Yuletide Spirit: October 2016

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Welcome Ken from the Sounds of Christmas! What's new in #Christmas Music for 2016 #RudolphDay

Thanks so much for inviting me back to your blog, Michelle!

I am very excited about the upcoming season for the Sounds of Christmas (which starts on November 1, which is next week)!

I’ve started this year off doing something a little different.

For the last nine Christmas seasons, I’ve played a huge variety of Christmas music, and I’ve worked hard to play thousands of songs, without repeating the same song and the same artist. So you don’t hear “Sleigh Ride” twice an hour, and you don’t hear Johnny Mathis over and over.

I have just always felt that there’s so much good Christmas music out there, and more and more coming every year, there’s no reason to play Bing’s “White Christmas” every other hour.

I’m hoping to take that same philosophy into more online stations, which I hope to launch in early 2017. I don’t want to drag this blog too far off topic, but if you’re interested in learning more about the future of the Sounds of Christmas, and how you can be a part of it, check out our Patreon page right here àt https://www.patreon.com/SOCMusic

So what’s new this season?

Once again, there is a lot of terrific new music this year, much of which is already out! I’m sure I won’t be able to get to it all in this blog, and there are always surprise releases that show up as the season gets going!

Fans of Reba McEntire probably already know about her new Christmas album, which was actually released last month, and my understanding is you’ll only be able to find it at Cracker Barrel! Although you can probably get it from Reba’s website. Or Cracker Barrel’s website.

There’s also a really cool collection that came out last month, from about eighteen of the greatest musicians in the New Orleans area. They call themselves the NOLA Players, and the album is called “Christmas In New Orleans”. They released a video about the project before it came out, and if you’re interested, you can check that out here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttTn3Eh6t1k

Also last month, the Laurence Juber Trio released “Holidays and Hollynights”. You may not know his name, but you probably know at least some of Laurence’s work, including his stint as a guitarist for Paul McCartney and Wings!

The “Marvelous Wonderettes” is something I stumbled across recently. This is a holiday version of a popular off-Broadway musical by the same name. The album is actually called “Winter Wonderettes”. The musical takes place during the 1968 Christmas season, and the songs are very fresh, while maintaining that 60’s girl group style.

Country legend Loretta Lynn revisited the Christmas album she released in 1966, recording new versions of many songs that appeared on that earlier release. “White Christmas Blue” was released earlier this month.

Frankie Valli, yes THAT Frankie Valli, has recorded a new Christmas album! And on "Merry Christmas, Baby" he teams up with rock guitar legend Jeff Beck! The album is called "Tis The Seasons", and it's the first solo Christmas release in his career! Frankie did record a memorable Christmas album with the Four Seasons in the 60's. And Bob Gaudio, who formed the Four Seasons with Frankie back in 1960 (and wrote many of their biggest hits), put this together with Frankie. Gaudio was also the force behind the Broadway smash "Jersey Boys"!

If you’re looking for something a little different, or if you’re a classical music fan OR a classic rock fan, you should check out Classical Blast’s “Dark Side Of The Yule”. Classical Blast is known for putting a classical spin on classic rock songs, often mixing a couple of them together. One of my early favorites on this release is the mash-up of Tchaikovsky’s “Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy” with Metallica’s “Enter Sandman”. To get a better idea, check out the video they made about a year ago of Radiohead’s “Creep” with a little help from Bach - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_quX90YGgaM\

Other notable releases from last month include Elizabeth Chan’s “Five Golden Rings”, Johnny Staton’s “Merry Christmas”, and the American Horn Quartet’s “The Christmas Album”.

This month has seen the release of Damian McGinty’s “This Christmas Time”. Damian was formerly a member of Celtic Thunder, and he also played “Rory” on the third season of “GLEE”.

Speaking of “GLEE”, Jane Lynch will be releasing a Christmas album, “Swingin’ Little Christmas”, next month.

Also next month, another former member of Celtic Thunder, Keith Harkin, will release a Christmas album. Harkin’s is called “Nollaig”. Nollaig is an Irish word associated with Christmas Day, and usually with the birth of Christ,

There are a lot of country artists releasing Christmas music this year. Aside from Reba and Loretta, there are also releases out from Chris Young, Rascal Flatts, Exile and the Oak Ridge Boys. Plus, there are more country releases on the way, including albums by Brett Eldredge, Kacey Musgraves, Jennifer Nettles, and a joint collection from Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood!

This year, we’re also seeing a lot of releases from singers and bands that have previously put out Christmas albums. Some of these include Amy Grant, Jimmy Buffett, Straight No Chaser, Sarah McLachlan, Pentatonix, Neil Diamond, Jackie Evancho and She and Him.

And there are several artists re-releasing albums with extra songs and/or video, including the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Kylie Minogue and Tony Hadley.

Plus there’s a new single on the way from Josh Groban (“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”)!

