Monthly Archives: December 2019

Happy New Decade!!!

Posted in Holidays, Music by

Hello, Friends.  Happy New Year’s Eve.  It is hard to believe we are on the verge of a brand new year and decade!!!  Doesn’t all that Y2K stuff seem so recent and not at all like it was 20 years ago???

Happy new year wishes0.jpg

I want to thank you all for your support again this year.  I truly appreciate your love, kindness, comments and input.  This ride would not be half as much fun without all of you and that interaction.

What do you want for the new year?  The new decade?  It is so hard to think in terms of a whole year, let alone 10 of them, at least it is for me.  I want what I always want-health, happiness, love and peace for me and the ones I love & a Springsteen tour.  I also want to worry less about what will be.  To just take the moments as they come instead of getting lost in my spiraling thoughts about what might happen and what I should do to prevent what might occur, as if I have that type of control over time and space.

Rather, I want to have more faith that I am where I am supposed to be like it or not.  And that my life is what it is whether I am happy about that or not.  And maybe, just maybe, if I spend more time doing what I enjoy and love that the rest will fall into place.  And if it doesn’t, I was still able to enjoy the time in between.  I completely get the whole free will thing and how my actions have the power to change things.  But the pragmatic side of me knows that life happens so you can only do what you can do and leave the rest in the hands of fate.  As the Doors said, “The future’s uncertain and the end is always near”.  And many times the end may just be the end of the chapter, but not the book.  One may hope, right?

I wish you all the best in 2020 and beyond.  May you all have health, happiness, love, luck and  great music always.  On that note (no pun intended), here are two songs perfect for today by two incredible artists that I absolutely adore.

The McGarrigle Christmas Hour Album & Rufus Wainwright (original dates & sources unknown).

Rufus Wainwright:  “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?”  (2005, written by Frank Loesser in 1947).

Rod

 

Rod Stewart:  “Auld Lang Syne” (2012, written by Robert Burns in 1788).

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

Until next time & next year, happy listening!!!

 

 

 

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25 Days Of Christmas Music 2019: Day 25

Posted in Christmas, Holidays, Music by

Welcome back to the countdown!!!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!!!  Buon Natale!!!  Joy to the world & peace on earth to all!!!

day 25

Found on Pinterest (original source unknown).  

I hope you all have a safe, happy & meaningful Christmas, however you choose to celebrate.  Thank you for joining me for the countdown again this year.  It’s always fun for me to find original seasonal music and new versions of classic holiday songs I hope you will enjoy.

For today’s pick, I believe there is only one that expresses the meaning and spirit of this day.  As for the singer, he began his career in gospel music before using his rich bass baritone voice to sing in almost every other genre, most notably country.  Many of his songs focused on trials and redemption, the latter of which is part of what we celebrate on this special day.

Johnny Cash.jpg

Johnny Cash:  “Joy To The World” (1980, written by Lowell Mason & Isaac Watts in 1719).

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

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2019: Day 24

Posted in Christmas, Holidays, Music by

Welcome back to the countdown!!!

Merry Christmas Eve!!!

day 24
Found on Pinterest (original source unknown).  
Today, my words are not important.  So, I will share those that are:
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding 
in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,
and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: 
and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, 
I bring you good tidings of great joy, 
which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,
which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the
heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, 
good will toward men."

–Book 42, Luke (002:08-14) The Bible, King James Version.

celine

Celine Dion:  “Oh Holy Night“, written by Placide Cappeau and Adolphe Adam in 1847).

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

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2019: Day 23

Posted in Christmas, Holidays, Music by

Welcome back to the countdown!!!

Merry Christmas Eve eve!!!

day 23

Found on Pinterest (original source unknown).

