Tag Archives: Home Alone

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2024: Day 11

Posted in 25 Days Of Christmas Music by

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

Day 11 B

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

Brenda Lee turns 80 today. Born Brenda Mae Tarpley on December 11, 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia she became a child performer who was crowned “Little Miss Dynamite” in 1957 at the age of 12 after her first hit record. A year later, she released today’s song which is her most well known recording followed by 1960’s “I’m Sorry” which was a #1 hit that year. To date Lee has sold 100 million records around the world.

Johnny Marks-the songwriter who gave us “Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer” (see Day 6) – wrote today’s song as well and it became the biggest song of Lee’s career. From that point it was also a seasonal staple, but received a revival of sorts 32 years later when it was featured in the 1990 Christmas movie, “Home Alone”. Last year Lee made a video for the song while she was lip synching to the original track in honor of its 65th anniversary, sending it to the top of the charts & making Lee the oldest artist to have a top-selling record.

Brenda 1958
Home Alone
Brenda now

Top: Brenda Lee in 1958. Middle: The “Home Alone” scene featuring Lee’s song. Bottom: Lee in 2023. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Today marks 60 years since we lost one of the greatest and most important voices in music. Sam Cooke was and remains vital to the many genres of music he contributed to from his time in gospel music with The Soul Stirrers, his solo secular career in R&B, soul, pop & mainstream music and his songs of social change.

The track he released in February 1964- which was reissued less than two weeks after his death-became an unofficial anthem for the civil rights movement. With all that is going on across the universe today and with a new year only three weeks away, his message advocating a better world remains as crucial as ever.

Sam Cooke: January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964.

Sam_Cooke_2

Sam Cooke circa 1963. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Brenda Lee: “Rocking Around The Christmas Tree” (1958, written by Johnny Marks)

The Soul Stirrers: “The Last Mile Of The Way” (1955, written by Sam Cooke).

Sam Cooke: “A Change Is Gonna Come” (1964, written by Sam Cooke).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

25 Days of Christmas Music 2018: Day 5

Posted in Christmas, Music by

Hi, Everybody!!!  Welcome back to the countdown.

Christmas day 5

Found on Pinterest (original source unknown).

I love duets.  Always have.  There is something so special about two voices coming together.  They can be from opposite ends of the spectrum, like in the case of Bing Crosby & David Bowie on “The Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth”  or two women from two different eras like Linda Ronstadt and Bette Midler on “Sisters“ or male/female like today’s song pick.  He’s a crooner who sings with big band sounds and she is a country superstar who writes (or co-writes) most of her own songs.   The musical arrangement for this duet is based on the Drifters version (which was featured in “Home Alone”) but also features some powerful horns which puts it on a level all its own.  It’s hard to believe that an Irving Berlin song from 1941 which is one of the most recorded songs in history can still be given a different spin after all these years.

Buble

Michael Buble & Shania Twain:  “White Christmas“.

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!!!