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| https://www.pinterest.com/pin/51017408259648526/ |
Hey, Mom! Talking to My Mother #1219 (SoD #2138) - CHRISTMAS 2020
Merry Christmas. "And God bless us everyone!"
Hi Mom,
Just this. Not much extra. It's Christmas.
When it comes to holiday classics and their covers, any song sung by Whitney Houston, Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder, or John Legend is going to be an improvement on the original. With these tried and true standards, black artists take holiday song traditions—remixing and redoing them—and create new classics out of something old and staid.
Whether through Motown’s Northern Soul or putting the funk in a holiday function, Black artists are known for taking these standards and making new soulful traditions. From The Temptations to the Jackson 5, there is so much jazz and R&B influence in each rendition that no matter how many times you listen to them you’re always going to find something to love. You can bump the “classics” as much as you like, but it’s undeniable that these 12 recreations blow them out of the water.
“Joy To The World” is not a song that I would normally associate with dancing. It’s more of a swaying type of church song, and not the gospel genius that Whitney Houston creates in her rendition. This song is the superior version because of the way she uses funk and soul while also maintaining the midnight mass feel. The breathy opening before the first beat drop could make anyone skeptical of what was to come, but it quickly becomes a gospel ballad that makes you want to get up and dance.
Ella Fitzgerald makes this rendition of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,” feel like a jazzy hug. Judy Garland’s original in Meet Me In St. Louis (one of my favorite movies), is full of longing and disappointment like it’s a sad song. Fitzgerald’s version is one you could put on in any festive setting and hum along with the words as they danced through the air. Unlike other Christmas songs, whether they be originals or covers, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” doesn’t rely on excessive use of sleigh bells or other percussion and we as listeners know that this is a Christmas song based on lyrics alone.
When “White Christmas” opens and the first notes roll out, the melody is so comforting and the sultry yet somehow innocent voices pull the listener further in. It feels like the song is giving you a hug and then wrapped it in a pretty bow. There is no sense of urgency in this song. The slow melody, rhythm, and lyrics make it feel exactly like what Christmas is supposed to be. The Supremes end the bridge with harmonizing notes and bring back the chorus in a slow and almost faded tone. The fact that it still instills the spirit of other renditions within the song while still standing out as something of its own.
So I might be the most biased person here because “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” is my favorite Christmas song ever. I first heard this song when I was about eight years old. My dad would play it on a record he had and would yell out “Hey Rudolph!” at any and all opportunity, continuing even after the song had ended. It’s also the definition of throwing a party. There’s nothing holding you back from dancing like a fool. It reigns supreme because no matter what part you pay attention to, you’re going to find something that makes you smile. Can you seriously say that you don’t want to punch the air with glee at each “Hey Rudolph?”
Sixty’s era Stevie Wonder brings soul to the table regardless of what he’s singing. From originals to “Silver Bells,” he just can do no wrong. With that in mind, this rendition of “Silver Bells” is just straight soul from the strings to the high-hat beat. I had never really paid attention to the lyrics of the song until I heard this version. It feels similar to that of “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” because it could be played in the background and hummed along to or belted out with those around. I’m not sure what it is about Christmas music that when the lyrics and rhythm are slowed down makes it feel more like the artist is singing to the listener.
My whole childhood—before my father told me he was “soul brother Santa”—I was reminded every day that Santa was going to come and if I wasn’t nice I wouldn’t get any presents. Which as one could imagine, caused an uproar in a house of three girls. At this point, it feels like The Jackson 5 are the ambassadors of falsetto Christmas music. Regardless, this song ranks miles above the rest of the renditions because of the undeniable catchiness, powerful chorus, and danceable qualities.The beginning of this song sounds like the opening of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” but Smokey Robinson’s voice cuts through the noise of some of the other renditions. The original tune is so damn catchy that sometimes I start singing it randomly in July and wonder what the hell is wrong with me. This version doesn’t do that to me, in fact, it makes singing it and listening to it an enjoyable experience because of its originality. Usually, I tune out the second verse of the song if I am not listening to this version because it doesn’t matter to me. However, I actually know the words to this one because there is nothing more satisfying than being able to sing a whole song from beginning to end, especially if it’s really good.
Mariah Carey practically owns Christmas, that’s just a fact. I associate some renditions of “Silent Night” with parts of Hallmark movies where the main character has some sort of epiphany or when my grandmother would take me to midnight mass in St. Louis. But this song feels like a slow burn R&B version of a Christmas song and Carey seems to be transitioning into more of an R&B singer as she becomes less of a pop-star. Keeping in mind that this version was originally released in 1993, Carey somehow makes it still exude sexy-Auntie-Claus energy in 2020.
As someone who grew up in the early 2000s and lived in the beginning of the Instagram era, I, for a very brief second, forgot that John Legend had a career outside of being Chrissy Teigen’s husband. I associate “My Favorite Things,” with that scene in The Sound Of Music. Part of me does wonder why this is a Christmas song. Other than the fact that it talks about the things that the person wants, all it really does, for me at least, is bring me back to a soaking wet Julie Andrews. But because it is a Christmas song, it ranks at the top of the list of renditions because of Legend’s jazzy tones morphed into his 2019 pop transformation in 2018.
