John Lewis have added in an additional twist to this year's Christmas advert - by announcing a unique cover of their song will play during their ad on December 25.
The Verve's melodic Sonnet takes centre stage in 2024's festive ad, The Gifting Hour, which focuses on the special bond between two sisters. Unlike previous years, the original track plays in the ad. However, the retailer is offering aspiring musicians the chance to send in their own covers of the song as part of a nationwide talent search from November 15 on TikTok.
The winner - chosen by Richard Ashcroft and a panel of judges - will record their own version of Sonnet, which will be featured in the ad on December 25. Their cover single will also be released by BMG, with proceeds donated to the Building Happier Futures charity, and will be awarded a £3,000 John Lewis shopping spree and tickets to a Richard Ashcroft headline show in 2025.
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PA)Charlotte Lock, Customer Director for John Lewis, says: “The secret to finding the perfect gift is knowing where to look. Our ad heroes the thoughtful gift-giver and celebrates ‘the gifting hour’, the moment when you go a little deeper in your heart and in our stores to find something really special and meaningful for the ones you love. Our shops are the beating heart of our brand and our customers love the ritual of Christmas shopping there - so we wanted to give the store a starring role in our ad for the first time.
“This year the John Lewis Christmas advert features an original song rather than a cover track, and we’re offering the nation the chance to put their own stamp on it and become the ultimate cover star. So whether your style is pop, indie, country or R&B - we can’t wait to hear your take on Sonnet.”
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The Verve/Youtube)All proceeds from the winning single will support the John Lewis Partnership’s Building Happier Futures programme, which helps care-experienced people build brighter futures.
She continues: "Richard Ashcroft is supporting the Oasis tour, he's about to release another album. My kids - who are in their 20s - love 90s music. They've got Green Day, Oasis and the Verve on their walls so it's definitely getting that moment but we wanted to have the music match the memory. But in doing the cover version we can modernise it as well, that's the intent. And music is a huge thing. Every year there's a lot of speculation and often the song will go to number 1. We're hoping that it does with our cover because it all goes to charity.
"We actually decided on the Verve track quite early on because the lyric 'Looking through her red box of memories/ Faded I'm sure' absolutely hits it. It felt like that early 90s rock. It's one of those, it's a moving one so hopefully it will hit the spot."
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English (US) ·