There are still plenty of rumors about other releases (including a Christmas album from William Shatner), so stay tuned for the latest. And once the Sounds of Christmas gets rolling, I’m hoping to bring back an hour of all-new Christmas music every week night at 8:00pm (Eastern)!

Hope you’re able to spend at least some of your holiday season with us!

And may you always believe in Santa Claus!

Ken
http://www.SoundsofChristmas.com

A big thank you to Ken for all the exciting Christmas music news! My budget is going to be wrecked this year!

Always in spirit...

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I have always loved the holidays, which for me is Yuletide and Halloween (I love Thanksgiving too). I try to keep the spirit going year-round, with Christmas in July in the middle of summer. What I love the most about Christmas and Yuletide are the feelings of good will and peace, and the traditions, which are the message of the season. Keeping the spirit and celebrating Yuletide all year long is the goal. Oh, and don't forget Halloween. Click the Halloween button below to check out our page. I intend to share more Halloween elements going forward. I hope you enjoy your time here! I also blog at my main blog, True Book Addict. Just click the button below the Halloween button to visit.

Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.

Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them, for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happens on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed; and that was quite enough for him.

He had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon the Total Abstinence Principle, ever afterward; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Every One!

from A CHRISTMAS CAROL BY CHARLES DICKENS, 1812-1870

Christmas Morning

Jo was the first to wake in the gray dawn of Christmas morning. No stockings hung at the fireplace, and for a moment she felt as much disappointed as she did long ago, when her little sock fell down because it was so crammed with goodies. Then she remembered her mother's promise, and slipping her hand under her pillow, drew out a little crimson-covered book. She knew it very well, for it was that beautiful old story of the best life ever lived, and Jo felt that it was a true guide-book for any pilgrim going the long journey. She woke Meg with a "Merry Christmas," and bade her see what was under her pillow. A green-covered book appeared, with the same picture inside, and a few words written by their mother, which made their one present very precious in their eyes. Presently Beth and Amy woke, to rummage and find their little books also,--one dove-colored, the other blue; and all sat looking at and talking about them, while the east grew rosy with the coming day.
..
from LITTLE WOMEN BY Louisa May Alcott, 1832-1888

The Magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise men--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are the wisest. Everywhere they are the wisest. They are the Magi.
..
from THE GIFT OF THE MAGI BY O. Henry

Home for Christmas

This is meeting time again. Home is the magnet. The winter land roars and hums with the eager speed of return journeys. The dark is noisy and bright with late-night arrivals--doors thrown open, running shadows on snow, open arms, kisses, voices and laughter, laughter at everything and nothing. Inarticulate, giddying and confused are those original minutes of being back again. The very familiarity of everything acts like shock. Contentment has to be drawn in slowly, steadyingly, in deep breaths--there is so much of it. We rely on home not to change, and it does not, wherefore we give thanks. Again Christmas: abiding point of return. Set apart by its mystery, mood and magic, the season seems in a way to stand outside time. All that is dear, that is lasting, renews its hold on us: we are home again....

from HOME FOR CHRISTMAS BY Elizabeth Bowen, 1899-1973

Where do you think you're going? Nobody's leaving. Nobody's walking out on this fun, old-fashioned family Christmas. No, no! We're all in this together. This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here! We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny f***ing Kaye! And when Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse!

Clark W. Griswold in "CHRISTMAS VACATION"

Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspision love actually is all around.

~Prime Minister (Hugh Grant) IN "LOVE ACTUALLY"

Christmas began being celebrated on December 25 in 336 A.D. In 350, Pope Julius I declared December 25 the official date, and, in 529, Emperor Justinian declared Christmas a civic holiday. The biblical Jesus was not actually born on December 25. His birth probably took place in the summer months because shepherds and their flocks (the Nativity story portrays that they were present at the birth) would not have been roaming the hills at night in the winter. The reason the Pope chose December 25 as the official date was an attempt to incorporate the winter solstice festivals important to the cultures of pre-Christian Europe and Asia. Christian leaders believed that the best way to get the pagans to accept Christianity was to include their most deep rooted traditions in to Christian worship and celebration. Here are some popular pagan traditions that still survive today:

The Yule Log--this tradition has very deep pagan roots. The massive logs were burned in winter ceremonies in celebration of the sun. The selection of the log was crucial and included much ceremony because the log started the celebration fires and would last for the duration of the winter festival. To justify this pagan ritual, the Christian church gave it a new significance, that the fire signified the light that came from Heaven when Christ was born. The log was lit on Christmas Eve and left burning throughout the twelve days of Christmas (see below for the tradition behind the twelve days of Xmas).

Greenery--evergreens were revered by pagan people because they could stay alive during the cold dark winters. Considered magical, greenery decorated the inside and outside of houses during the winter solstice festivals. Church officials again justified the continued use of greenery by saying it symbolized Christ, who in his triumph over death gave the gift of everlasting life to the world. The most common Christmas greenery in use today: holly, ivy, mistletoe, and, of course, the most revered Christmas tree.