BONUS TUNE....
Погнала бичків за ворітечк(а).
Свойму милому на рукавичк(и).
А що ж ти нам вонєсла.
Три користі радості.
Й одна користь пастушок.
Друга користь ратає.
Третя користь бортнічок.
А бортнік творе, токає.
Ой весняночка, де твоя дочка,
Chased the bulls by the gate (a).
Погнала бичків за ворітечк(а).
Пасіться бички, я спраду мички,
To my darling on the glove (s).
Свойму милому на рукавичк(и).
Ой ти весна, ти красна,
And what did you bring us.
А що ж ти нам вонєсла.
Я й вонєсло, вонєсло,
Three benefits of joy.
Три користі радості.
Три користі, радості,
And one benefit of shepherdesses.
Й одна користь пастушок.
Й одна користь пастушок,
The second benefit saves.
Друга користь ратає.
Друга користь ратає,
The third benefit of sideboards.
Третя користь бортнічок.
А ратай оре сокає,
And the sideboard creates, weaves.
А бортнік творе, токає.
A Sense of Doubt blog post #1772 - Christmas 2019
A Sense of Doubt blog post #1772 - Christmas 2019
I think it's great that some of my posts are simply basic and short. What more is there to say? Images carry the message.
Links for the past Christmas blog posts follow.
Merry Christmas to everyone.
2018
Hey, Mom! Talking to My Mother #1141 - Christmas 2018
2017
Hey, Mom! Talking to My Mother #903 - Christmas 2017 and Musical Monday
2016
Hey, Mom! Talking to My Mother #537 - New family member: Ellory Queen Tower
2015
Hey, Mom! Talking to My Mother #171 - A FAMILY CHRISTMAS 2013
2014
No post
2013 - T-shirts blog
T-shirt #279: thirtysomething - Merry Christmas
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This year... Noodle
Satchel
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- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 1912.25 - 10:10
- Days ago = 1634 days ago
- New note - On 1807.06, I ceased daily transmission of my Hey Mom feature after three years of daily conversations. I plan to continue Hey Mom posts at least twice per week but will continue to post the days since ("Days Ago") count on my blog each day. The blog entry numbering in the title has changed to reflect total Sense of Doubt posts since I began the blog on 0705.04, which include Hey Mom posts, Daily Bowie posts, and Sense of Doubt posts. Hey Mom posts will still be numbered sequentially. New Hey Mom posts will use the same format as all the other Hey Mom posts; all other posts will feature this format seen here.
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| I am not explaining this because either you get or you don't or you spend some time Googling Kurt Russell movies until you find out how HILARIOUS this is. If you don't know it, download the image. The giveaway is in the file name. |
Hey, Mom! Talking to My Mother #1192 (S0D #1770) - Musical Monday for Monday December 23 2019 - A Christmas Combo
I have not posted a HEY MOM post since Thanksgiving and SoD (Sense of Doubt) #1745.
Merry Christmas to everyone unless Christmas is not your thing and than happy tidings for whatever holiday of the twenty-nine holidays from the seven major religions that you celebrate, as in:
I do not have much extra to say here, so mainly this post will be about a few remarks of preface and then last year's content. I was rather proud of last year's content, so I am happy to present it again.
Mainly, I send love to everyone I know and all those I do not know.
I am writing this post on Christmas Day, a few days after the date of this one's publication, and I have added several new songs to the 2018 Christmas mix, including this one, added at the last minute before publishing, when my friend Helene Dunbar threatened to fight any one not willing to accept that this is the greatest holiday song of all time:
Frankie goes to Hollywood - "The Power of Love"
Best holiday season song. You can fight me, but you won't change my mind. https://t.co/f5Dn1zxnb6— Helene Dunbar 🏙 (@Helene_Dunbar) December 25, 2019
WE MUST REMEMBER WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND USAND DO SOMETHING:
So this post collects my two holiday posts from 2018 with changes to the mix from SoD on 1812.24. Find additional songs below plus a track list. I follow with the core of the second post with a track list for the Guaraldi music for the Charlie Brown and Peanuts Christmas special.Hundreds of kids in Texas are spending Christmas Eve taking care of each other. Freezing cold, insufficient food, water, medical attention, hygienic resources. No contact with their parents. Many as young as 1. pic.twitter.com/JJ1OC9KZur— Charles Finch (@CharlesFinch) December 24, 2019
Here's the original links.
Text or original post #1403:
A Sense of Doubt blog post #1403 - Christmas Mix for Musical Monday for 1812.24
I will be honest.
This mix started with the Nina Hagen song when my wife was playing it on the #@#!! Alexa (technically, the Amazon Echo).
I built it out from that starting point. I knew I was going to add the two Star Trek mashups, but hey, an AVENGERS mashup??? Yes, please.
Groot Groot GROOT. I am GRoot. GROOT, groot groot.
And then the other pieces fell into place with many of my standards: The Pogues, Bowie and Bing, Pretenders, Bruce Springsteen, Band Aid, Kate Bush, Queen. Sure. But then Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly doing Bowie and Bing.... OH MY GOD, did I know about this??
