The Little Blogger Boy
Is it close enough to Christmas that I can talk about Christmas music now? I like Christmas music. In fact, most of my customary good taste goes right out the window when it comes to Christmas music -- yes, that means I even like Mannheim Steamroller, in small doses. Not Jingle Dogs, though; I have limits. Of course, I don't have to work in a mall, so I'm not forced to listen to Christmas music before I want to, which means I generally don't start until after Thanksgiving.
I like a lot of the traditional stuff, mostly -- give me some Bing, some Johnny Mathis. A twist is fine, too -- Bing and Bowie's "Little Drummer Boy" is an all-time favorite. I have a thing for contemporary artists doing traditional religious songs, especially if they do them sincerely, and put some effort into it. In my opinion, if you're going to do "O Holy Night," you'd better blow the roof off the place, because that's what the song is for. I still love that Jon Anderson version that's not available in America anymore, because he swings for the fences. If you want soft and solemn, do "Silent Night"; its' not like there's a dearth of options here.
But for me, the Christmas season hasn't started yet until I've banged my head to Trans-Siberian Orchestra's "Carol of the Bells," with optional goat-throwing. Yes, the proper title is "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24," but it's the Carol of the Bells, you know it, and I know it.
A favorite in recent years has been a wonderful medley of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "We Three Kings" that I heard several times on the radio, but didn't recognize the artist. I heard it again yesterday, so when I got home, I Googled, and discovered that it's by Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan, much to my surprise. So excellent. But what I can't get the Internet to tell me is who recorded that awesome electric version of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" that I heard in a store several years back. Wiki has a list of artists who've covered it, but I can't tell just by looking -- possibly Crash Test Dummies, but I'm not sure.
So, what songs put you in the Christmas spirit?
I like a lot of the traditional stuff, mostly -- give me some Bing, some Johnny Mathis. A twist is fine, too -- Bing and Bowie's "Little Drummer Boy" is an all-time favorite. I have a thing for contemporary artists doing traditional religious songs, especially if they do them sincerely, and put some effort into it. In my opinion, if you're going to do "O Holy Night," you'd better blow the roof off the place, because that's what the song is for. I still love that Jon Anderson version that's not available in America anymore, because he swings for the fences. If you want soft and solemn, do "Silent Night"; its' not like there's a dearth of options here.
But for me, the Christmas season hasn't started yet until I've banged my head to Trans-Siberian Orchestra's "Carol of the Bells," with optional goat-throwing. Yes, the proper title is "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24," but it's the Carol of the Bells, you know it, and I know it.
A favorite in recent years has been a wonderful medley of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "We Three Kings" that I heard several times on the radio, but didn't recognize the artist. I heard it again yesterday, so when I got home, I Googled, and discovered that it's by Barenaked Ladies and Sarah McLachlan, much to my surprise. So excellent. But what I can't get the Internet to tell me is who recorded that awesome electric version of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" that I heard in a store several years back. Wiki has a list of artists who've covered it, but I can't tell just by looking -- possibly Crash Test Dummies, but I'm not sure.
So, what songs put you in the Christmas spirit?