In what could be the Christmas video of the year, Air New Zealand has teamed up with Ronan Keating and rising acting star, Julian Dennison, to record a uniquely Kiwi take on one of the world’s most iconic Christmas songs: Summer Wonderland.
Reimagining the classic Christmas hit, the online video captures the fun as Dennison directs a reluctant Ronan Keating in a witty rewrite of Walking in a Winter Wonderland, to better reflect the festive season down under.
Air New Zealand’s General Manager for Global Brand and Content Marketing, Jodi Williams, says the homegrown lyrics sing out for “carol equality,” reminding local audiences of the moments that make a Kiwi Christmas.
“The idea of sleigh bells and snow doesn’t really resonate for us in the Southern Hemisphere so we wanted to have fun with the concept of ‘carol equality’ and come up with a song we Kiwis and Aussies can relate to,” said Williams.
“We hope the video will not only spread festive cheer but will also stand out against more traditional Christmas advertising, inspiring travellers to come down and see you don’t need winter to enjoy our wonderland,” Williams added.
As well as sending out an enticing message to prospective travellers from around the world, the multi-platinum artist, Keating, says that while he and Julian Dennison are an unlikely duo, they shared plenty of laughs recording the antipodean remix.
“I’m a big fan of New Zealand, both the country and the people and also of Air New Zealand. I love their humorous on board safety videos and of course, the great inflight experience,” said Keating.
“Working with Julian was a breeze – he’s an absolute legend, incredibly professional, and to top it off, he can definitely sing.”
The video features a teenage Julian Dennison playing the part of Ronan Keating’s producer in the video, as the duo try to adapt the lyrics to the popular Christmas hit.
“My job in the video is to sell Ronan on the idea of a sunny outdoor Christmas – the kind of day I’m looking forward to sharing with my family, jamming on the guitar or ukulele and chillaxing,” said Dennison.
“For me Christmas is about getting people together and in the groove, so what better way to celebrate than to make a track on a Kiwiana Christmas epic.”
