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Friday
Dec052008
A little holiday verve
To help spark the holiday spirit,
every year I get a new holiday cd or two
to add to our collection.
This year this one
and this one
are my favorites.
the Carpenters,
(with John Denver...listen for Beaker's solo in the 12 Days of Christmas),
various choirs...
How about you?
And then there are the clunkers. For awhile my mom was collecting really bad Christmas recordings (are you still, Mom?). Here are a few I'm pretty sure I won't be getting (but their awfulness is so wonderful!) Like this one (sorry cat lovers). And this one, a very Brady Christmas. And this one...wookies singing carols, anyone? Here's a little blurb from a review of the cd:
The album's story takes place in a droid factory where robots trudge away at building toys year round for S. Claus. However they don't understand the meaning of Christmas until C-3PO and R2-D2 show them how to appreciate the holiday spirit. Even Artoo adds to the season festivities by learning how to whistle the catchy Christmas ditty, "Sleigh Ride." Later we learn who gets what from their wish list: a scarf for Luke Skywalker, perfume for Princess Leia and earmuffs for Han Solo.Wow. I would not have guessed the earmuffs for Han Solo.
Finally, I appreciated the Jolly Porter for speaking up on a very important issue: the inclusion of Frosty the Snowman in the Christmas carol canon. Pro? Con? Let's try to find some middle ground where we can agree to disagree, you guys. See his hilarious critique here.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Reader Comments (14)
Good choice of CD's.
What's wrong with old Frosty? The kids love him anyway.
And speaking as a cat lover, I am NOT offended by your disdain for that Meowy CD. It must be terrible.
Oh my, that Jolly Porter...
Nice selection on the CDs. Don't hate me, but I really dig Josh Groban's. {esp. O Holy Night} I can't help myself, I just love his voice. And I am not, I repeat NOT showing that wookie one to my jedis.
(I'm actually a little afraid they might find it on their own and I will never hear the end of the awfulness...gulp.)
(yeah. ear muffs...
a little surprising)
I love Bare Naked for the Holidays...by the Bare Naked Ladies. And so do my kids. They BLAST it every morning before school.
Jenny (s.s.)--I forgot about Josh Groban! We like him too. He's in our car cd player right now.
And Jessica I had no idea Bare Naked Ladies had a holiday album. As soon as I finish typing, I'm going to iTunes to check it out. Thanks!
I forgot to include a compilation we really like: Santa Baby (I think it's a Starbucks mix).
Yo Yo Ma, Harry Conick Jr. and Josh Groban are all way up there on my list.
Yo Yo Ma would be awesome. I'll have to download that one off i-tunes. We also love the Mo-tab and Bing Crosby.
BNL has a holiday album? Scary and intriguing. Thanks for the recommendations!
ooooh. I'm checking BNL out too.I love them.
My mom's fave was always Amy Grant so I am a bit partial to that one. It's the one I always listen to while decorating the tree and it takes me home!
since your list of what you have matches mine, i will go out and listen to your new picks right away. i love yo yo ma and am really excited to find that one.
i grew up listening to osmond family christmas. it's so cheesy, but i still have to listen to it every year. oh, and kurt bestor, and a nice little piano one called Winterlude...it's a good one.
Yo Yo Ma is so amazing. We love The Muppets too. My husband just asked me the other day if anyone else listens to Harry Conick-I'll have to tell him yes. Great picks!
Michael Buble I love his Christmas CD.
Natalie Cole
I'm ashamed to admit I own the Rosie O' Donnell Christmas album. What a waste of $.
Okay, Annie...Are you MY daughter or not? Two words: JOHNNY MATHIS. Well two more words J.M.'s MERRY CHRISTMAS. The one with him standing on a ski slope. Also, I would add The Cambridge Singers with all the Rutter Christmas music on it. I ran across my "Christmas Turkey" project not long ago. Of course they are on a cassette tape that I compiled. I have to say that one of the worst and most appalling carols on record would be Frank Sinatra's "Away in a Manger" done with a jazz/swing beat. And I think he actually says when he is riffing on the verse "that cat in the manger" as in cool cat. Yikes!
Oh. Oh. I have a CD by Squirrel Nut Zippers - Christmas music. Some of them aren't bad and others are atrocious.
I can't believe I left out Johnny Mathis! Please don't disown me, mom. Yes! the Cambridge Singers, too. Also the Jay Welsh Chorale, which I don't have but grew up listening to and love.