Tag: Christmas

My iconoclastic Christmas

A couple years ago, a very good friend of mine, someone who has known me for decades, said I was an iconoclast. I suppose that’s true; other people have said over the years that I march to the beat of a different drummer.

Most people listen to “Christmas music” between Thanksgiving (or earlier) and Christmas. Not another note after that, because the tree has already been literally thrown to the curb. I put “Christmas music” in quotes because so much of it has nothing to do with Christmas. Certainly all the secular songs about Santa and reindeer are about Christmas. And some of the religious stuff, though, since we are in Advent, not Christmastime, you may not have noticed here are more about the baby having been born than anticipation of the event.

(One of my favorite podcasters mused whether River by Joni Mitchell is a Christmas song. I say: absolutely. It speaks of cutting down trees, and reindeer; it may express ANXIETY over the holiday – they’ve made whole movies about THAT – but it’s no less applicable.)

Then there are those songs that just have to do with cold weather. Now these have NOTHING to do with Christmas whatsoever: Jingle Bells, upon which River is based; Jingle Bell Rock; Frosty the Snowman; Winter Wonderland; and especially Baby, It’s Cold Outside. But try playing Sleigh Ride or Let It Snow in early February; people would think you are crazy.

I tolerate listening to the music starting on November 22, which is the earliest date Thanksgiving can occur – it was on November 28 this year, the latest it can take place. But I don’t start playing tunes until December 6, recognizing some European tradition, and don’t stop until January 6, at the end of the 12 days of Christmas. Hope that doesn’t weird you out.
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The American Family Association’s Naughty Or Nice List And The Vapidity Of The ‘War On Christmas’

The Beatles reunion, and our Christmas tree

I’d say that Paul’s stuff in this century has been better more frequently.

More questions from western New York’s finest blogger, Jaquandor:

If Lennon hadn’t been shot in 1980, do you think there would eventually have been a Beatles reunion? If so, what form? A one-shot performance at something like Live-Aid? A new album?

John and Yoko’s album Double Fantasy comes out in the fall of 1980. It does all right [not as well as it did in response to Lennon’s death]. They put out Milk and Honey a year later; ditto. They tour for a few months.

Around 1982, George, whose career was in a bit of a downturn – no All Those Years Ago hit single – plays on a John and Yoko album. John and George play on Ringo’s comeback album.

Live Aid in 1985 becomes the venue in which the Beatles get together for a one-off reunion. But they enjoy it so much, they put together an album a year later. They get together periodically but primarily continue with their solo careers.

Whose post-Beatles material do you prefer, Lennon’s or McCartney’s? (Wow, I just wrote that as “McCarthy”. I have GOT to get politics out of my brain.)

Difficult to say. I liked the first two Lennon albums a lot, then parts of most of the rest, though the New York City album was a bit too pedantic, and Rock ‘N’ Roll totally unnecessary. It’s impossible for me to judge the two albums with Yoko because they are so tied to John’s death, but I do love most of John’s songs.

I liked Paul’s first two albums, less enamored by the next two, thought Band on the Run was a classic, but pretty much think that his output since then, including the period with Wings, was terribly uneven – a good album, followed by one had a few good songs or might even be an outright dud.

I’d say that Paul’s stuff in this century has been better more frequently, though I didn’t “get” his Firemen album, and HATED his post 9-11 song. And Paul has the luxury of owning his Beatles roots and not needing to run away from it. His 2009 live album, a solid mix of Beatles, Wings, and solo material, was tremendous.

So I’d say it was about a tie, percentage-wise. But, of course, Paul has had a far greater output.

I’m sure you HAVE to have done this in the past, as prolific as your blogging is, but how about a tour of your Christmas tree? Favorite ornaments and such? (If you have a tree, that is.)

Actually, I never have done a tree tour. Yes, we have a tree. It’s artificial, green. We had a real one until three or four years ago, when…actually, I don’t recall the conversation anymore.

Most of the decorations were my wife’s, from years before I knew her. The angel on top, bulbs, Santas, and, notably, various Biblical characters that she hand-painted when she was a child.

A couple of moves ago, my favorite decorations got lost; I loved some of them. Then the red sneakers ornament got lost or broken more recently. So, there are very few that were originally mine: a Pez snowman, and, of all things, a Barry Bonds Hallmark piece one of my sisters gave me a number of years ago. There are also pictures of The Daughter inside ornaments.

