Hi all. Welcome as we gather round the campfire that is my blog, where you can roast your chestnuts or marshmallows or whatever you fancy. To be honest I didn’t know this was going to be part two until part one was finished. And part one wasn’t published until Xmas Day, but I have been busy with one thing and another. I’ve not even put my review for ‘Silence Of The Sea’ on LoveReading.com yet.
Well on Monday (22-12-14) we finished buying our Secret Santa gifts and getting in the food before the rush, we are having lamb this year instead of turkey for a change. On Tuesday (23-12-14) we were wrapping the Secret Santa gifts and presents for other family members. On Wednesday (24-12-14, Xmas Eve) we got the veg in and the last bits that where outstanding. Finally on Xmas Day (25-12-14) we had Xmas dinner about 1pm and then went to my partners daughters (Dawn) for Xmas tea and Secret Santa gift giving: I got Lynx smellies (deodorant and shower gel), pair of Homer Simpson slippers, 2 t-shirts, ‘Revival’ a hardback novel by Stephen King, ‘The Big Bang Theory’ DVD box set series 1-7, a beeping key finder, a pack of cards with Football Questions on them, a Spirit of 66 mug, and a football mug filled with chocolates. Also lots of drinking and general high jinks. Boxing Day (26-12-14) we watched ‘The Christmas Shoes’ trilogy (The Christmas Shoes, The Christmas Blessing and The Christmas Hope) back to back with only toilet breaks in-between.
My blog today, in keeping with the festive season, is my top 10 Xmas carols and/or modern Xmas sung by popular recording artists. So let’s kick this off with…
Ten Xmas Songs By Popular Recording Artists
O Holy Night I have heard this song sung by many artists Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and even Kelly Clarkson. But far and away the best version of this song is the version done by Martina McBride, but it is a very particular version that is for me. The first verse she sings accapella, then the instruments join in and the song continues. But it is the amazing power in Martina’s voice during the accapella part that is most striking. My favourite carol sang by the only artist that does it justice.
Fairytale Of New York This is one of those songs that always gets done by someone else on one of the popular Xmas compilations. I’ve heard a version by Ronan Keating and Samantha Mumba with some important lyrical changes. Of course the only version that matters is The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl, probably given more importance because Kirsty MacColl is no longer with us. Kirsty MacColl sadly died in December 2000 after pushing her 15 year old son (Jamie) out of the way of a speeding powerboat. On three separate occasions it has been voted number one as the best Xmas song of all time. Since being recorded in 1987, it has charted in ten separate years and you can guarantee you will hear it every Xmas. My favourite modern Xmas song.
A Spaceman Came Travelling I have only heard this song by one person, and that is the person who wrote it, Chris De Burgh. Chris De Burgh was, at one time I suspect, many people’s guilty pleasure. He has this uncanny ability to tell a complete story within a song. Songs like ‘Spanish Train’, ‘In A Country Churchyard’, ‘Crusader’, ‘Borderline’ and the sequel ‘Say Goodbye To It All’ are great examples of his song writing and storytelling prowess. ‘A Spaceman Came Travelling’ is no exception. An interesting retelling of the Xmas Story. As an aside, there is an author called Erich von Daniken who wrote two books ‘Chariots Of The Gods’ and ‘Return To The Stars’ which say that ancient civilizations like the Mayans, Incas, Egyptians and Aborigines learned there skills from ancient astronauts. Cave paintings from around the world show the same picture of a man in a costume resembling an astronaut’s suit. The song and books are not related in any way but it’s an interesting thing all the same. Another stalwart at Xmas, always played when a sing-along is called for mainly because of the ‘la la la la la la la la la la’ chorus.
Winter Wonderland I was astonished to hear this song had been recorded by over 200 artists including Dean Martin, Doris Day, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga and Annie Lennox. The version I like though is by Michael Buble (shouldn’t that be Bauble for Xmas), he sings it in such a relaxed style. The story behind the reason why I like this song is as follows. One Xmas I worked at Macro (a large cash and carry warehouse) in Irlam, Manchester, stacking the shelves and basically helping customers find what they wanted. Being Xmas they play the same songs over and over again, all day, every day. At the same time a popular local radio DJ would play quirky things people had sent in from the internet. Someone (I think it was Bob Rivers, can’t be sure though) recorded a parody of Winter Wonderland and renamed it ‘Walking Round In Women’s Underwear’. I loved the parody and would sing it often. Unfortunately, one day I found myself singing it very loudly while working at Macro. I was reported to the management by either a customer or another employee, firmly rapped on the knuckles and told to sing the proper versions, or better still don’t sing at all. To be fair it doesn’t matter who sings it, it just makes me smile every time I hear it and mostly by Michael Buble (I prefer Bauble). And that was when I realised I would never live my dream of pop stardom?
