It’s Christmas next week, so the Song of the Week is a seasonal classic about two long-distance lovers who miss each other this time of year: It’s “2000 Miles” from the Pretenders.
Released on 1983’s Learning to Crawl album, the song was the second single issued by the Pretenders after the drug-related deaths of guitarist James Honeyman-Scott and bassist Pete Farndon. Singer-songwriter Chrissie Hynde’s song features a lilting guitar riff from new guitarist Robbie McIntosh.
“2000 Miles” went to #15 on the U.K. Singles Chart and has become a holiday favorite, featured on many Christmas music compilations, including the first installment of A Very Special Christmas. The song has appeared frequently on the U.K. Singles Chart around Christmastime.
It has been covered by many artists, including Coldplay, KT Tunstall, Kylie Minogue and Smash Mouth.