Welcome to That Eurovision Site’s 2024 Advent Calendar! Each day at 10:00CET we’ll be highlighting one of our favourite holiday themed songs from across the Eurovision sphere! today is XX December and our featured song today is “Christmas Around Me” by The Common Linnets, who were runners up for The Netherlands at Eurovision 2014. Happy Holidays!
Behind the 21st door on the TES Advent Calendar is…
About “Christmas Around Me”
“Christmas Around Me” was released in November 2014, and was written by the band themselves, with Ilse DeLange being responsible for the production. If you’re unaware, by this point in time Waylon left the group, which at the time of release, was composed of DeLange alongside JB Meijers, Jake Etheridge and Matthew Crosby, and his father, Rob Crosby. The song itself is, unsurprisingly for The Common Linnets, of the country persuasion, and lyrically is about reminiscing on Christmases past as you immerse yourself into the holiday season.
What do we think?
You really thought you could go a full Daniel-run series without something Dutch (Okay, Bodine is Dutch, but she’s German in Eurovision terms, so doesn’t count) popping up? Well you were so close, but still so far. As the resident Dutch-loving country fan of the site, this was a no brainer to put in the calendar for me, For me, “Christmas around me” feels like a perfect “singing around the fireplace” song. Jolly, cosy, and nostalgic. I really wish we got more out of The Common Linnets than we did, but at least Ilse DeLange’s solo album this year was very up my alley.
The Common Linnets’ Eurovision Journey
The Common Linnets, who at the time were a duo comprised of Ilse DeLange and Waylon, represented The Netherlands at Eurovision 2014 in Copenhagen with “Calm After The Storm”. Despite not initially being favourites for the competition, they would go onto finish in second place in Denmark, with a total of 238 points.
Both would return to the Eurovision sphere in some shape or form, Waylon, who I must reiterate, is not involved with this track, represented the country again at Eurovision 2018, competing as a solo artist with “Outlaw In ‘Em”. Ilse DeLange, meanwhile, is who AVROTROS have to thank for their latest Eurovision win, with it being her sending Duncan Laurence’s song to the broadcaster ahead of Eurovision 2019.
What do you think of today’s song? As always, please let us know what you think by getting involved in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow βThat Eurovision Siteβ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Threads, tumblr, and Bluesky for more information about Eurovision 2025!
Photo Credit – Alexander Kot-ZaitsaΗ, Gabriel Luengas/Europa Press, KEiiNO, Sarah-Louise Bennett / EBU,Β Jonathan Vivaas Kise, DR, Luisa Sobral, Donny Montell, Darin, That Eurovision Site, Eleni Foureira, UrΕ‘a Premik, Ochman, Bodine Monet, Stina Stjernkvist / SVT, DaΓ°i Freyr, Alma Bengtsson / SVT, LRT, BBC (Collage by That Eurovision Site)
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