Is it weird that one of my favorite versions of today’s song is from a 1996 “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) skit?  It featured two of my favorite regulars, Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon, along with a very funny Whitney Houston a few years after “The Bodyguard” was released.  The skit is hilarious and ends with her and Shannon trying to out-sing each other on this song.  No, I don’t think it’s weird.  I think it would be strange if I did not appreciate this fabulous piece of pop culture.  Another one of my favorite versions of today’s song is by a 1960’s girl group who not only gave us some great music, but also helped to introduce all of us to another part of pop culture-The Wall of Sound.

Ronettes

The Ronettes:  “Sleigh Ride” (1963, music written by Leroy Anderson in 1948 & lyrics written by Mitchell Parish in 1950).

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

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2019: Day 22

Posted in Christmas, Holidays, Music by

Welcome back to the countdown!!!

Holiday greetings to all of you on this first day of winter!

day 22 B.jpg

Found on Pinterest (original source unknown). 

I have a weakness for string arrangements in any type of music.  It began the moment I heard the absolutely exquisite introduction to Bruce Springsteen’s “Jungleland”.  That union of a piano and violin is just so beautiful I never recovered from that first listen.  It inspired me to learn to play the viola in junior high.  I stayed with it all through high school, then in college I took cello lessons.  It became my first love to both play and listen to.  I firmly believe that whoever coined the phrase “hauntingly beautiful” did so after hearing an unbelievably powerful and heartbreakingly elegant string arrangement, perhaps like this one from my favorite movie soundtrack of all time by composer Rachel Portman.

Today’s pick was originally done with only a piano accompaniment to the singer’s voice which made for a really lovely piece of music.  The version of the song I am using today is also a  piano/vocal combination.  But with the addition of one of the most gorgeous string arrangements I have ever heard,  it goes from lovely to utterly sublime.

Ally mcbeal

Robert Downey Jr.:  “River” (2000, written by Joni Mitchell in 1971).

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

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2019: Day 21

Posted in Christmas, Holidays, Music by

Welcome back to the countdown!!!

It is not Christmas without little angels, is it?

day 21

Found on Pinterest (original source unknown).

If you are a fan of “I Love Lucy“, then you know Lucy and Desi went hand in hand with neighbors Fred and Ethel.  But did you know that the actor who played Fred, William Frawley, sang today’s song in the 1951 movie, “The Lemon Drop Kid“?  Well, sang is probably an overstatement.  He basically growled it and changed the words a bit, too.  In the scene he is dressed as a sidewalk Santa but has a disposition closer to that of Scrooge or the Grinch.  The look on Bob Hope’s face when he comes across Frawley singing it is hilarious and one of my favorite scenes in the movie.  But then Marilyn Maxwell shows Frawley how the song should be sung (with an assist from Hope and eventually others on the city street) and you have the best scene of the movie, in my opinion.

Frawley

  William Frawley, Bob Hope & Marilyn Maxwell in “The Lemon Drop Kid” (courtesy Paramount Pictures).

My favorite version of this song is by an iconic singer who is bigger than life itself.  I adore all his music but his take on Christmas classics like this one are just illustrious.  What else would we expect from The King himself?

Elvis

Elvis Presley:  “Silver Bells” (1971, written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans circa 1950).

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

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2019: Day 20

Posted in Christmas, Holidays, Music by

Welcome back to the countdown!!!

A Christmas hello from me and jolly ol’ St. Nick!!!

day 19

Found on Pinterest (original source unknown).  

A common theme in many Christmas songs is going home for the holiday.  For many people, the sentimental pull of family gatherings, traditions we learned as children and the nostalgia invoked from seeing decorations we either made or put on the tree when we were kids is just too much to resist.  Of course, for many the stress of too much family togetherness is enough of an issue to skip the trip home.  Some have committed to defending our country so home is on the other side of the world.  And for others, there is no home to go to.  But the one thing we all have access to is the music of Christmas.  That may help us all find a memory that takes us back home, if only in our dreams.

Buble

Michael Bublé:  “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” (2011, written by Kim Gannon, Walter Kent and Buck Ram circa 1943).

