<a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/Business/UK/2022/09/01/john-lewis-and-waitrose-to-give-staff-free-meals-over-winter-to-help-cost-of-living-crisis/" target="_blank">John Lewis </a>has released its latest annual Christmas advert that features a cover of a familiar 1990s pop-punk anthem. This year's <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/uk-news/2022/11/10/john-lewis-christmas-advert-2022-highlights-issue-of-children-in-care/" target="_blank">Christmas offering from the retailer </a>stars a middle-aged man painfully learning to master the skateboard as he awaits the arrival of a young teenager his family is taking into foster care. The advert's touching final scene reveals the man's perseverance in learning the new skill as a social worker arrives at his door with Ellie, who has arrived at her new home carrying her skateboard. The new John Lewis advertisement features a cover version of a 1999 well-known pop-punk anthem by Blink 182. Entitled <i>The Beginner, </i>the advertisement is set to a cover of the band's <i>All the Small Things</i>. California rock group <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/music/blink-182-s-mark-hoppus-reveals-cancer-diagnosis-i-m-trying-to-remain-hopeful-1.1247905" target="_blank">Blink 182 </a>were one of the biggest bands of the late 1990s and early noughties, and were known for their energetic guitar-driven songs and humorous lyrics. US artist Mike Geier was chosen to provide the soundtrack to this year’s John Lewis Christmas advert. Despite his Pennsylvanian roots, Geier lives in Atlanta, Georgia, and garnered international fame through his most critically acclaimed act: a Pagliacci-type clown alter ego named Puddles Pity Party. Standing 6ft 8 inches (2 metres) tall, the 58-year-old is known for his irreverent, melancholy style of performing, often mixing comedy, mime and audience participation with his baritone song covers. In 1998 he founded a clown-based band with several other Atlanta-based musicians, though the project later disbanded, paving the way for his “Pity Party”. Geier is known to refer to his alter-ego in the third person, and while performing as Puddles will refer to himself as Mike, also in the third person. He shot to fame in 2013 after recording a cover of Royals by New Zealand artist Lorde, with Postmodern Jukebox. As of October 2022, the clip has been viewed more than 32 million times, with Lorde reportedly citing it as her favourite cover of the song. Since the release of the video he has toured internationally, and in 2017 participated in the 12th series of America’s Got Talent, in which he advanced to the quarter-finals. In January 2019 Geier, as Puddles, began a headline act residency at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada. The <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/television/2021/11/09/the-best-christmas-adverts-for-2021-from-john-lewis-and-ms-to-disney/" target="_blank">John Lewis Christmas adverts</a> are a highly anticipated staple of the festive season in Britain, and have become synonymous with the imaginative use of music. In 2013, Lily Allen’s cover of Keane’s <i>Somewhere Only We Know</i> accompanied an animated tale of friendship between a bear and a hare until the bear departs to hibernate when snow starts to fall. The 2014 Norwegian artist Aurora provided the soundtrack with a cover of <i>Half The World Away</i> by Manchester band Oasis. The tear-jerker advertisement shows a young girl who spots a lonely old man on the moon and decides to send him a telescope to give him a connection to Earth. In 2021, space traveller Skye crash lands near the home of 14-year-old Nathan, who introduces her to the traditions of eating mince pies, decorating the tree and, to her slight confusion, wearing novelty jumpers. The soundtrack was provided by 20-year-old London singer and songwriter Lola Young, who performs a cover of <i>Together In Electric Dreams</i>, originally released by Philip Oakey and Giorgio Moroder in 1984.
