60,000 Spotify streams for 60-year-old’s heartfelt Christmas hit

A singer-songwriter has released a new and improved version of his heartfelt festive hit to celebrate his engagement at a winter ice rink.

D’Artagnan Arbuah, 60, grew up in Earlsfield, Wandsworth, and recently re-recorded his song Merry Christmas Darling with a live band.

Since its release on November 1, the track has reached nearly 60,000 Spotify streams and has been picked up by radio stations across the country.

Mr Arbuah first released the song last December, to mark his first date at Hampton Court Palace ice rink, with fiance Josie Muirhead, 52, in 2012.

He said: “I met Josie at a Christmas party in 2021. We were just chatting and I suggested the whole group should go ice skating before New Year’s.

“On the day only me Josie ended up skating. It was just the two of us on the ice and she was holding my hand – gripping it so she wouldn’t fall.”

After their date, the couple saw more and more of each other. A year passed and Mr Arbuah said he was ready to propose.

He said: “I got this vintage ring. To mark our anniversary I said we should go back to the same ice rink. When we got there it was already dark and it was so lovely.

“I said I was going to do some tricks in the middle – I did a couple of pirouettes around her then got down on one knee. It was so beautiful, I felt like we were trapped in time.

“Everyone stopped to watch and clapped and the ice rink photographer had taken pictures.”

As a singer-songwriter, Mr Arbuah said the natural thing to do was to write a song about the special moment.

Keen to share his romantic story, D’Artagnan, who has used Hampton Court and central locations for the promo video on YouTube.

Mr Arbuah has been making music for years and released his debut album – Crush Hour – in 2019.

He has recently performed at festivals including The Cornbury Festival, Riverside Festival, and Frampton Country Fair as well as playing live on BBC radio stations.

He said: “I love playing live and am constantly gigging. I’ve been doing it for a while now but this song is really special to me.

“The feedback I’ve got already is so touching. I wrote this for Josie and now all these people love it too – I’m just blown away.”

Grammy-nominated producer Mike Moran – who has worked for Queen, Ozzy Osborne, George Harrison, Elaine Paige and Russell Watson – originally produced the song.

D’Artagnan Arbuah at Hampton Court Palace ice rink for his promo video (Picture: D’Artagnan Arbuah)