Sam Fender provides the soundtrack to John Lewis’ 20th annual Christmas advert, covering the Rolling Stones’ 1969 song “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” The ad features performances of the classic track alongside appearances by actors Kristin Scott Thomas and the voice of Paul Whitehouse.
Several outlets report that Mick Jagger has already approved of the cover. Jagger is described as saying he was pleased Fender was covering one of his songs and that Fender “done a great job” with it. Fender also describes the recording as a privilege and explains that it includes a children’s choir from John Spence Community High School and brass from the Easington Colliery Band, reflecting a local North East connection.
Other coverage also situates the advert within its wider creative direction. The Mirror highlights the campaign’s theme of anxiety about finding a “perfect gift,” framed by the “cost-of-living” crisis, while additional background pieces note how Stones music has previously been reinterpreted across different languages and genres. Details such as the advert’s planned TV debut timing are included by some outlets, while others focus more on the musical collaboration and its history.