This year I felt particularly distanced from the process. The Wife was sick on the Friday before Christmas, the Daughter on Saturday. I slept most of that Sunday, with various ailments, during which time, the tree got put up.

It’s become obvious: I need to buy some ornaments. For ME. Or maybe my baby sister has something from my childhood…

X is for eXcitement

Even though the Christmas eve service is pretty much the “same” every year, it always manages to feel brand new.

eXude eXcitement

I think that, as I’ve gotten older, the thing about Christmas that excites me has changed. For one thing, “stuff” doesn’t have the same impact; not that I don’t love my Hess trucks, or whatever else I get. What I’ve discovered, though, that the more items you have, the more you have to deal with.

eXpectation

What I DO love, though, is the Daughter’s feeling of anticipation about the holiday. Watching her enthusiasm is actually better than my own feelings.

eXplore

That said, I appreciate the opportunity to sing music of the season, mostly familiar, but some not.

eXplanation

And even though the Christmas eve service is pretty much the “same” every year, it always manages to feel brand new.

eXtra special day

So I wish for you and yours, a happy/merry/joyous holiday.

eXtreme eXhaustion

And I hope you leave the wrapping paper on the floor, or the dirty dishes in the sink, a little longer today.
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The Bells of Christmas by Julie Andrews, from an old Firestone Presents album that I still own. My first favorite popular Christmas song. (And my album pretty much sounds like this one!)

Getting Ready For Christmas Day by Paul Simon. Most recent favorite pop Christmas song. Built around a sample of pastor J.M. Gates preaching in 1941,

A film: The Night Before Christmas 1913 – Ladislas Starewitch

ABC Wednesday – Round 11

Christmas is A-Comin’ by Leadbelly

Polite Scott’s Comic Book Cover Advent Calendar – 2012

My father had, and I currently own this album, pictured. It came out in 1960, I believe because I listened to it a lot.

The LP came out well after Leadbelly died, in 1949. I’ll have to write about him sometime. And it got me thinking about the song Christmas is A-Comin’ [LISTEN], which is very short, well under two minutes. There’s a much longer album, Leadbelly Sings For Children, which including all the songs on my album, plus several more; Amazon says it came out on CD in 1999. And it’s the cover of that album that shows up in the video.

And I have to wonder how the parents of those children would have felt if they knew the man entertaining them was a convicted felon. Wouldn’t happen today, but then, the man had a shot of redemption.
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“Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.”
~ Oren Arnold

Jack Benny Goes Christmas Shopping

Christmas Miracles

Potpourri of tunes

Hey, I know one of those guys in the front row

A flashmob medley.

Peanuts Christmas 1960 and 1961 and 1962 and 1963 and 1964.

Polite Scott’s Comic Book Cover Advent Calendar – 2012

There’s very little that Muppet videos cannot fix..

All I Want for Christmas Is for You to Ask Roger Anything

As always, you can ask anything. I must answer, though I may obfuscate.

Someone once asked me why I want you, dear reader, to ask me anything, and I mean anything. It’s because I tend to write about what I’m comfortable writing about, unsurprisingly. I’m hoping that you will ask me things that may not be in my comfort zone. Certainly, I want you to ask me things that I would not have thought to have answered.

It’s also the case that I really like presents, but the ones that didn’t cost any money, but do require some heart, are just as important to me. I do like surprises, usually.

As always, you can ask anything. I must answer, though I may obfuscate. In fact, for some questions, you can pretty much count on it.

I’ll be answering your questions over the next couple of weeks, assuming the Mayan apocalypse doesn’t take place.

Meanwhile:

That Ben Stein ‘Confessions for the Holidays’ thing floating around the Internet is only partially true.

Wizard of Oz Christmas ornaments.

Flash Mob – Ode an die Freude ( Ode to Joy) from Beethoven Symphony No.9.

Have Yourself a Lovecraft Little Solstice.
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Oh, and you are welcome to join ABC Wednesday, which I have been doing for six and a half rounds now. It’ll be back to the letter A in mid-January, not that you need to wait until then. And if you have a suggestion for me to write an ABC Wednesday post, I would consider your suggestions.

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