The Christmas Shoes This was a song written for the film of the same name by the bizarrely named New Song. If you haven’t seen the film you should. The film is part of a trilogy which also features ‘The Christmas Blessing’ and ‘The Christmas Hope’. The great thing about the song is it tells you the plot of the film. The film is a weepy and it is shown every Xmas on the ‘Xmas 24’ channel (which is Movies 24 for the rest of the year). In fact all 3 films are shown every Xmas. We usually record all 3 and have a night when we watch them back to back, you certainly get through a lot of tissues that’s for sure. New Song and Blake Shelton (a country music star) appear in ‘The Christmas Blessing’ to play a benefit concert for a kid’s housing project. If you get a chance to watch them they are well worth it.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman An interesting addition this, as like most hymns, it’s been recorded and versioned by numerous singers and groups. My favourite version is by Sarah McLachlan & The Barenaked Ladies. They sing a verse each and then sing the chorus a line behind each other and it sounds amazing. The fact that Sarah McLachlan is my favourite female singer in the entire world of course has nothing to do with it, my judging is totally unbiased. Sarah also released an album called ‘Winter Song’ which contains a couple of original songs and some Xmas classics. Well worth a listen.
The Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth Past meets present, old meets new and elderly meets youth. Another, for me, Xmas classic sang by Bing Crosby & David Bowie. The acting in the video is a bit hammy, but the song is pure Xmas. A perennial favourite of mine, and when I get around to putting together my Xmas compilation CD, this will defiantly be on it.
The Power Of Love No band has caused more video controversy than Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Their first song ‘Relax’ caused trouble because it was about gay sex and was promptly banned by Radio One. Their second record ‘Two Tribes’ as well as featuring excerpts from the Public Information Film ‘Protect And Survive’ and a wrestling match between Reagan v Chernenko (which was heavily edited due to violent scenes), the full video could not be shown due to its excessive length. So you can imagine the hype surrounding their release of a Xmas record. The papers were told that in the video for ‘The Power Of Love’, members of the band would be characters of the nativity scene which caused outrage amongst Christians. The single was released and went straight to number one, and when the video was released it was gorgeous. The video showed a low-key nativity scene being acted out in the fore ground and in the corner of each frame was Holly Johnson singing the song. The song is fantastic, the video beautifully low key, another perfect Xmas song and another must have on my Xmas compilation CD.
White Christmas Another Xmas classic featuring Bing Crosby (d 1977) (again). The song first featured in ‘Holiday Inn’ in 1942, with Bing in that film was Fred Astaire (d 1987), Marjorie Reynolds (d 1997) and Virginia Dale (d 1994), and it also featured in the loose 1954 remake ‘White Christmas’. In this film with Bing where Danny Kaye (d 1987), Rosemary Clooney (d 2002) and Vera-Ellen (d 1981). White Christmas is shown every year without fail and sometimes even Holiday Inn gets an airing and although both films follow the same plot White Christmas always remains the most popular. There is a video on YouTube (if you can find it) of Bing Crosby singing White Christmas made up of clips of performances of the song he has done in films, Xmas specials and family Xmas specials, well worth a look as I say if you can find it. The song has forever cemented Bing Crosby into the fabric of Xmas.
Little Town No Xmas list of songs would be complete without Cliff Richard. Cliff could always be relied on to release a Xmas song when it was needed ‘Saviours Day’, ‘Millennium Prayer’, ‘Mistletoe and Wine’ and my personal favourite ‘Little Town’. ‘Little Town’ is of course based on the hymn Little Town Of Bethlehem. We know his songs are cheesy, but it’s a nice cheesy. And for me, personally, Xmas wouldn’t be Xmas without at least one Cliff Xmas song being played someone. My partner is a die-hard Cliff fan so Cliff’s Xmas classics will put in an appearance at some point, and I welcome them with open arms.
Of course there are some people who like to use the Xmas song to parody like ‘Jingle Balls’ by The Macc Lads (bottom right), and the equally offensive ‘Try Not To Be A C**t Its Christmas’ by Fascinating Aida (bottom middle). But no-one has gone further than Amateur Transplants (bottom left) who created a whole album called ‘Have Yourself A Sweary Little Christmas’ featuring the wonderful ‘All I Want For Christmas Is Cash’ to the tune of Mariah Careys Xmas annoyance. And I’m sure there are many others. These songs will be played every Xmas for evermore, because Xmas songs make you feel Xmassy.
Next week I will be doing a blog about my favourite groups, male singers and female singers and favourite songs by said musical personages. Then I will share a story with you regarding my granddad, after that we move into murkier waters. These waters are religion, politics, moon landings, 9/11, and other conspiracy theories and anything that takes my fancy. I will put disclaimers before the controversial ones, but as I said in my very first blog, while I won’t go out to purposely to offend anyone, if I do offend you … then tough. I write how I feel and make no apologies for it.
On that bombshell I shall bid you adieu until our paths cross again.
Don’t just read about my life, live your own.
weeklywitterings 