American literary giant Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote to the poet Walt Whitman in 1855, upon the latter’s publication of his collection Leaves of Grass: “I greet you at the beginning of a great career…”
Quoting that when discussing Finis Smith is appropriate. The young Texas-born singer/songwriter and musician’s cover of George Strait’s “When it’s Christmas Time in Texas” leaves a mark. Even veteran singers strive and strain for the cool authority Smith conveys in every syllable of his vocal phrasing. Balancing such an attribute with an audible burst of joy in his voice celebrating the Yuletide season is an even more impressive feat.
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He makes it sound easy like all the great ones do. County music legend Strait is Smith’s avowed vocal hero, so his poise is commendable. There’s no question that he’s well-versed with the material. His musical accompaniment for “When it’s Christmas Time in Texas” is superb. The fiddle was Smith’s first instrument before transitioning to guitar and starting to sing, so it isn’t surprising that he incorporates it nicely into the arrangement.
He stays faithful to Strait’s original. This doesn’t mean Smith produces a carbon copy. He brings added verve to his vocals absent in the original interpretation. Many listeners will note the physicality in the new version that’s missing from Strait’s version. The former is resolutely old-school country; Smith’s take on the song rides modern production values and sounds thoroughly contemporary.
However, both versions embrace the same fundamentals. Smith’s version also sparkles with a wide-eyed youthful affection likely born from a love for the song and his home state. He has a patient approach as a singer; you’ll be hard-pressed to tag a single moment, even a syllable, during “When it’s Christmas Time in Texas” that sounds rushed. It casts a dream-like spell over listeners from the outset and should satisfy a multitude of listeners.
Smith’s discography is thus far slim. The new single is a clear seasonal offering, but it’s more. It’s an early mile-marker in Smith’s professional journey that reveals his ultimate goal is nothing short of mainstream glory. He’s choosing material that reflects that ambition. It’s also material with a wide reach. “When it’s Christmas Time in Texas” has a following, it’s a recognizable track without being overplayed and makes no demands on listeners that they won’t happily satisfy.
He wisely never overstays his welcome. Strait wants this song to hang easy on listeners rather than belabor its presence, and Smith wants the same. His smooth affability never seems pre-packaged or false; you feel as if you get a measure of this young man when you hear him sing. There is no question that Finis Smith is destined for widespread success and this single alone proves it. He isn’t a poet, no, not that sort of poet at least, but it does not feel out of place at all to place him in that context. A great career awaits, and we’re lucky to hear it as it unfolds from these early halcyon days.
Garth Thomas