"Winter Song" is a seasonal song co-written and co-sung as a duet by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson. Although considered by many to be a Christmas song, no explicit reference to the holiday can be found in its lyrics.[2] It appeared on the holidaycompilation albumThe Hotel Café Presents Winter Songs by various female artists, released in 2008 through Epic Records.[3] It became a minor hit in Canada in 2008, reaching number 97. Upon release in Ireland in 2011, it reached number two for two weeks. A special charity single by #twitterxmassingle was also a separate hit in Ireland alongside the original version, reaching number eight.
Twitterxmassingle version
The song (full name on single sleeve Twitterers and the Twitterettes of the Parish of Twitter Proudly Present Winter Song) became a charity single in Ireland released simultaneously with the original.
The idea started with a single tweet from account holder @BrendaDrumm on the social networking site Twitter on 19 November 2011. An account was established at #twitterxmassingle to garner support for the idea. The co-writers also supported the project. 140 people from Ireland took part in recording it in a grand hall in Westin Hotel in Dublin on one Sunday on 27 November 2011 exactly one week from the tweet. The instrumentation was recorded at Ian Callanan Studios, with Callanan as producer and musical director, Brenda Drumm as executive producer and Paul Keegan as engineer and mixing.
The single (also known as the "TWinter Song") and the accompanying video were launched on an independent label on 4 December 2011 and through iTunes downloads. The single entered the Irish Singles Chart at number eight on the chart dated December 8, 2011, while the original by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson rose to number two the same week.[4] All proceeds of the charity recording went to the Neonatal Unit of Holles Street Hospital in Dublin, Ireland.
Credits and personnel
Composers – Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson
Artist – TwitterXMasSingle
Label – Holles Street Neonatal Unit
Executive producer – Brenda Drumm
Producer – Ian Callanan
Arranged by Ian Callanan
Instrumentalists:
Piano – Anne Cullen
Bass – Paddy Kiernan
Synthesizer and programming – Ian Callanan
Bodhrán, whistles and Uilleann pipes – Darragh Ó Héiligh
Guitar – David Byrne
Violin – Christopher Edwards
Viola – Nicola Bermingham
Cello – Róisín Magee
Instrumentation recorded at Ian Callanan Studios engineered by Ian Callanan
Choir and soloists recorded at The Westin Hotel, Dublin on Sunday 27 November 2011, engineered by Paul Keegan
Choir director – Ian Callanan
Mixed by Paul Keegan at Retreat Recording Studio
Charts
Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson version
Chart performance for "Winter Song" by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson
