Tag Archives: Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2025: Day 8

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

A sweet vintage Christmas card image found online.  (Original source unknown.)

When John Lennon recorded today’s holiday song in the fall on 1971, I do not know if he had any idea that over 50 years later it would still be a staple of the Christmas season. With its underlying theme about a wish for an end to a war, the track was not so much a song of the season but rather a wish for peace beyond the holidays. And Lennon was still struggling with fame-his own & that of The Beatles. Despite how much their compositions led to a change in music & culture during their years together, Lennon still saw himself simply as “John” as expressed in the song, “God”, from his first solo record released 55 years ago on December 11, 1970.

Ten years later, the last three lines of that song became a devastating reality when Lennon was killed 45 years ago today on December 8, 1980. His loss is still immeasurable, palpable and utterly heartbreaking.

Thank you for everything, John. You are missed. Every. Single. Day.

Yoko Ono (L) and John Lennon (R) along with some of the children from The Harlem Community Choir in a 1971 photo (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band-Lennon’s first solo record-was released 55 years ago in December 1970. (Image found online.  (Original source unknown.)

John Lennon & Yoko Ono and The Plastic Ono Band with The Harlem Community Choir: “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” (1971, written by John Lennon & Yoko Ono).

John Lennon: “Love” (1970, written by John Lennon).

John Lennon: “God” (1970, written by John Lennon).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 8

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 8A

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Today is a unique day in music. It is the birth anniversary for Jim Morrison-born in 1943-and the day we lost John Lennon in 1980. He & The Beatles helped start The British Invasion in the mid 1960’s while Morrison & The Doors basically ended it with the release of their debut album in January 1967. Two immense iconic & legendary performers who were so much alike yet so different in their approaches to music, life and love.

JM

Jim Morrison circa 1969. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

One of ways Lennon offered not only those things but hope as well was through his holiday message delivered through song in 1971. The world was changing through politics, culture and war and in need of something that could put everyone on the same page. And 53 years later, with the world sadly in the same dark place, Lennon’s voice still offers some light. Thank you, John. You are missed. Every. Single. Day.

John Lennon

John Lennon circa 1969. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Several other artists have covered today’s song including Sarah McLachlan who included her version on her 2006 holiday album, Wintersong. In the spirit of Lennon’s original, she also included a child’s choir on backing vocals courtesy of the Children’s and Youth Choirs of the Music Outreach Program at the Sarah McLachlan School of Music in Vancouver, British Columbia.

SarahMcLachlanWintersong

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

John Lennon & Yoko Ono and The Plastic Ono Band with The Harlem Community Choir: “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” (1971, written by John Lennon & Yoko Ono).

Sarah McLachlan: “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” (2006, written by John Lennon & Yoko Ono).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2023: Day 8

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Blog day 8

A sweet vintage Christmas card image from Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Before we get to our holiday song, I want to take a moment to remember the man I consider to be the greatest frontman of all time on his 80th birth anniversary. James Douglas Morrison was born December 8, 1943 in Melbourne, FL. As a vocalist, songwriter, poet, artist and visionary, he translated all of that into the music he made with The Doors.

In seven years together with six albums released in his lifetime, Morrison and his bandmates brought the British Invasion to a halt and reminded audiences that classic rock music would always be in style to those of us who understand its power, its beauty and its message. He remains an iconic and legendary figure of the genre and in pop culture more than five decades after his death. I feel like I have missed him forever. I live by his words from my favorite track on Morrison Hotel everyday:

“The future’s uncertain and
The end is always near“.

Jim M 2
JM
The-doors@2000x1500

Top: Jim Morrison circa 1968. Middle: Morrison circa 1971. Bottom: The Doors circa 1967 (L-R): John Densmore, Ray Manzarek, Morrison and Robby Krieger. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Another singer and legend I have missed nearly my whole life is the man behind today’s song. John Lennon’s quest for worldwide peace culminated in this song in 1971. It told us who he was at his core-not a Beatle, not a songwriter, not a musician, not a rock star, not an iconoclastic figure-just a man wanting to live in a world where he could “imagine” a peaceful happy Christmas for himself and the rest of us, too.

Merry Christmas, John. You are missed. Every. Single. Second.

“A very Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear“.

Lennon
john-lennon-happy-xmasrough-127822

Top: Lennon on stage circa 1971. Bottom: Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, circa 1968. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

The Doors: “Roadhouse Blues” (1970, written by The Doors: John Densmore, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison).

John Lennon & Yoko Ono and The Plastic Ono Band with The Harlem Community Choir: “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” (1971, written by John Lennon & Yoko Ono).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2022: Day 8

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music, Christmas by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 8A

A sweet vintage Christmas card image found on Pinterest. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

“So this is Christmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young

A very Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear

And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The war is so long
And so happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let’s stop all the fight

A very Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear

So this is Christmas
And what have we done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so happy Christmas
We hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones
The old and the young

A very Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear

War is over if you want it
War is over
Now”.

Merry Christmas, John. You are missed. Every. Single. Second.

John_Lennon_1969_(cropped)

John Lennon circa 1969. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

John Lennon & Yoko Ono and The Plastic Ono Band with The Harlem Community Choir: “Happy Xmas” (War Is Over)” (1971, written by John Lennon & Yoko Ono).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2021: Day 8

Posted in Christmas, Holidays, Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 8

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Today’s song was released 50 years ago on December 1, 1971. We lost the enigmatic singer behind it 41 years ago today. His death remains one of the saddest moments of my life. But this track along with the rest of his legendary catalog helps me & the rest of his fans across the universe remember how alive his spirit and his heart remain in our world. Merry Christmas, John.

“So this is Christmas 
And what have you done
Another year over
A new one just begun“.

John

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

John Lennon & Yoko Ono and The Plastic Ono Band with The Harlem Community Choir: “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” (1971, written by John Lennon & Yoko Ono).

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 8

Posted in Christmas, Holidays, Music by

Welcome back to the countdown!!!

I found another gorgeous vintage image on Pinterest, and the fact that it is in black & white makes me love it even more.

day 8

Found on Pinterest & TuckDB Postcards (original source unknown).  

I miss this man so much, and it has been that way for 39 years.  I wonder what he would be doing now if he were still here.  Would he still be touring like his old band mate, Paul?  Or would he be thinking about a global “Peace & Love” moment every year on his birthday like his other band mate, Ringo?  Or would he be retired living the life of a house husband like he did in the mid 1970’s?  My guess is a combination of all three.  But he would be here.  And that would have made all the difference.  Incredibly big sigh.

Rather than focusing on the loss, I want to remember him and celebrate all that was gained from his incredible life.  And that is evident in his music.  He is still a staple on classic rock radio, but this time of year this song is everywhere.  Many artists have covered it, but nothing compares to the original.  Or to the man himself.  Happy Christmas, John Lennon.  I miss you.  But I’m not the only one.

Happy_Xmas_(War_is_Over)

Courtesy of Apple Records & Iain Macmillan. 

John Lennon & Yoko Ono with the Plastic Ono Band the Harlem Community Choir:  “Happy Christmas (War Is Over)” (1971, lyrics written by John Lennon & Yoko Ono 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!!!

Christmas Song Countdown #8 & Goodbye To An American Hero

Posted in Christmas, Music by

Hello, Vixens!!!  Welcome back to the countdown!!!

Today’s song is a no-brainer.   It honors the man who died 36 years ago.  He taught us to peacefully question what we thought was wrong with the world, to imagine it as one, that all we need is love and that being a stay at home dad is a valid life choice, even when he became one in 1975,  Of course he did so much more, but that is what we remember the most.

Oh, and he was one of the Beatles   🙂

john-lennon

Original source unknown

Side note:  Did you know there is a park dedicated to John Lennon in Havana, Cuba?  It features a bronze statute of him sitting on a bench.  I cannot decide if it is creepy or cool.

Thoughts?

Oh, and the glasses are removable.

And we have a winner:  creepy it is.

Read more about the park and the glasses here.

john-lennon-figure Courtesy:  CNN

His Christmas song has become a holiday classic, and there are so many great versions of it by so many diverse artists I really could not decide which one you would like to hear.

So, today you have a choice.

Which version of “Happy Xmas War Is Over” would you like to listen to?

John Lennon’s original version;

Or Celine Dion’s;

celine-dion

Original source unknown

Or Darius Rucker’s;

Or Christina Perri’s‘

Or The Three Tenors‘;

3-tenors

Courtesy of kinoarena

Or Sleeping At Last’s;

Or Sarah McLachlan’s;

sarah-mclachlan

Courtesy:  sarahmclachlan.com

Or Neil Diamond’s.

Also today,  we lost another famous John.  A true hero to our country & in many respects the entire world:  John Herschel Glenn Jr.  Our first man to orbit the earth, he was a pioneer who made the dream of outer space a reality that inspired children everywhere to believe that they, too, could one day follow in his footsteps.

He quit college after the bombing of Pearl Harbor (yesterday marked the 75th anniversary of that attack) to join the military and stayed for over two decades.  He served in World War II and Korea, then became a US Senator from Ohio.  He died at the age of 95, a good long life for a man who had so much to give and inspire us with.

Thank you for being one of America’s greatest men.

Rest in peace, Colonel Glenn.

This one is for you.

Elton John’s Rocket Man.

john-glenn

Courtesy:  Bettmann Archive/Getty Images

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, fellow Vixens, happy listening!!!