another self-confessed Wife Weeper) was giving the Military Wives the kind of hyped-up, all-guns-blazing praise of which only he is capable. There and then he began a campaign to get them to No,1 on Christmas Day and with the plummeting public interest in The X-Factor and Evans’ own massive audience, his bid for the top was a self-fulfilling prophecy if I ever I heard one.

For the following week I struggled to get through the song without further embarrassing outbreaks of tears and was managing quite well, I thought, to remain calm, unflinching and just a little bit manly in the face of its emotional onslaught. But then Evans started playing recordings of the song made by primary school children and I was gone again. Nor was I the only one. People started emailing and texting the show in their droves, begging him to give fair warning of any upcoming school choirs, so that they had time to find somewhere calm and safe to be when they heard it.

Chris Evans (left) has championed the choir, and even started playing recordings of the song made by primary school children

Support: Chris Evans (left) has championed the choir, and even started playing recordings of the song made by primary school children

So what it is that is so, so powerful about the Milliwives? For me, there’s a purely personal element to the whole thing. From the ages of eight to 15 I was a choirboy, complete with red cassock, white surplice and frilly white ruff. As a treble (or boy soprano) and alto I learned the harmonies to pretty well every hymn and carol in the book, sang Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s St Matthew Passion, performed in Salisbury Cathedral and generally had a love of choral music hardwired into my system. So singing always affects me, and at this time of year, which is so gloriously supplied with beautiful music, I’m even more open to its powers of intoxication. If all there were to Wherever You Are was its tune, that would be enough to tug at my heartstrings.

But of course, there is far, far more. We are a profoundly patriotic nation, however much some of our leaders, politically-correct ideologues and supposedly progressive sophisticates tell us we shouldn’t be. We are also blessed with armed forces that defend us and our values with courage and extraordinary skill, often in appalling circumstances in which a combination of Treasury parsimony and the limitless incompetence and wastefulness of the Ministry of Defence leaves our servicemen and women woefully, tragically and unforgivable underequipped. So no matter who sung those words of love and concern for our troops, we would instinctively respond.

Emotive: Singing always affects me, but at this time of year I'm even more open to its powers of intoxication

Emotive: Singing always affects me, but at this time of year I’m even more open to its powers of intoxication

But in this case, the words are being sung by the women who wait at home while the men they love are far away on foreign fields. The magic of the Choir was that it gave these women a voice. The words they sing are their words, taken from their letters to their husbands and partners. This is no professional performance, no display of artificial emotions from a showbiz entertainer. These women are singing from the depths of their hearts and one can only imagine how much their words mean to the men to whom they are singing.

Wherever You Are is sure to become a classic for decades to come

And then there is one final layer of emotional icing on the cake, the element that ensures that Wherever You Are will become a classic to be played for decades to come. This is a song about love and absence. It was created for soldiers, sailors and aicrew, but it applies equally well to anyone who is far from their loved ones and could be sung by any and all of us who will have a space at our table on Christmas Day. We all have to deal with loss. Loved ones die. Families break apart. Friends and lovers move away – to a new house, a new town, even a new country. But wherever they are, we love them still and our love endures.

What better, more uplifting message could there possibly be at Christmas? And how flint-hearted would one have to be not to shed a quiet tear?

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
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Got it from Amazon,as my wife wanted it to show support. Since it arrived yesterday 22nd, the song has been heard regularly in my head.
Great, great tv and perhaps the BBC is still capable of great tv and patriotic thoughts, so maybe Ross, alternative non funny comedy and idiotic lefties have finally had their day. This proves this type of genuine program is successful.
Well done all !

– Grumpyoldgitjohn, South East Cornwall, 24/12/2011 01:34

”I’ve shed a few tears to the Military Wives, and I don’t mind admitting it”…neither do I!!!

– fleety, wirral,england, 23/12/2011 21:16

I’ve shed a few tears to the Military Wives, and I don’t mind admitting it
You too? What a right couple of big girls blouses we are! Thank goodness!

– Peter North ex SNCO, Sutton, Surrey, 23/12/2011 21:00

The best thing the BBC have broadcast for years.

– Steptoe, Gateshead England, 23/12/2011 18:27

Well Done to the Forces Wives Choir.
Lets have more please?

– The Voice Of Reason , Newcastle UK, 23/12/2011 18:11

Me too. In an increasingly judgemental society it was great to see Gareth giving these women a voice, helping them regain their self confidence, and produce a memorable song that will no doubt bring tears to my eyes every time I hear it. Well done Gareth, choir members, and the BBC.

– JL, England, 23/12/2011 16:25

Agreed. Marvellous; blooming marvellous!

– David James, Everdon, United Kingdom, 23/12/2011 16:14

Just reading this article has had me welling up again, God bless Gareth. Hope he gets a DESERVED mention in the new years honours.

– Michael, Staines England, 23/12/2011 15:43

MY feelings exactly, may they go from strength to strength. It’s a very long time since we heard a proper song with so much meaning. Makes all the wannabees look pretty silly.
A man with feelings.

– Alarmed, Driffield, 23/12/2011 12:44

I couldn’t have put it better.

– Bob, Glasgow, 23/12/2011 12:32

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