One of the most notable things to come out of Lacey Chabert’s Christmas Waltz is the fact that so many people want to know more about the version of “Christmas Waltz” used in the final dance routine in the movie. I tried to Shazam it with no luck, and then tried Soundhound. Nothing. The credits were almost impossible to read (even on my 55″ tv screen) because Hallmark Channel reduces the credits from full screen to 1/3 screen in order to begin promotion for another movie coming up on their roster. The result is that while I was able to see that the closing credits contained info about the cover version used in the movie, it was pretty much illegible.
Last night the movie re-aired, so I gave it the old college try and attempted to decipher the closing credits. Tina Luu? Tara Luu? Tina Laa? Each time I thought I could read it, I’d Google the name to see what I could find. Tara Lee?
JACKPOT! That name came up with a singer out of Ireland. I listened to her new single, “Christmas Time in Dublin City.” Yep, the voice is very similar. I then hopped on Twitter and found the artist and DM’d her, not sure I’d even get a response. But alas – I did! And not only that, but she confirmed that it IS her singing in the movie AND we ended up swapping emails so that I could bring you a little bit of info about her!
First, as you probably guessed from her gorgeous voice, Tara is not new to performing. Over the past several years she has released several singles. However, she also acts. She landed a role on BBC’s EastEnders, as well as getting cast in The Fall alongside Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan. Most recently she played the lead in A Date For Mad Mary, which picked up an IFTA award for Best Picture. Tara can be found in two newly released films; Schemers, which won the Audience Award at the Edinburgh Film Festival, and The Racer, which is currently available to rent on Amazon.
Jane: Thank you so much for agreeing to a lightning round Q&A, Tara! First, people LOVE your version of “Christmas Waltz” that appears at the end of the movie. Which came first: your cover of the song, or Hallmark’s request that the song be used in the movie?
Tara: My dad (Stephen McKeon) is a film composer, and he was asked by the team to provide the songs for the film. They requested the Christmas Waltz as it’s obviously the song the film was named after, and is the song they use for the final dance scene. They had some vocalists in mind but my dad pitched my voice and my take of the song and the network okayed it!
Jane: Did you have any idea of the amount of positive feedback you’d get for having your song in a Hallmark movie?
Tara: No, no idea so many people would be reaching out and saying such lovely things! I thought it would be an anonymous little cover but I guess you can’t help but take notice when the actors are performing so brilliantly in that scene.
Jane: Any plans to release the song now that it has become so popular all of a sudden?
Tara: We’re definitely looking into releasing it officially now that so many people have reached out, so fingers crossed we get the go ahead!
Jane: It looks like you have a new single out called ‘Christmas Time in Dublin City’ – I gave it a listen and will add it to my annual Christmas playlist! Tell me a bit about what inspired you to write a song about your hometown of Dublin?
Tara: That’s so sweet – thank you for adding it! I started writing the song on a flight back to London after spending last Christmas home in Ireland, and finished it during the first lockdown. It’s a dream of home, and of all of the faces that I haven’t been able to see this year. It’s a love letter to Dublin, to Ireland, and it’s for everyone who’s a little homesick at the moment, wherever home is to them.
Jane: I’m so glad that I was able to connect with you on Twitter so that we could finally lay to rest the question of WHO IS SINGING THAT SONG?
Tara: Thank you so much for reaching out – you’re so kind! xx
You can follow Tara on Twitter at: TeeLeee. If you want to hear her new single while you patiently wait for “Christmas Waltz” to be released, here is the video for “Christmas Time in Dublin City”:
Tara does have a lovely voice. Is her version of Christmas Waltz available for download on any of the music sites? I’d love to add it to my Christmas playlist. Thank you.
When I spoke with her she did mention it would be released, but she did not specify a timeframe. My best recommendation is to do a search every few months on your preferred music download site and wait for it to appear! But since the holiday season is over for now, I imagine it won’t be released until October or November of this year. That’s what I’d do, at any rate.
Thank you, Jane. I will keep trying.
Love Tara’s singing on this movie. Saw another Hallmark movie last year ; don’t remember title but Christmas Waltz sung by She & Him ….absolutely beautiful , love , love this version. They’re on utube; You should check them out on utube…beautiful music.
If I’m not mistaken, I believe the She & Him version was in “A Royal Holiday” last year. She & Him is the Zooey Deschanel/M Ward pairing that have been around for over a decade and make great music together!
Yes, that movie , A Royal Holiday , was also an excellent movie also ; but the bonus was being introduced to this fabulous singing duo. I have downloaded almost all their music & The Christmas Waltz is my fave. Thank-you for your reply.
Christmas Waltz song Tara Lee is the best I’ve ever heard.