Monthly Archives: December 2016

Christmas Song Four On December Four

Posted in Christmas, Music by

Hello, dear Vixens!!!  Welcome back to the Christmas music countdown!!!

wood-snowflakes

Courtesy of Architecture Art Designs.

In contrast to yesterday’s acoustic pick, today’s song is as big band as it gets, which is a main reason for its appeal to me.  It reminds me of when my parents or grandmother would play Dean Martin or Frank Sinatra holiday albums when I was a kid.  To hear their take on the songs I sang with my friends brought a whole new feeling to them:  glitzy, big and oh-so-grown-up.   It was like learning a new language that I could not get enough of.

Dean Martin, circa 1958.

                  Dean Martin, circa 1958.   Courtesy of www.bestmoviesbyfarr.com

frank-sinatra

Frank Sinatra.  Courtesy of WABC.

Parents and grandparents teach us many lessons throughout our lives, and the love of music mine shared with me is a gift I treasure every second of every day, not just at Christmas time.  I am unbelievably lucky and eternally grateful!!!

Of course, Bruce Springsteen’s version of this song will always be my favorite…..

bruce-merrychristmasbaby                                          The Big Man & The Boss Man.  Courtesy of Eric Meola.

But this singer’s cover is big, brassy and fun!!!  And speaking of fun, he was hilarious on SNL with host Jon Hamm in the skit “Ham & Bublé“.

I have also been praying for him and his family since hearing about his three-year old son’s cancer diagnosis   😦

Michael Bublé:  Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing some things that I love with you.

Until next time, fellow Vixens, happy listening!!!

rustic-christmas-decorations-6-620x930                                                                Courtesy of Vintage News Junkie.com.

Third One’s A Charmer

Posted in Christmas, Music by

Hello, dear Vixens!!!  We have arrived at song #3!!!

woodland-christmas-tree

This legend from my home state of NY just announced his 50th world tour, and getting tickets to one of his shows will be this year’s Christmas gift to myself (he will be in CT next June).

During those 50 years he has sold over 120 million records (including the Monkees hit “I’m a Believer”), has had eleven number 1 hits, is in both the Songwriters Hall of Fame & the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, appeared in one of the greatest concert movies ever made (“The Last Waltz“), starred in the 1980 blockbuster, “The Jazz Singer” and was the focus of idolization in the movie “Saving Silverman” where he appeared as himself.

last-waltz

Courtesy of IMDb.

SAVING SILVERMAN, Neil Diamond, Jason Biggs, Jack Black, Steve Zahn, 2001

                                                    Courtesy of Cineplex.com                                                                                

Total aside…..hilarious movie!!!

With Steve Zahn & Jack Black starring in it, how could it not be, right???

But I digress.

Over the summer I went to several games at Fenway and loved singing the stadium staple “Sweet Caroline” with the rest of the crowd for the 8th inning sing along.

I have always been a believer that less is more, and sometimes an acoustic performance is so much more powerful than a full band sound.  This is so true on “Acoustic Christmas“, his newest release that features 10 simply gorgeous Christmas songs including today’s pick, which features a stunning string arrangement.

Neil Diamond:  Hark!  The Herald Angels Sing.

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing some things that I love with you.

Until next time, fellow Vixens, happy listening!!!

day-3

 

Song Sung Two

Posted in Christmas, Music by

Hi again, Vixens!!!  Thanks for tuning in for the second song of the Christmas season.

christmas_village_streetview_640

Ogden City Village, Utah

Today’s tune dates back to 1943.  It has been covered by singers like Perry Como to Frank Sinatra to Kelly Clarkson to Michael Buble.  With so many diverse artists covering it in the last 70 years, a lot of people do not realize that the roots of the song go back to World War II and the soldiers stationed overseas who could not be home to celebrate the holiday with their families.  Hence, the last line of the song:  “I’ll be home for Christmas if only in my dreams”.  And with so many of our servicemen and women still serving our country on foreign soil far away from their families, the song’s original meaning holds true for them today.

ww-ii-2

New York, 1942 Photo by Alfred Eisenstaed

At this moment, the song can be used as a prayer for the people of Tennessee who have either lost their homes or have been forced out of them because of the horrific wildfires raging near Gatlinburg.  So it was easy to pick the version of today’s song by the Tennessee native who just set up a fund to help the people of her home state who have lost everything because of those fires.  Not surprising for this powerhouse of a woman who is a singer, songwriter, musician, actress and author.  This year marked not only her 70th birthday but her 50th anniversary as an entertainer as well.  One of her other major humanitarian projects, “Imagination Library“, has provided close to 80 million free books to children.

dolly-logo

Courtesy of Imagination Library

She is also one third of an unbelievably great “Trio” and starred in two of my all-time favorite movies, “9 to 5” and “Steel Magnolias“.

download

STEEL MAGNOLIAS, Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Sally Field, Julia Roberts, Daryl Hannah, Dolly Parton, 1989

Dora Lee & Truvy.

Sa-woon x 2 on day 2!!!

So as you listen to her beautiful rendition of this song, please say a prayer for our servicemen and women & all the people being displaced by the wildfires.  Let’s hope they are all safe at home soon.

Dolly Parton:  I’ll Be Home For Christmas.

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing the things that I love with you.

Until next time, fellow Vixens, happy listening!!!

trees

For The First Song Of December The Vintage Vixen Gave To Me…..

Posted in Christmas, Music by

Happy December, dear Vixens!!!  T’is the season for Christmas songs so while you deck the halls and enjoy your Advent treats, why not add a few new tunes to your play list???

hello-december-1

I have been overdosing on the genius of this woman for weeks now, and I do not see an end in sight anytime soon.  I have been a fan of hers for years, but after not listening to her music for a while because all of my CD’s are still not unpacked, I heard one of her songs on the radio (yes, I still listen!!!) and became addicted all over again.

I must admit she was an acquired taste for me yet, despite hearing her songs by other artists for years, I still did not get it.  But I guess I am in good company because Tom Hanks’ character in “You’ve Got Mail” was unsure of her as well (” ‘It’s clouds illusions I recall, I really don’t know clouds at all’  What does that mean?  Is she a pilot?  Is she taking flying lessons?  It must be a metaphor for something, but I don’t know what it is.”)

youve-got-mail-movie-meg-ryans-brownstone

Courtesy of Warner Brothers Studio

Total aside – I love that scene…..

And that movie…..

Sa-woon.

But I digress.

I am ashamed to admit that it took me so long to appreciate this woman’s gifts for story telling, poetry, imagery, songwriting and singing.  Now I can listen to her for days on end and still not get enough.  And for a music connoisseur like me, you know it has to be good if I am letting my ears have that much time with her.

So here is my first music selection…..

For the ENTIRE Christmas season of 2016…..

And I hope it makes your heart swoon like it does mine   🙂

frozen-river

Joni Mitchell:  River.

Another aside – Sarah McLachlan covered this song ten years ago on her “Wintersong” CD.  I think it does the original justice.  Listen to it here.

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing some things that I love with you.

Until next time, fellow Vixens, happy listening!!!

wreath

.