Video: Christmas song is no turkey for Shropshire singer Adrian
Move over Orville and Emu, there's a new bird in town this Christmas – Eric the Turkey.
Eric is the creation of Telford's Adrian Hill, who has composed a catchy Christmas song and video about the adventurous turkey that is starting to ruffle a few feathers.
The bird first appeared in an acoustic song in 2013, which was followed by musical video last year titled Eric the Turkey Drumstick and Basted Remix.
This year he returns in Eric the Turkey's Christmas Wish.
Adrian, an automotive products manager at Morris Lubricants in Shrewsbury, says he loves making the festive videos for fun and to see how many YouTube hits he can attract.
He has been writing funny Christmas songs for his family and friends for about 10 years.
The idea of a song about the only turkey in the world that loves Christmas was prompted by a conversation with his family while they were stuck in traffic jam en route to Silverstone.
Adrian said: "Turkeys have a pretty rough deal at Christmas and I thought it would be ironic if a turkey looked forward to Christmas Day instead of dreading it.
"As for the name, I don't know any turkeys called Eric.
"I just thought it would be the most unlikely name to give him and it certainly works.
"Everybody seems to enjoy the video, which is why I do it. I had the idea of it and it snowballed from there."
Last year's song and video were based on Eric escaping from a farmer on Christmas Day. This year, he asks Santa to grant him a Christmas wish – to fly.
"To find out if his wish is granted, watch the video.
"Next year will be a follow on and I already have a few ideas," said Adrian, a former singer and bass player in an alternative rock band.
"I love making people laugh and I have a bit of twisted sense of humour. It all rolls into one.
"Comedy and music works for me and a lot of people seem to like Eric the Turkey. It still takes up as much of my time as the serious music I create, but I get a much more enjoyable reaction to it.
"Every December at work I'm under pressure to release the latest instalment of Eric the Turkey.
"It's a bit like the Coca Cola lorry or the John Lewis advert.
"Christmas wouldn't be the same without Eric." Anyone watching the video should spare a thought for Adrian's wife, Sam and children Emily, 15, Oliver, 10, and Matthew, nine, who have heard the song being developed for the last four months.
"They think it's crazy and love it because it's me being funny," he added.
