I can't hold back anymore. I've waited patiently to give Thanksgiving it's proper time to be celebrated. Not to mention Halloween and Arbor Day. If I truly followed my heart the moment it got really excited for the Christmas season, I would have a tree up in September. There are too many wonderful things about Christmas. I am going to try to name them all. Don't worry, I'll pace myself.
For starters, let's talk music. I've been given gifts already! Thank you FM 100 and Cozy 106.5 for your twenty-four hour dedication to Christmas music the day after Halloween! In the privacy of my car on November 1st I am able to sing along loudly with Bing, Mariah and Harry Connick Jr. Thank you for this pre-season gift.
Now for a few specifics. I love almost every type of Christmas music with one exception - current pop. I'm not a big fan of the Backstreet Boys singing "O Holy Night," or Sum 41's version of "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree." I actually don't know if there are such renditions by above mentioned artists - just giving examples. (Okay, one more exception here, I actually like Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas is You." Sue me.)
I do have one favorite Christmas song that I play again and again every year. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir does an amazing rendition of "Twelve Days of Christmas." This is from their This is Christmas album. (Tambourine Noel is second favorite.) Each day is sung in a different style of music or musical era. Imagine the days of Christmas coming at you "Ride of the Valkyries" style. Or "Stars and Stripes Forever!" With big, big brass and drums and strings. Yea, awesome. This song stays on repeat in my car pretty much the whole week of Christmas. The best part (okay, there are a lot of best parts) is that the whole CD is live and this is the last song, and at the end of the song you hear the audience just erupt into monstrous applause. It gives me goose bumps every time. I imagine every single person couldn't help but springing to their feet the second they had the chance to give their standing "o." My mom was lucky enough to be one of those on their feet clapping for a reprise, which the choir joyfully granted.
Now for a few specifics. I love almost every type of Christmas music with one exception - current pop. I'm not a big fan of the Backstreet Boys singing "O Holy Night," or Sum 41's version of "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree." I actually don't know if there are such renditions by above mentioned artists - just giving examples. (Okay, one more exception here, I actually like Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas is You." Sue me.)
I do have one favorite Christmas song that I play again and again every year. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir does an amazing rendition of "Twelve Days of Christmas." This is from their This is Christmas album. (Tambourine Noel is second favorite.) Each day is sung in a different style of music or musical era. Imagine the days of Christmas coming at you "Ride of the Valkyries" style. Or "Stars and Stripes Forever!" With big, big brass and drums and strings. Yea, awesome. This song stays on repeat in my car pretty much the whole week of Christmas. The best part (okay, there are a lot of best parts) is that the whole CD is live and this is the last song, and at the end of the song you hear the audience just erupt into monstrous applause. It gives me goose bumps every time. I imagine every single person couldn't help but springing to their feet the second they had the chance to give their standing "o." My mom was lucky enough to be one of those on their feet clapping for a reprise, which the choir joyfully granted.
Also, I would like to thank iTunes for their gift of two free Christmas songs last week. Yes, Tony Bennett, I am listening to the sleigh bells ring. And yes Harry, I agree it does look a lot like Christmas. I've seen the Five and Ten lately, it is glistening beautifully!
I have a new favorite Christmas song this year. Enya's "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." So beautiful.
Rejoice! Rejoice! For Isreal, to you shall come Emmanuel.
I am rejoicing. Our Emmanuel has come. And I love this time of year to remember His birth, which lead to the most wonderful gift of all. I sometimes like to imagine I might have been one of those angels singing Hosanna! Hosanna! to the humble shepherds on the hill over 2000 years ago. And maybe that is why my spirit is so happy when it hears really great Christmas music. It's remembering the first Christmas music it ever heard.
3 comments:
This is so beautiful, Kara! You are so poetic.
Me like Christmas music too.
I LOVE MARIAH CAREY'S ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU...I got in a huge car crash blaring that song hahaha it was bad I crawled out of my car and was like huddled in the road and Still remember looking over and my poor crunched car and hearing that song still blaring hahahahaha and still to this day its my fav song
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