I love Christmas Carols. Traditional, modern, twisted… you name it, you’ve got me. It’s the middle of December which means I now have 10 days of unlimited Christmas carol music. You see, the rest of the family don’t love carols as much as me, so this is our deal. 355 days carol free, for my 10 days.
I’m not sure I could pick a favourite, but I am partial to Good King Wenceslas and Joy to the World.
Below is a medley called “Cowboy Christmas” which is a twist on the traditional style. Why that one? I was too sick to be able to play in my band’s Christmas carol concert this year, much to my disappointment, and this is one of my favourite to play. It’s just a lot of fun 🙂
Christmas carols, love them or hate them?
December 16, 2020 at 9:55 pm
I love carols too. I miss singing them this year with a choir or madrigal group. I had to make do with putting on Christmas CDs and singing to my heart’s content when doing my Christmas baking.
December 17, 2020 at 9:19 pm
At least your singing would make the neighbours’ smile. Mine would break their windows, lol.
December 16, 2020 at 11:26 pm
I love them! Even after working retail 😂 in Canada, they start playing in the shops in November so it can get a bit repetitive. My student’s just had to write about their fav holiday song in their journal this week and one asked what mine were: “oh Holy night” and “all I want for Christmas is you”
I especially love the 4 weeks of advent where you get to sing all the songs at church! But my new church is totally letting me down – its an online service so they only pre-record 2-3 songs as a band, but just one carol. Like we only get 4 weeks! And you’re not even embracing it?! Little bit bitter lol
December 17, 2020 at 9:21 pm
I am avoiding the shops like the plague, so I haven’t had the repetitive carols from there. I’ve heard some on the radio, but I really am only getting the ones I put on myself.
December 17, 2020 at 4:54 am
I love the traditional carols and many of the other Christmas songs, many of which have nothing to do with Christmas. And I especially like the novelty songs, like Allan Sherman’s “Twelve Days of Christmas” and the much maligned “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer.” Music, laughs and Christmas go so well together.
December 17, 2020 at 9:26 pm
John, that reminds me of an Aussie version of Jingle Bells which usually makes most carolling events. I’ll have to post it here next week (because you are right, music, laughs and Christmas are the perfect combination).
December 17, 2020 at 1:22 pm
Okay, so when I graduated from high school, I got a job at the evil toy store (now defunct). I worked there for 11 years. Season (as we called it, capital S) started at the beginning of November, but really got underway after Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday of the month).
Season was brutal. The store was packed. (I’m not a fan of crowds.) People were crazy. And Christmas music played on a loop. It was about 3 1/2 to 4 hours. We were working 10, 12 hour days.
It’s been 20 years since I quit that job. I’m still burned out on so many Christmas songs. There are a few that I still like (not ones that were on the dreaded tape), but for the most part, they just irritate me. (Of course, I tend to like quiet and don’t generally play music in my day to day, so that might be part of it, too.)
December 17, 2020 at 9:27 pm
That would kill anyone’s love of Christmas carols, Liz. I hate crowds too, so that would have just made the whole memory association even worse.
December 17, 2020 at 11:16 pm
Hehe totally the best way to do it!
December 18, 2020 at 10:34 am
I do love them, but I think I reach saturation pretty quickly. Next year, I’ll have to try your 10 days. That seems like a reasonable amount of time!
December 21, 2020 at 8:42 pm
10 days isn’t very long, really. And it isn’t like I am listening to them 24/7 for those 10 days. I find it just right for me.
December 18, 2020 at 2:27 pm
I can’t listen to commercial Christmas songs, something about just doesn’t ring true for me. When the Season drags at me I break out things likeChristmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis.
That ends up taking me to Fairytale of New York by the Pogues. It was the top requested song on BBC 1 for years, until they banned it for being offensive, though those they say it is offensive to don’t think that.
Most of the season John Fahey’s New Possibilities plays as background stuff, everyone likes it.
Hope you and yours are ready for a good Christmas.
Curious, the links work in the U.S., but not here? You’ll figure it out if it intrigues you.
December 21, 2020 at 8:46 pm
The links work here 🙂 John Fahey’s music is definitely easy listening and I could totally have that playing as background music as well. And I know the Pogues, but I didn’t know it was banned! Although you have to wonder…the Brits published Captain Pugwash without catching on!!
December 29, 2020 at 10:55 pm
I’m rather fond of the Australian ones, myself. And “Ding Dong Merrily On High” is the tune used for a dance I learned for Renaissance Dancing classes. It’s called the Bransle Officiale. It looks like this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hZdQwceu1HY
December 30, 2020 at 11:05 am
Ooh, I like the sound of it played traditionally. The dance is quite lovely to watch.