Photo credit: Sally Pilkington
Last month Rich(ard) Dawson announced news of his return with new album End of the Middle due February 14, 2025.
Now Dawson has shared the second song from the forthcoming record, “Boxing Day Sales” – a beautifully wonky pop number that merges Dawson’s deft yet infectious melodies with a pleasing bolt of jagged clarinet from Faye MacCalman (who plays the role of “lightning” throughout the album). It’s also his hugely unorthodox bid for a UK Christmas Number 1 song.
“I wanted to make a pure pop song,” says Rich. “Almost like a total throwaway song – like a Christmas gift: A pair of novelty socks, some Lynx Africa, or a daft plastic puzzle you get on Christmas morning and then chuck in a drawer for the next 10 years. I wanted it to be the most throwaway and lightweight triviality of a thing.” But Dawson also found himself moved by the noble spirit of the character in his song, lifting it to a place that went beyond disposable gifts, pop hooks, and a critique of capitalism. “Even when there isn’t much room for a character to speak you still must go all the way with them”.
The video, directed by James Hankins, features Rich posing in a series of shop windows and famous Central London spots as well as vignettes of eager shoppers going about their day. As Dawson’s final repeated lyrics “You owe it to yourself” ring out, we are left with a parting image of rubbish being collected.
