Who sings the John Lewis Christmas advert song?

John Lewis has just released its highly anticipated Christmas advert offering for 2022. The retail giant, arguably the long-reigning King of the festive ad campaign, has continued its tradition of melting hearts across the country with a touching story of kindness.

This year's advert follows a middle-aged man who tries to learn how to skateboard in the run-up to Christmas. In the final scene, viewers are left touched to find out that his efforts were all in a bid to make his new foster daughter feel at home.

As with every John Lewis Christmas ad, it features a soundtrack that will be sure to send fans into a frenzy. The retailer has this year kept up with its custom of using a downbeat version of a popular song.

If you were a music fan during the late 90s you'll likely recognise the song - All The Small Things, originally performed by Blink-182 - but you might not know of the man behind this melancholy version of the pop punk classic.

The song featured in the John Lewis ad is performed by US artist Mike Geier. The 58-year-old, also known as Big Mike Geier , is a singer, actor, and entertainer from Atlanta, Georgia.

The musician is most famous for performing under the guise of Puddles Pity Party, an act that features Geier as a seven-foot clown who sings mostly cover songs in a booming baritone. Geier, who refers to the character of Puddles in the third person, came up with the concept in 1998 when he formed a clown-themed band, but it soon became a solo project.

Puddles usually appears in a white clown costume with black detailing, with his face painted white and a small crown with the letter P on his head. As well as All The Small Things, Puddles Pity Party has done cover versions of pop hits such as Sia's Chandelier and Toxic by Britney Spears.

Atlanta artist Mike Geier performing as Puddles Pity Party (Mvuijlst/ Wiki Commons)

Greier became a viral hit in 2013 when he teamed up with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox to record a version of Lorde’s hit song Royals. The video has been viewed on YouTube over 32 million times and Lorde herself declared it to be her favourite cover version of the song. Bradlee has gone on to be a long-term collaborator with Puddles.

Geier also entered the twelfth season of America's Got Talent as Puddles the clown in 2017. He auditioned with Sia's Chandelier, winning over the judges and the audience, and made it to the quarter finals. But his performance of Royals got an X from Simon Cowell and he was eliminated. Puddles returned to America's Got Talent: The Champions in 2020 and performed Foreigners' I Want To Know What Love Is.

Puddles has also performed as a headline residency act at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas after getting the gig in 2019. Greier has composed music for television shows including iCarly and Victorious.

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