Jump to content
IGNORED

What Christmas music are you listening to?

Joe Frickin' Friday

By Joe Frickin' Friday
in Riders Discuss Other Topics

Recommended Posts

Joe Frickin' Friday

Joe Frickin' Friday

Posted
Posted

Subject line says it. What CD's/MP3's are getting a lot of air time in your home this month?

 

We've got five CD's in the player, two of them bought just last week:

 

Mannheim Steamroller - Fresh Aire 4. Strictly speaking this isn't a Christmas album, but it is winter-themed, which makes it at least seasonally appropriate. When Masako leaves the house I turn the amp up to 11 for the "G Major Toccata," a powerhouse pipe organ piece. It almost sounds hokey at first when the drum set kicks in, but after a minute or so it gets back to being pretty grand. The rest of the tracks convey the austerity of an icy winter, as well as the relaxed warmth of a lazy evening spent at fireside.

 

Sarah McLachlan - Wintersong. Standard Sarah-style, dithering effortlessly back and forth between modal voice and falsetto. Some remakes of pop Christmas songs, some traditional carols sung in her own way.

 

Celine Dion - These are Special Times. In contrast to Sarah, Celine never leaves the modal voice, even when an operatic falsetto would be more appropriate, e.g. in a duet with Andrea Bocelli, or during traditionals like Ave Maria; they sound more like power ballads. But somehow I like it anyway.

 

Elvis Presley - If Every Day Was Like Christmas. Just got it last week. It's packed, 24 songs on one CD. A wide range, from classic Elvis rock/blues stuff to more solemn traditional carols. The background vocals on "Blue Christmas" used to make me laugh when I was little; I kinda like it now. :) The album makes me think of Johnny Cash for some reason; maybe a Cash Christmas album will arrive in time for next Christmas...

 

Enya - And Winter Came. Also arrived last week. I have pretty much everything this lady has written, although her earlier work IMO is better than her later stuff; her last few albums have only a few songs I really like on each. But her Christmas album is pretty good. Some pop/fun/happy songs, some more solemn/sacred stuff, like her own version of "O come, O come, Emmanuel," which I like a lot.

 

So...what are YOU listening to?

Link to comment
Jeepster

Jeepster

Posted
Posted

Last year we picked up The Christmas Trilogy by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Mix of soothing classic pieces and powerful rock influenced orchestral pieces.

Thanks for reminding me about Mannheim Steamroller will hit the music store today.

Link to comment
bakerzdosen

bakerzdosen

Posted
Posted

Fortunately, I've been able to avoid it thus far.

 

(Unfortunately it's because music in the home these days usually involves lullabies or whatever comes out of the baby swings.)

Link to comment
Joel

Joel

Posted
Posted

I've made an exception to my Bah Humbug attitude for "Jingle All the Way" by Bela Fleck & The Flecktones. Traditionalists will probably hate it. Open-minded listeners who understand what Fleck is about will see genius in how the group forgoes simply covering an array of standards and instead deconstructs and reconstructs them in the Flecktones idiom. Most impressive recording I've listened to in a long time. And Victor Wooten remains the best reason I can think of to own a subwoofer.

Link to comment
90%angel

90%angel

Posted
Posted

Those are some good ones Mitch. I like Wintersong as well (My favorites are "Silent Night" and "River"), and Mannheim Steamroller and TSO definitely have some classics (Faves are (Mannheim): "Deck the Halls", "Stille Nacht", God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman"; and (TSO) "Wizards in Winter" and "Christmas Eve Sarajevo").

 

I also like every Christmas album that Michael W Smith puts out (his latest is "It's a Wonderful Christmas"), and Josh Groban's "Noel" is very good as well. Michael W Smith has a lot of variety; instrumentals, solos, duets choral anthems, boys choirs...really good stuff. Cant' pick favorites from either artist; they are ALL good.

 

Faith Hill has a couple of good ones; I like "A Baby Changes Everything" and "Where are You Christmas".

 

Of course, while not on theme, I did just see the musical "Wicked" so I have that on the ipod now as well! :)

Link to comment
PRC

PRC

Posted
Posted

sorry Christmas is not my holiday...as Lewis Black says "Not my Book!" I'm still on the 1st edition :rofl:

 

Adam Sandler's Chanukah Song....that and "Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel" is playin at our place.

 

 

Link to comment
Matts_12GS

Matts_12GS

Posted
Posted

John Prine Christmas

Ottmar Leibert's Flamenco Christmas

Harry Connick Jr. Harry for the Holidays

 

Black Sabbath, Paranoid... Just because grampa used to sing Rat Salad to me.... (just for Il Bruce'!)

Link to comment
Huzband

Huzband

Posted
Posted

Celine Dion? Puh-leeze!

 

I guess it's a matter of taste, but she can't howl her way out of a wet paper bag.

 

Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, et al.

 

Them's the best. :thumbsup:

Link to comment
dewtwo

dewtwo

Posted
Posted

Seriously, I have a 6 year old at home. All I have heard for about 4 weeks is "Jingle Bells" and just about every adaptation that you can imagine of this song. Last year it was "Santa Clause is coming to Town". I am over it I say!!!! Now I just have him ride his bicycle to school, play outside a LOT and try to have minimum time in the car. HELP! I need another song. :eek:

Link to comment
Huzband

Huzband

Posted
Posted
Seriously, I have a 6 year old at home. All I have heard for about 4 weeks is "Jingle Bells"...

 

And I thought Matt was more musically educated than that. lol8.gif

Link to comment
Matts_12GS

Matts_12GS

Posted
Posted
And I thought Matt was more musically educated than that. lol8.gif

 

I am her oldest child...

 

At least I'm not listening to the University of Alabama's Dueling Christmas Banjos.... :rofl:

Link to comment
Huzband

Huzband

Posted
Posted
And I thought Matt was more musically educated than that. lol8.gif

 

I am her oldest child...

 

At least I'm not listening to the University of Alabama's Dueling Christmas Banjos.... :rofl:

 

At least Alabama doesn't have a town named Interbreadin'.

 

Interlochen, Interbreadin', same thing. Jack.gif

Link to comment
Matts_12GS

Matts_12GS

Posted
Posted
At least Alabama doesn't have a town named Interbreadin'.

 

Interlochen, Interbreadin', same thing. Jack.gif

 

You're right, there's no city of Interbreedin' in Alabamastan.

 

They do however have Opp. Short for Opportunity since none of the locals could spell it...

hijacked.gif

Check your PMs for the avatar I didn't think would fly here...

Link to comment
RT Russ

RT Russ

Posted
Posted

I've got some GREAT holiday music on my iPod....

Ho, Ho, Hoey by Gary Hoey. Heavy metal guitar around Christmas tunes. The Grinch is a great one!

Brian Setzer Orchestra....Swing band does Christmas

Big Bad VooDoo Daddy...again big band Christmas

Jumpin'Jimmy and the Mistletones, JAzzy Christmas.

John and Yoko...Happy Christmas (War is Over)

Lynyrd Skynyrd and more. Some great stuff...

Link to comment
TedG

TedG

Posted
Posted

"Christmas at K-Mart" by Root Boy Slim and the Sex Change Band (with the Rootettes).

 

Not exactly Christmas, but...."You Broke My Mood Ring" by (who else?) Root Boy Slim

Link to comment
eddd

eddd

Posted
Posted
Celine Dion? Puh-leeze!

 

I guess it's a matter of taste, but she can't howl her way out of a wet paper bag.

 

Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, et al.

 

Them's the best. :thumbsup:

 

 

Don't pick on poor Celine "Kayak" Dion.

Link to comment

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...