My friend who is spending her first Christmas in a warm climate recently posted about how hard it is to hear all these Christmas songs talking about snow and winter weather and bundling up, etc. I used to feel the same way . . . now I embrace the winter imagery, even though I am no longer a part of it. And it seems many Aussies do the same thing. I see snowflakes everywhere from Christmas tree ornaments to decorating Christmas serving dishes. There are pine trees and snow men in abundance. But to give a firm nod to reality and also to try to help my friend, I've created a playlist of Christmas songs more suited to those of us who won't get to experience the thrill of the chilled nose this holiday season. And yes, for me and my lack of a real winter for the past 4 years, a chilled nose would be a thrill! Please enjoy.
1-Christmas Like a Lullaby by John Denver: especially suited to those of us Coloradans who've come down under, but applicable to all who are calling a new place home this Christmas.
2-Little Saint Nick by the Beach Boys: they just have a sunny feel, don't they?
3-I Saw Three Ships by Sting: to me this is a great arrangement, very bright and cheery.
4-Feliz Navidad by Jose Feliciano: gotta love that guitar and the horns!
5-The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir: MOTAB with steel drums! It's the best!
6-Mele Kalikimaka by Bing Crosby: what's a holiday play list without Bing! And a Hawaiian Christmas song, no less.
Any other suggestions out there, I'd love to hear them!
9 comments:
thank you, Nene!! I have access to those songs and I will be playing them this week! I love, love, love that Motab one.
We are headed back to CO at the end of the week, so I am excited to enjoy the snow! Wish we were close! Merry Christmas.
Jeanene,
So, I need to give you my new email address, because I hardly check happystays anymore.
You may or may not remember, but I find snow to be highly overrated and not the least bit thrilling. That's just me, of course.
A fellow Arizonan yesterday expressed his feelings toward snow thusly: "Snow is one step above fire and brimstone." Got a kick out of that.
cutie-pie,
i like 2000 miles by the pretenders. not exactly about christmas, but, y'know.
also, judy garland singing "have yourself a merry little christmas" is my very favorite sad christmas song. sad christmas songs have become a must for me since i no longer get to share them with you. but anyway, that song especially, because it's hopeful but also so, so sad. it always makes me think of you, and maybe next year we'll be together on christmas.
a cradle in bethlehem by nat king cole. the best.
and for happier christmas stuff, you gotta have some squirrel nut zippers doing "sleigh ride"
also check out all of sufjan steven's christmas album. it's got some gems.
I forgot to include my all-time favorite upbeat Christmas song: "Little Saint Nick" by the Beach Boys. "aaaand when Santa hits the gas, man, just watch her peel! It's the Little Saint Nick! Oooooooo, Little Saint Nick!" Awesome.
k, I'm a tard. Just noticed that you put that song in your list.
that's ok, josh. you can be a tard, we'll still be friends. i can't believe you aren't over your loathing of snow yet! it begs the question, when people ask if you'd rather freeze to death or burn alive in a fire, which do you choose?
p.s. your blog is pretty sweet
jo, i had no idea sufjan had a christmas album. shows you how much i'm following the music world right now. i didn't know that you liked "cradle in bethlehem" by Mr. Cole too! that's got to be my favorite not-well-known christmas song of all time. i really hope next christmas we'll be there!
I second sufjan's album, it's a must!!
Hey, I never said I liked fire. :) Definitely would rather freeze to death and have my body preserved like that Sherpa lady in Vertical Limit.
Seriously, though, I don't think I'll ever get past the snow thing. It's pretty to look at from the comfort of my heated home, and the rest is pure annoyance. It even squelched my motivation to start running.
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