And I don't get some of them anyway...Let's start with Pine Cones and Holly Berries, which the elementary school choir teacher tortured us with every. single. year. I still get this song stuck in my head today...
"Popcorn for you, apples for me"
Why can't they both have popcorn AND apples? Who is depriving these kids? Does one of them have braces? And if they do wouldn't apples be bad too? These are the things I think about and it's just a downward spiral from there...
"Nutcracker handy"
Who wrote this song? Meredith Wilson is who pops up on a quick internet search and apparently his parents were too poor to afford both popcorn AND apples.
And then there's Jingle Bells, which plaques me at all time of the year. But at least it's a tune I can actually hmm or drum and get someone to recognize (remember, I'm tune deaf!)
Basically Christmas music can be an OCD nightmare... and not in a good way. After all who wants to be stuck with some of these songs running through your head while your gardening IN JUNE?!
So in an effort to keep The Soundtrack of Kenneth's Life going he searches high and low to find me the very best NON cheesy Christmas music. This year we give you.... CRACKERS AND CHEESE!
"This Time of Year", The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. On the surface this track might sound a little anti-Christmas and some of you might like that about this song. For me this song is opposed to many of the consumer-oriented customs of Christmas - massive consumer indulgence and Griswold-style Christmas lights - while emphasizing the feeling that "gets me and never lets me act like I don't care" and remembering that Christmas is special "cause all of us get together."
"Happy XMas (War is Over)", Sense Field. Originally recorded by John Lennon, this Christmas song was intended as a call for peace. At the end of the year, "what have you done" to help the "weak and the strong", the "rich and the poor ones" and everyone else have a "very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year?" Someone else asked those questions a couple thousand years ago.
"One Silent Night", Ffh. This track takes the spirit, setting and even snippets of the traditional Silent Night and wraps it all up in a mid-tempo pop anthem. It's a really pretty version.
"The Lights and the Buzz", Jack's Mannequin. This is the time of year when Awsumb always wants it to snow. He says, "if it's going to be this cold anyway, we could at least have some snow!" Sometimes the stress of life can keep us from feeling like it's Christmas. Even if "life has been no holiday", the Christmas break can "remove the splinters" and remind us that "it's good to be alive."
"I Hope That it Snows", Madi Diaz.
"Forget You, Santa! (Cee-Lo Greeen vs. Jackson 5)", Voicedude. Didn't get what you wanted from Santa this year? I love a mashup and this song humorously mashes up the Jackson 5's Santa Claus with "Forget You" (the friendly version of the big 2010 hit song from Cee-Lo Green) and for good measure overlays some lines from great Christmas specials and movies.
"We Three Kings", Greg Simpson. Now pretty hard to find, but it sounds like the Three Kings are driving across the desert, "following yonder star" with their gifts secured in the back. You know, with their hands out the window riding the wind...
"A Cradle in Bethlehem", The Beautiful Mistake.
"Rudolph (You Don't Have to Put On the Red Light)", mojochronic. Another great holiday mash-up combining The Police's Roxanne with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - and sound clips from the classic animated show. You will never hear another Rudolph like this!
"I'll Be Home for Christmas", Matchbook Romance.
"Maybe This Christmas", Ron Sexsmith. Another beautiful Christmas wish that we can find peace on earth, in our own families as well as in the world. "Maybe this Christmas will find us at last in heavenly peace, grateful, at least, for the love we've been shown in the past..."
"Leaving Heaven (feat. Vince Gill)", Matthew West.
"(It Must've Been Ol') Santa Claus", Harry Connick, Jr. This song captures the excitement of a child on Christmas Eve. He's old enough to have doubts about Santa, but young enough to imagine amazing things.
"Hey Santa!", Straight No Chaser.
"Elf's Lament (feat. Michael Buble)", Barenaked Ladies. "Girls and boys, before you wish for what you wish for... consider the price to an Elf." Christmas is the time of year to think about others. This is the theme song of "Occupy North Pole."
"Angel (Holiday)," Jack Johnson. Christmas is good because it reminds us to think about how much we care about those we love. I am lucky to have someone who lights up Christmas for me and makes our home a beautiful place to be, especially at this time of year. "I've got an angel... She give me presents with her presence alone, She gives me every thing I wish for, gives me kisses... just for coming home..." (Anyone who's groaning right now better stop, because we warned you! This mix is called Crackers and Cheese, right?)
"Do You Hear What I Hear", Sawyer Brown.
"To Be Alone With You", Sufjan Stevens. This unique artist is known for making independent "chamber pop" and has a seriously great Christmas album (four discs!) that sounds like no other Christmas album you'll hear. This song is not from that album, but is sweet and powerful and reminds us what the Savior did for us, and is a great way to close this mix.
Previous blogs regarding Christmas music you may be interested in: Mixed Christmas and The Sounds of Christmas
What Christmas music is on your playlist this year?
2 comments:
I'd never heard of "Pine Cones and Holly Berries" before, but I know who Meredith Willson is. He's the guy who wrote "The Music Man" and "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" (yes, a guy saddled with the name Meredith. It's probably punishment enough for any past musical sins).
Mmmm crackersandcheeeese. :)
Ok, thanks to Sooz and my Auntie I have more info about Meredith Willson. SO all this time I have imagined that Pine Cones and Holly Berries was written in the 70's probably because the only people I have heard sing it is the Osmond Family! Meredith Willson was born in 1902... so yes, fruit was a prized treat and for families that didn't farm dried corn for popping might have been a novelty too! So, aren't we blessed to live in a time we can have both popcorn AND apples! I love "The Music Man" but seriously will never get over Pine Cones and Holly Berries as I am sure it will plague the spinning record player in my mind for the rest of my life!
Post a Comment