As this worst of possible years draws to a close, it feels particularly difficult to conjure the usual merriness – especially as COVID-19 cases are once again on the rise, and friends and family are forced to be separated for the holidays.

The virus, of course, has also kept us from our usual travels in 2020. So we are particularly thrilled to receive such a wonderful Christmas gift from Paris as a new Carla Bruni video, for her current and captivatingly titled single ‘Un grand amour.’ (It translates simply to ‘A great love.’) We were actually lucky enough to have a transatlantic chat with Mlle. Bruni in September, to discuss her wonderful, self-titled new album, from which the song is taken.

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The ’60s-folk-pop-referencing track itself has a dreamily romantic quality, perfect for losing oneself in while reality offers so little solace. And the strikingly shot video shows a cast of many dancing joyfully together – perhaps wanting to offer some hope that we can all soon again share in the embrace of those we have been so terribly missing these last nine months. Which is precisely the message we needed on this very uncertain December 25.

Joyeux Noël!