The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Mine is "I'll be home for Christmas" by Kate Smith. When things are rough and tumble this time of year, that song takes me to a simpler time, a more serene time with family and friends. It reminds me of both my parents (who have both passed) and the little town I grew up in. "I'll be home for Christmas...if onlyyyyy in my dreams".................................
My favorite is The Christmas Song, and nobody will ever sing it like Nat King Cole. When I hear that song, I just feel like a kid again, listening to hear the sleigh bells jingling on Christmas eve....
"Do You Hear What I Hear?"--no particular artist. It reminds me of growing up, especially High School, we used that song to end every Christmas program our choir did.
"Do You Hear What I Hear?"--no particular artist. It reminds me of growing up, especially High School, we used that song to end every Christmas program our choir did.
Dawn
That song will always remind me of the 6th grade -- Christmas of 68. That crazy year for the world, and my family, while Apollo 8 flew around the moon we were singing Do You Hear What I Hear, and Silver Bells for the *public* school Christmas pageant. In the last days before any kind of Christmas anything was virtually banned from public schools.
Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown soundtrack is a staple even if it has been overplayed for 40 years. Remember Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass Christmas album?
But for me there is sort of a baseline Christmas album, the one to which all other are compared. Percy Faith's "Music Of Christmas", circa 1954 or 55 I think. In particular, Deck The Halls, O Come All Ye Faithful, and Hark The Herald Angels Sing - I always hear Percy's version in the back of my head when I head _any_ rendition of these songs.
"Cantique de Noel" and "Oh Come All Ye Faithful." I used to sing in a large master choir in an Episcopal cathedral, and we processed into the church on Christmas morning singing "Oh Come All Ye Faithful, and the huge organ filled the church with sound. The descant soared, and the whole thing made the hair on my arms stand up!!! It was magnificent.
And like Shel, I love to hear Nat Cole sing, "The Christmas Song." Frank Sinatra's Christmas album is a masterpiece. It was recorded years ago when he was in his very best form. Probably in the 70s. I have remastered on CD, and play it often. OK, so I am dating myself - what can I say?
Remember...I'm a little Jewish girl...*grin*
Diva
-- Edited by Diva at 12:54, 2006-12-15
-- Edited by Diva at 12:56, 2006-12-15
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"Speak your truth quietly and clearly..." Desiderata
I really love "O Holy Night".....I have a version of it that Donny Osmond sang that is so beautiful...man it makes me feel so good. Gonna sneak in with "Ave Maria" and "Silent Night" too. When I was in high school, my two best buddies and I used to go around singing "Silent Night" in 3 part harmony. It was beautiful, and every time I hear it, it reminds me of the 3 of us one special nite at about 1 am when we were on the riverwalk in San Antonio, and sang it...it was incredible. LOL...getting goosebumps just thinking about it!
Thanks for the wonderful topic! (((((((((gg)))))))))))
God rest ye merry gentlemen and Silver Bells are my favorites and I guarantee that there are still places where they sing songs about jesus in the schools. I just went to a party for work (I work for the county) and we had a 5 minute prayer before the food was served. They pray before everything here so I imagine the schools are the same. Nobody has sued here yet...
A hundred years ago (lol) Firestone did a whole series of Christmas Music. There was an album with Julie Andrews singing the Wexford Carol. It was my Mom's favorite. I can still hear here singing it to me as we decorated the tree or made Christmas cookies. While the albums are long gone (I'd kill to have a set again), I can still hear it as clear as a bell. Thanks for making me remember.
Love and blessings to you and your family.
Live strong,
Karilynn & Pipers Kitty
P.S. Here's a link to White Christmas that you have to see. Play it more than once as the animation changes everytime.
O Holy Night.... the version with Virgil Fox on the organ and Louise Natale singing soprano will raise the hair on the back of your neck. It is absolutely awesome. I can only listen to it once or twice per Christmas season. The high note at the climax is to die for.
I love the classics - but I did think about a newer Christmas song that is very beautiful & the first time I listened to the words, it broke my heart - I still get tears in my eyes when I hear it.
"Mary, Did You Know?"
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No matter what me and my God are going to be ok, even better than OK -
First of all thanks all for sharing your favourites and memories! BUT<<<Canadian Guy!:::::: Christmas in Killarney?...LOL,,,,,I didnt know of anyone else knowing that carol!...Me being in Canada as well,,perhaps in "our" day that was the only "album" available? Ho Ho,,,,white album with good old Bing on the cover wearing a santa hat? If so then you must also know Melikillimakka? (Is the thing to say on a bright Hawaiin Christmas day!) In later years I purchased the cassette!..Thanks all again!
Well, I haven't seen anyone mention my favorite, which is "Colorado Christmas" by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Must be a Colorado thing, since that is where I live. Nothing beats it.
Alright...alright...my favorite christmas song of late is "Grinch 2000" sung by Busta Rhymes and Jim Carrey....teehee!!! I also like "You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch" also sung by Jim Carrey. I can't help it...it's silly and so am I!!! It's light and funny and I need all the light and funny I can get...teehee!!
Thank you GG for the wonderful topic!!
Love you all,
SenoraBob
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Higher Power doesn't always wrap presents in pretty paper.
Ave Maria by Michael Bolton and that opera guy......lol...can't remember his name for the life of me...I have the CD tho..but it's downstairs...dern it.....someone probably knows who I mean...Diva help?
If we are going for humor & in keep in the "holiday" spirit not just Christmas -
The Adam Sandler "Happy Hanukkah" is pretty funny . .
and then all the different verison of the 12 days of Christmas - Jeff Foxworthy's Redneck 12 Days of Christmas, . . .
don't remember the name of it but the one that talks about string up the Christmas lights & sending out the Christmas Card ("I don't even know these people")
In our area we did have a radio station that started the day after Thanksgiving playing "All Christmas til Christmas" - that was kinda nice hearing all the different holiday music. But the station was sold after the hurricane. Oh well - I'll just have to get out my Elvis Blue Christmas cd!!
Merry Christmas to all
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No matter what me and my God are going to be ok, even better than OK -
I am overwhelmed by the responses to a question I wavered on posting. I hope it gave a precious memory back to you, or at least a smile on your face. As I hear the "Carol of the bells" as I type, I want to remind you the "Reason for the Season", and in saying that I wish everyone one of you "Peace, Joy,& the Magic that it can bring"!,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
What a neat idea, brought back to mind lots of favorites. I guess my favorite would have to be "O Holy Night." I tear up every time I hear it. Josh Groban does a fantastic job.
Also, Alan Jackson's "Let it be Christmas." His Christmas special is really good, with his wife and little (well, they were when the show was made!) girls in it. Very family-friendly and heartwarming.
My daughter sang with the opera when she was in high school, and first year of college. She sang at a "Festival of Trees" where there were all kinds of trees that people had donated and decorated up however they wanted. You walked thru and big on your favorite, if you wanted. I think the $$$ went to charity.
Anyway.....when she was about 16, she wore a long, dark blue crushed velvet dress, with her long straight blond hair, and her black platform shoes, and was accompanied by a fellow student on a baby grand piano. Just thinking of those days makes me have chills, I was so, so, very proud of her...and still am.....so I guess my very favorite would have to be ANYTHING sung by my daughter with the voice of an angel.
Could be barisax. Could be. Caruso is not one of my favorites. Imagine that!!! I believe that is probably because the science of recording left a lot to be desired in his day, and seeing him in person was before my day. Diva
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"Speak your truth quietly and clearly..." Desiderata