Sarge and Beans may be taking the day off so I'll pass along my favorites. Carol of the Bells is always a must for me at Christmas. Plenty of versions out there, but the Choir ones are the best. Manheim Steamroller has a very popular one, but it's a bit overdone for me. This one by Lindsay Sterling is a good compromise between the two though.
Have you come across Stella Katherine Cole? She made it big on Instagram and YouTube before being discovered, and now she tours Europe and the US. While I love some contemporary Christmas music, some of the classics, or in this case, the classic sound settles in my soul and makes me happy. Miss Cole reminds me a lot of Judy Garland.
That ones an old standard, but this is an original that came out last year.
Speaking of Judy,
This one is classical perfection, although almost a sad version the way she sings it.
Speaking of semi-sad Christmas songs, Joni Mitchell has it with The River:
Not a Christmas song you say? Well, the lyrics do mention Christmas ("It's coming on Christmas," "singing songs of joy and peace"), but the singer wants to escape.
"Themes: It's about regret, loneliness, and a desire to skate away from emotional pain, a feeling many connect with during the holidays. I admit it's not a traditional Christmas Carol (nor is Wham's "Last Christmas" or any of the modern Christmas-themed songs), but it has a lot of depth and plenty of singers have covered it.
Mitchell described it as "A Christmas song for people who are lonely at Christmas." I'm not sure there's much demand for that category, but then again, I'm not usually sad so maybe I wouldn't know. However, that description hits a chord with me because of what an active duty co-worker admitted during our pre-holiday Safety Standdown, that he was feeling sad and lonely and was making plans to end it all, just before someone intervened.
For me and mine, Christmas is super joyful, but to a lot of others, it just compounds the loneliness and it's not a happy time for them. My son doesn't like Christmas because he can't adjust well to all the "much-ness" that it brings and it's too overwhelming for him with his autism so I'm sympathetic.
Anyhoo, on to the next song. While not technically sad, just sad sounding is this one, which I have called the saddest Christmas song of them all because of its slow pace and plodding piano.
But I love it, along with the entire album. It's on regular rotation (literally- I have it on vinyl!) in my house, along with Nat King Cole's A Christmas Song album.
As for others, I enjoy the modern standards- Band Aid's "Do they know it's Christmas?", that Wham song, and Cold Play's Christmas Lights. One could say those modern songs are drivel, but I guess you could have said that about some of the older ones that have become standards- like Darlene Love's "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),"
Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas is You" is another now standard, but it's overplayed and I'm tired of it the day after Thanksgiving.
I'll close with a modern song that really expresses the reason for the season. Merry Christmas everyone.
Thanks for sharing Tuna! there is so much Christmas music out there, it is always fun to hear and see what people's favourites are.
ReplyDeleteTru dat. There's a radio station here that starts playing Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving and they don't stop until the 26th. Is probably in that material that you could do the music non-stop for 3 weeks without a repeat. But I may be underestimating it
DeleteMerry Christmas, Tuna!
ReplyDeleteThanks and right back atcha.
DeleteTop-shelf vids this Christmas Eve Tuna, Judy had quite the voice. And the song Christmas Time Is Here always perks me up because it is in that animated Peanuts special and that always makes me smile while the first time I hear Wham's and Carey's efforts of the season is enough for me. A Merry Christmas to you and yours Tuna.
ReplyDeleteTop shelf is high praise. Nothing but the best for my readers though! 😆
DeleteThe Charlie Brown song has always struck me as comforting reminiscent. Snuggled down in a warm fuzzy blanket in the couch with a big mug of Hot Chocolate & Kahlúa clutched in your hand, spouse next to you, glow of the fire - real or YouTube- and the tree lighting the room. All the prep work is done for the feastal meal is done and in disposal containers. Quietly talking about special moments of past Christmases. Maybe anticipating the Liturgy, and those special, joyous words at the end, with the priest giving the greeting. "Christ is born!" and the congregation responding, "Glorify Him!"
ReplyDelete"Χριστὸς γεννᾶται!"
"δοξάσατε!"
" Христос Рождається!"
"Славіте Його!"
"Христос се роди."
"Среќен Божиќ."
" Christus natus est!"
"Glorificate!"
Other seasonal songs that I like, can't say a favorite because it varies so much by mood and circumstances. But always Adeste Fidelis, Il est né le divin enfant, Gaudete, Stille Nacht, God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen, Deck the Halls- as a rollicking Carol as it might be sung in a public house, Wexford Carol - Alison Krauss and Yoyo Ma please, various wassaling songs not sung as a dirge.
DeleteGreat description, comforting reminiscent! I may borrow that. Maybe that's why I love that album and the Christmas song because it reminds me of my childhood when my father played those eight tracks. The winters up on the mountain in southern Oregon, in a log cabin with a wood stove heating us is a good setting for my memories for Christmas
DeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks, so is that Casting Crowns song using the Wadsworth poem.
DeleteOne of my favorite pieces of Christmas music is the album "The Bells of Dublin" by the Chieftains. One of my great grandfathers, after whom I am named, was a first generation American of Irish descent and the vibe runs in my blood.
ReplyDelete