Why nobody can resist Michael Bublé at Christmas, no matter how hard they try
Admit it, you only start feeling really festive when the Canadian crooner's songs start playing...
It's taken me a long time to come to terms with the fact that I like Michael Bublé. Yes, he's phenomenally popular, has sold over 40 million records and when tickets went on sale for his UK tour (ten nights at the O2) in 2014, they sold out at a rate of 1,500 per minute. People love him.
But his unashamedly sentimental songs seemed uncool and his old-school cheesy charm at odds with the modern world. When alone in the car, I turned up his songs on the radio and joined in at the top of my voice. But when around other humans, I'd roll my eyes and change the station. Bublé was my very guilty pleasure.
But then last year I saw this tweet from Stephen Fry, and I realised that if the QI quizmaster can admit he's a Bublé devotee, so should I.
Guilty pleasure No. 209 - the @MichaelBublé Christmas Album (Secret Santa gave it to me yesterday at the staff party)
— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) December 19, 2014
So here's why I and millions of others across the world love Bublé, whether they admit it or not...
1. His voice, obviously. So smooth and calming: it's like swimming in melted milk chocolate while having your hair stroked by a friendly bear.
2. His super-human charm, as exemplified by these gifs...
3. His sense of humour, and the way he doesn't laugh at his own jokes. Here, Graham Norton asks him about his wife's (Luisana Lopilato) pregnancy, and he responds with a deadpan, "I just hope it's mine."
4. Despite being famous and successful (with over two million Twitter followers), he's self-deprecating enough you could have him round for Christmas lunch and not feel star-struck. Or at least he's self-deprecating enough to make you believe he's just a normal guy.
"I think I'm a mama's boy who wanted to be a hockey player, who failed, and had to become a singer. I think that I'm a generous, impatient, kind, jerk."
"Look at Neil Diamond. Was he the cool guy? No, he was the housewives' guy. He didn't try to be what he wasn't. He just did what he did – made great music, was a good entertainer, nice-enough guy."
5. His love of Yuletide. It's hard to be cynical about Christmas when you've got his guy frolicking in the snow...
Having a festive chat with the kids...
Singing his way to Christmas dinner...
Dancing in the snow...
After a few songs, you'll be donning a santa hat, singing carols around the Christmas tree and joyfully eating a vat of brandy butter.
Yep, you really do gotta love Christmas when Bublé's about...
