They've been piped into the stores since Halloween, so you've had plenty of time to enjoy them (or get sick of them, as the case may be). I know for me, I've got to be in the mood to listen to them, otherwise I tune them out.
Sometimes my family used to have them playing in the background while we trimmed the tree. I think Republic Steel used to sponsor a nonstop, commercial-free Christmas music marathon on FM radio back in the 1970s and we might have tuned into that. Either that or we had Herb Alpert's Christmas album (a Brady favorite) playing on the stereo in the living room.
Anyway, my all-time favorite Christmas tune is one that really isn't a Christmas tune at all, but it might as well be because it's only played around the holidays: Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride."
Why? Because it's timeless. It's come to symbolize the holidays for me.
As a little kid, I remember listening to it being performed at various holiday programs by a choir and enjoying the clippity-clop sound resembling a horse. Later, I remember either playing it and/or singing it at Masson in the various bands, orchestras or choirs. And even later, we performed it at Admiral King High School with my brother Ken doing the horse whinny on his trumpet at the end. So it's the one melody that seems to tie together every Christmas over the years for me. I never get tired of it and I always get a little teary-eyed when it comes over the radio, because I feel like a kid again.
As for some of the other Christmas tunes that come over the radio, I must confess that I'm pretty burned out on many of them. "Santa Baby" is one that is played a little too often; same thing with "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch." But who doesn't break into a smile when they hear Burl Ives singing "A Holly Jolly Christmas?"
Be sure to leave a comment about your favorite Christmas melody.
https://youtube.com/shorts/_VuGrIRX4j0?si=MBFGWo1dXR44dAYP
ReplyDeleteI have to say that both Dan and Alan have made great choices. "Sleigh Ride" and "Fum Fum Fum" are terrific pieces. I don't have a favorite myself, but Frank Sinatra's recording of "The Christmas Waltz" comes close. Actually any holiday music from Frank is always welcome.
ReplyDeleteChristmas time I go full cornball I'm afraid. I have bought CDs of the Herb Alpert album several times over the years, and listened to the Something Festive! Album on YouTube. I never minded the department store Muzak stuff, although these days anything less than 50 years old annoys me. "Sleigh Ride" is a favorite for me, too, along with heavy corn like Gene Autry's "Here Comes Santa Claus", or choir-like versions of "O Little Town of Bethlehem", "Jot to the World", "Oh Come All Ye Faithful", etc, etc. Ah, well. Those days will never come again. Merry Christmas Dan.
ReplyDeleteMy hi-skool choir director maintained that almost every popular carol was sung at least half too slow. Try it. Sing the first verse of "God Rest You, Merry Gentlemen" at the regular dirge speed, then do it again, faster. It's much better. All of them benefit from a quicker pace.
ReplyDeleteI think my favorite would be the Muppet version of anything, but I particularly like "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LksA53iiYy0
You didn't ask for the worst, but I'm volunteering "Little Drummer Boy." Anybody singing the baritone part gets sick of "par-rum-pum-pum-pum"s pretty doggone quick!
Burl Ives’ HJC is my fave Christmas song too along with Oh Holy Night. When I was little in the early 70s my mom used to always play the record album The Little Drummer Boy, by The Harry Simeone Chorale. I think that was released in 1958. It’s so cool that I can look that up and play it on YouTube after all these decades.
ReplyDeleteLately I've been listening to the (A Charlie Brown Christmas) soundtrack while I'm in the tub.Yes I still take the good old fashioned bubblebath.And I am listening to a actual cd instead of some magical stream that comes from a cloud from outer space.You can pick the cd up at practically any thrift store for a dollar.A dollar well spent.
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