Take That star Robbie Williams has penned a Christmas song about celebrating amid the coronavirus pandemic. Can't Stop Christmas is the British singer's ode to the festive season, as the world grapples with continued global lockdowns and social distancing.
"Oh, what a miserable year," the song begins, as newspaper headline clippings fill the lyric video, flashing key words from 2020 such as "curfew", "lockdown", "virus" and "isolation".
Throughout the lyric video, there are visual nods to the year, with face masks, hand sanitiser, NHS nurses, Facetime and Zoom all referenced.
The song touches on the number of deaths from the virus with the line, "Sadly some friends disappeared," which critics have slammed for making light of the tragic deaths of the year.
Williams also alludes to the UK's lockdown rules and whether they will be lifted before the festive season, in the lyrics, "who's gonna decide / If we can do the Auld Lang Syne". The line references the Robert Burns poem set to folk music, which is traditionally sung at midnight on New Year's Eve.
There are lighter moments in the song, too. "Santa's on his sleigh / but now he's two metres away," he belts out in one particularly catchy line.
Williams, 46, manages to capture plenty of 2020's buzz-terms throughout the song. "So what are we to do / about your Facetimes and your Zooms?" he sings in the second verse. Later, he lays out his unexpectedly easy Christmas list: "If you're wondering what I'd like / Socks and sanitiser will do fine."
As the song comes to an end, a choir chimes in and sings, "Why oh why are we all waiting / The whole world anticipating / Beyond boredom past frustration / The planet's locked in what ifs and maybes," while the lyric video shows photos of a healthcare worker in PPE with animated angel wings.
Split reaction to 'Can’t Stop Christmas'
Naturally, the release has had a very divided reaction online.
"Normally love your work, but cashing in on people's misery the past year? I hope the royalties go to a worthwhile charity which helps the same affected people," wrote one commentator on Twitter. Another wrote: "People will want to forget about all what’s happened this year, we don’t need it ramming down our necks as song lyrics as well, bore off."
However, the song does have its fair share of fans.
"This makes me smile so much! 'Santa’s on his way and now he’s two metres away'. Thanks for making a clever, funny Xmas song out of this crazy year," one admirer wrote. While another kept it concise: "Brilliant song. Punchy and Christmassy!"
This is not the first time Williams has released Christmas music. In 2019, he released a two-disk festive album, The Christmas Present. The album included covers of classics, including Noddy Holder's Merry Xmas Everybody, Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), and original hits One Last Christmas, Merry Kissmas and Yeah! It's Christmas. Williams collaborated with a number of artists, including Rob Stewart, Bryan Adams and Jamie Cullum. Most curious, perhaps, is the song Bad Sharon, which features vocals from boxer, Tyson Fury.
Watch the full 'Can’t Stop Christmas' lyric video here:
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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DMZ facts
- The DMZ was created as a buffer after the 1950-53 Korean War.
- It runs 248 kilometers across the Korean Peninsula and is 4km wide.
- The zone is jointly overseen by the US-led United Nations Command and North Korea.
- It is littered with an estimated 2 million mines, tank traps, razor wire fences and guard posts.
- Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un met at a building in Panmunjom, where an armistice was signed to stop the Korean War.
- Panmunjom is 52km north of the Korean capital Seoul and 147km south of Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital.
- Former US president Bill Clinton visited Panmunjom in 1993, while Ronald Reagan visited the DMZ in 1983, George W. Bush in 2002 and Barack Obama visited a nearby military camp in 2012.
- Mr Trump planned to visit in November 2017, but heavy fog that prevented his helicopter from landing.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
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Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
Gully Boy
Director: Zoya Akhtar
Producer: Excel Entertainment & Tiger Baby
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi
Rating: 4/5 stars
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
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Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
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The Kingfisher Secret
Anonymous, Penguin Books
Dunki
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