And while we're on the subject of SNL, just this, here on the blog entry because it might actually get looked at if even just by me next year.
This is one of the funniest things I have ever seen.
You're welcome. Even if you already know it but have not seen it in a while.
YES.
I had some help with the images from my friend Wayne and a cool retro SF site on Facebook.
What else is there to say about this mix? Greg Lake and Ian Anderson??? Awesome.
Skipped some usuals like Cocteau Twins and Carly Simon, but maybe I add those back next year.
I am especially pleased with finds like the Drifters and Luther Vandross.
Of course, I LOVE Daniela Andrade. AWESOME. And I featured her last week in another post.
But Tom Waits, Stevie Wonder, some Peanuts music, and one of Liesel's favorites "Patapan" by Mindy Gledhill, which is fantastic.
My Christmas Mix for 2018
Above this text is the URL link to the You Tube instance and below this text is the video pod player for the entire playlist followed by all the videos if that's how you jam.
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- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 1812.24 - 10:10
- Days ago = 1269 days ago
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Text or original post #1396:
A Sense of Doubt blog post #1396 - Christmastime Is Here - part two
Okay, I am putting this here, just because I want to remember it
LA BEAT GENERATION AND THE CATALAN MYSTICAL POTS
https://elspotolsmistics.blogspot.com/Hello, time for a bit more Christmas cheer.
Normally, I do a musical mix today. I have many in various states of completion ready to go. Maybe the best use of some free time while off the daily grind of blog broadcast will be to prepare ahead some of these treasures, such as a revisit of the Jam mix with commentary on each song; the Coccteau Twin mix, which is mostly complete; and others like the one I just started with Sinead O'Connor's "Fourth and Vine" as the core or the mix I have been playing for at least a year with Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill" as the foundation.
So today, I thought I would start the Christmas theme with some of my favorite tunes from the Charlie Brown Christmas Special. I tend to listen to this music year around, but more often at Christmas. After all, "Linus and Lucy" was Liesel and my outro (recessional) music at our wedding.
I love this music.
Watching the Charlie Brown Christmas Special is required viewing for me every year.
Also required, the re-read -- these days on audio -- of Dickens' A Christmas Carol. I will be doing so very soon. Or perhaps a reading via YOU TUBE.
OR... I just bought it on AMAZON. Here's a clip.
or this....
I have sampled many versions of A Christmas Carol, but so far the one narrated by Tim Curry is my favorite.
MY PEANUTS MIX
TRACK LISTING
1. Vince Guaraldi Trio "Christmas Time Is Here" (vocal version from A Charlie Brown Christmas)
2. Vince Guaraldi Trio - O Tannenbaum
3. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Time Is Here (Instrumental)
4. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Linus And Lucy
5. Vince Guaraldi Trio - What Child Is This
6. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Skating
7. Vince Guaraldi Trio - My Little Drum
8. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas Is Coming
9. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Für Elise
10. Vince Guaraldi Trio - Greensleeves
11. Peanuts Gang : Christmas Song "Linus & Lucy"
12. Christmas Time Is Here (Instrumental)
There's a couple of songs in the mix on You Tube not featured in the individual videos below, but scroll down for LoFi and other goodies!!
So, as I complete some other original materials and also do my jobs for which I am paid, presumably, then here's some of the GREATEST music EVER WRITTEN.
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| Christmas St. Antoine 2011 - two months after we moved in |
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- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 1812.17 - 10:10
- Days ago = 1262 days ago
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THESE IMAGES ORIGINALLY POSTED IN -
https://sensedoubt.blogspot.com/2019/12/a-sense-of-doubt-blog-post-1752-happy.html
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Reflect and connect.
Have someone give you a kiss, and tell you that I love you, Mom.
I miss you so very much, Mom.
Talk to you soon, Mom.
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- Days ago = 1633 days ago
- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 1912.23 - 10:10
NEW (written 1708.27 and 1907.04) NOTE on time: I am now in the same time zone as Google! So, when I post at 10:10 a.m. PDT to coincide with the time of your death, Mom, I am now actually posting late, so it's really 1:10 p.m. EDT. But I will continue to use the time stamp of 10:10 a.m. to remember the time of your death, Mom. I know this only matters to me, and to you, Mom. Dropped "Talk to you tomorrow, Mom" in the sign off on 1907.04. Should have done it sooner as this feature is no longer daily.
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Reflect and connect.
Have someone give you a kiss, and tell you that I love you, Mom.
I miss you so very much, Mom.
Talk to you soon, Mom.
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- Days ago = 2002 days ago
- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 2012.25 - 10:10
NEW (written 1708.27 and 1907.04) NOTE on time: I am now in the same time zone as Google! So, when I post at 10:10 a.m. PDT to coincide with the time of your death, Mom, I am now actually posting late, so it's really 1:10 p.m. EDT. But I will continue to use the time stamp of 10:10 a.m. to remember the time of your death, Mom. I know this only matters to me, and to you, Mom. Dropped "Talk to you tomorrow, Mom" in the sign off on 1907.04. Should have done it sooner as this feature is no longer daily.
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