Mistletoe--this Christmas greenery was actually worshiped in pagan times. Druids and Romans thought it sacred, for healing and as a charm against evil. It was considered a symbol of peace; warring soldiers who found themselves under mistletoe quickly put down weapons and made a temporary truce. Ancient Britons hung mistletoe in their doorways to keep evil away. Whoever entered the house safely were given a welcome kiss--thus the custom of kissing under the mistletoe!

Sitting under the mistletoe
(Pale green, fairy mistletoe)
One last candle burning low,
All the sleepy dancers gone,
Just one candle burning on,
Shadows lurking everywhere:
Someone came and kissed me there.

Tired I was; my head would go
Nodding under the mistletoe
(Pale green, fairy mistletoe)
No footsteps came, no voice, but only,
Just as I sat there, sleepy, lonely,
Stooped in the still and shadowy air,
Lips unseen--and kissed me there.

~Walter De La Mare, 1873-1956

The Origins of Santa Claus (St. Nicholas)--as a young man, became Bishop of Myra while still a teen, earned him the nickname of Boy Bishop. Bishop Nicholas, through courage and generosity, touched the lives of many people, saving many from famine and despair. He founded an orphanage and became known for his love of and wonderful relationship with children. He was imprisoned by the Roman Empire during a time of religious persecution. He was finally reprieved by Emperor Constantine who was developing a softer attitude toward Christianity. Nicholas died on December 6 in approximately 343 A.D. (This day is still celebrated as St. Nicholas's Day in many European countries) Nicholas was very popular throughout Christendom and he was named the patron saint of children, sailors, thieves, hobos, pawnbrokers, and bankers--and also Russia, Greece, and Sicily.

A Poem Suitable for the Season

The merry halls may jingle in the good, old-fashioned way; In merriment we mingle, with the music holding sway. The "Gloria in Excelsis" is sounding everywhere, But, really, 'tisn't Christmas, if Mother isn't there. She hangs a newer halo round the mistletoe on high; A spirit of bravado drew away the weary sigh-- For sorrow is no mistress, and life lets go its fear Amid the joys of Christmas, when Mother, dear, is here. The fire upon the hearthstone lights up with ruddier glow; The laughter is more mirthsome, bubbling forth in frolic flow; The Christ Child truly comes to us, in all His heavenly cheer, If the advent of old Christmas finds mother, also, here.

~William Hopkins ..

Item: Those Inconsiderate Last-Minute Shoppers

Way of women at Christmas puzzles a woman

Why not start list now (December 5) and do your Christmas giving sensibly, with regard to feelings of others, as well as for time, strength, and money? Leaving everything until last minute makes season harder for clerks and spoils holiday!

(Headline of an article in the December 5, 1926 Providence Journal urging procrastinating wives to show a little more thought during the holiday season. The article is accompanied by an illustration of an unnamed acquaintance of the author's who "used to dread Christmas and spent the whole holiday in bed, utterly spent, and with ice-bags at her head and feet.") ..

Item: Pearl Harbor brings a different kind of Christmas

While preparations are going on here, in a mild way to be sure, due to wartime conditions, our little British cousins across the seas have not been overlooked. Old Santa, that kindly bewhiskered man, will pay them a visit through the thoughtfulness of the relief agencies here...Of the many thousands (of) toys of various types and descriptions sent across the seas by Bundles for Britain, most of them are soft dolls and animals made from scraps of materials in the sewing looms...

(The New York Times, December 21, 1941)

Item: The Choice

If Western civilization dies in a rain of nuclear explosions, it will be written in a later day that the tragedy of our century was the inability of man to apply to the problems of peace the genius that loosed a most fearful Armageddon. "Peace on earth," the angels sang 2,000 years ago, but peace today is as tremulous as thin fog at dawn along the shore...Today is a day for happiness...but we shall end by trading that happiness for horror if we cannot recapture the humility, the simplicity, the understanding, the faith, the affection, and the lack of fear that marked the shepherds who saw His tiny fists wave in the lamplight of a stable at Bethlehem.

(From an editorial in the Providence Journal, December 25, 1957)

Item: The Immigrant's Puzzlement

Understanding Santa is troublesome for Laotians on their first American Yule

Khamehanh Chantharangsy was preparing about a dozen of his fellow Laotians for their first American Christmas...They had never heard of Santa Claus...Now that the refugees are in America, he said, "We try to do everything like American...." Khamchanh interpreted [for his friend Xiong Tong]: "He says it is quite strange, quite interesting but quite impossible for this man to penetrate the roof of his house with such a large sack of toys."

(From the Providence Journal, December 24, 1976)

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

Welcome Ken from the Sounds of Christmas! What's new in #Christmas Music for 2016 #RudolphDay

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