And for a very pretty female take on this song, my choice is by the second funniest woman in one of my all time favorite movies, “9 to 5”.  And she only came in second because Lily Tomlin is a comedic genius.  So I am sure Dora Lee Rhodes understands completely why she is my number two.

Dolly

Dolly Parton:  “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” (1990, written by Kim Gannon, Walter Kent and Buck Ram circa 1943).

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

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2019: Day 19

Posted in Christmas, Holidays, Music by

Welcome back to the countdown!!!

Ah, holly wreaths.  So simple yet add such an elegant touch to make any room more festive for the season.  And so pretty to look at, too.

day 20.jpg

Found on Pinterest (original source unknown).

I have always loved acoustic music.  The more simple an arrangement, the more you can really focus on the beauty of the voice singing.  Today’s singer had one of the prettiest I have ever heard.  She interpreted many songs in her own style, including “Autumn Leaves“, “Songbird“, “Over The Rainbow” and “Fields of Gold“, and each one was more gorgeous than the last.  Her cover of today’s song is no exception.

eva-cassidy

Eva Cassidy circa early 1990’s (original source unknown).

Eva Cassidy:  “Silent Night” ( written by Franz Xavier Gruber and Joseph Mohr in 1818).

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

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2019: Day 18

Posted in Christmas, Holidays, Music by

Welcome back to the countdown!!!

Wintry scenes would not be complete without a snowman.  I think this one has the perfect hat, too!!!

day 18

Found on Pinterest (original source unknown).

Imagination is part of the fun of Christmas.  Always has been.  For children it is wondering what Santa will bring them and if they might catch a glimpse of him coming down the chimney.  For adults it is thinking up new ways to celebrate, decorate and entertain, not to mention trying to come up with original and exciting gift ideas to wow their friends and family.  So with all that sharp thinking going on, it’s not surprising that songs about the season get creative as well.  One about two people building a snowman seems like innocent fare, right?  But when the couple starts pretending that snowman is real, and a member of the clergy who they can ask to marry them?  Still pure fun or the basis for a Stephen King novel???  🙂

My vote is 100% pure unadulterated fun, not to mention great music as well.  This song has been recorded dozens of times by many different artists, but this man’s version has always been my favorite.  It has been featured in several movies, most notably “When Harry Met Sally” and “Elf”.  He is not only one of the greatest singers this country ever produced but he is considered a natural treasure as well. And rightfully so.

Ray

Ray Charles:  “Winter Wonderland” (1985, written by Felix Bernard and Richard Bernhard Smith in 1934).

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

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2019: Day 17

Posted in Christmas, Holidays, Music by

Welcome back to the countdown!!!

A Christmas tree by a decorated mantel and a roaring fire…….does it get more cozy than that???

day 17

Found on Pinterest (original source unknown).  

Today’s song has been a favorite of mine since the first time I watched “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer”.  Who would not love a festive holiday tune sung by a cuddly adorable and very dapper snowman???

I always loved the line “say hello to friends you know” best.  It was just so cordial and lighthearted.  However, since the fall of 1997, whenever I hear that line, especially the word “hello”, I cannot help but get hysterical with laughter.  That is because all I can think of is how Jerry, George, Kramer & Elaine greeted each other with that word in a “funny booming jovial” hilariously boisterous voice supposedly belonging to Jerry’s girlfriend Clare’s stomach (using the belly button as a mouth, of course)  in the Seinfeld episode, “The Voice“.  If you are a fellow Seinfeld fan, you have just done the proverbial laugh out loud remembering that episode.  If you are one of the three people who was not a fan of the show, here’s a clip to bring you up to speed.  Only Jerry & Company could take a word like “hello” and turn it into a pop culture moment.

tenor

Seinfeld’s “Helllloooo” 
Burl Ives, both circa 1964 (original sources unknown).

Burl Ives:  “Holly Jolly Christmas” (1964, written by Johnny Marks in 1962).

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

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!