For Days Gone By: "Auld Lang Syne" by Robert Burns

Christmas bauble for "Auld Lang Syne: photo credit

Everyone knows we play this song at the New Year, but what does "Auld Lang Syne" mean?

The song is by Scottish poet Robert Burns (who also wrote the lines "The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley").

The Scottish "auld lang syne" is translated literally "old long since," that is to say "old, old times" or "days gone by."

Take a look at the words in Scottish on Wikipedia.

Freegal has lots of versions of “Auld Lang Syne” available for download.

You can find versions by Barbra Streisand, Drums and Tuba, Banjo Christmas, Guitar Christmas, Romantic Christmas, Washingrton Saxophone Quartet, Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (be sure you like bagpipes for this one), Tropical Steel Band, and a Celtic version by Shanon. 

The Audience Voted With Its Feet: Les Miserables

Photo: Andreas Praefcke

According to producer Cameron Mackintosh, some of the first reviews of Les Miserables in London were dismissive. One said, “Les Miserables has, sadly, been reduced to The Glums.”

Shows what critics know. At the time all the so-so reviews were coming out, the box office was going gangbusters.

Now it’s the longest-running musical in the world, and the movie version premieres today.

I you’re like me, and going to wait until the lines die down before seeing it, you can download music from the original London cast from Freegal.

My prediction:  in a year, we’ll be having Les Miserables sing-alongs, like they do now for The Sound of Music.

 

Music for Your Silent Monks: “The Hallelujah Chorus” by George Frideric Handel

This video makes me smile every time I see it.

 Handel’s masterpiece was originally written for Easter, but it’s become a Christmas staple, and there are dozens of versions on Freegal.

If you want the traditional orchestra and choir version, you can look for the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Fiedler, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

If you’d like to hear it in another language, you can give a listen to the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra.

If you like hearing just one person interpret it, you can pull up Johnny Mathis or Neil Diamond.

And if you’re in the mood for something really different, then you’ll want to search for Philharmonic 2000’s version. It’s called “Hallelujah Hustle.”

Merry Cherry Christmas: "Cherry, Cherry Christmas" by Neil Diamond

Photo: Franz Eugen Kohler

So, how exactly does one have a “cherry, cherry” Christmas?

 I’m of two minds with this song. One the one hand, it just seems like a jingle advertising Diamond’s other songs. But, maybe, it’s just his way of poking a little fun at himself.

OK. It’s Christmas. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. And I found myself downloading the song from Freegal, I guess partly out of affection for those songs.

I found references to 7 of his songs. I imagine alert readers our there can probably find more: 1. Cherry, Cherry, 2. Holly Holy, 3. Song Sung Blue, 4. If You Know What I Mean, 5. Red, Red Wine, 6. Sweet Caroline, 7. Beautiful Noise.

To Parody or Not To Parody: "The Twelve Days of Christmas"

When I heard Straight, No Chaser’s version of “12 Days of Christmas” on the radio, I wondered if it would make sense to anyone who had not seen the video.

I love how this a capella groups takes a fairly monotonous song (admit it, you were ready for it to end at 5 golden rings) and segues to “Carol of the Bells” and, finally Toto’s “Africa.” (By the way, “Africa” is available on Freegal.)

Sadly, Straight No Chaser does not have any songs on Freegal. But Freegal does have all kinds of versions.

If you want something traditional, look for Andy Williams, Bing Crosby, Andrews Sister, Perry Como, Burl Ives, or Ray Conniff.

If you want something a little different, you can look for Destiny’s Child, who for some reason cuts the days down in “8 Days of Christmas.”

 This song seems especially susceptible to being toyed around with. (You know that if anyone wants to do a spoof, this is the easiest one.) If you want a punk version, look for a group called Splodge. If you want a hip-hop version, look for Hip-Hop Kids (their album is titled Yo, It’s Christmas.)

And if you wanted it twisted, Twisted Sister has a version, too. Enjoy.

December Music: “The Holly and the Ivy” by George Winston

Many of the cuts from Winston’s album, December make wonderful Christmas music. They are available from Freegal.

Winston made his fame as a pianist, but his other real passion is another instrument: Hawaiian slack key guitar. He’s reportedly an expert player, and has devoted his music label to preserving the form.

And if you’re like me, and wondering what exactly Hawaiian slack key guitar is, here’s a sample:

Merry Christmas in English and Spanish: “Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano

Photo: hendrike

Spanish just has the best-sounding names. Jose Feliciano. Antonio Banderas. They just roll off the tongue.

And “Feliz Navidad” is just a really cool way to say “Merry Christmas.”

Feliciano had become a Latin music star with songs sung mostly in Spanish. He recently told NPR that he included English in this song, partly because he wanted it to be played widely on the radio, but partly to show Hispanics “… not to feel like they will lose their identity if they learn to speak English. And that's why I did "Feliz Navidad" in both languages.”

“Feliz Navidad” is available for free download from Freegal.

Most Hated Christmas Songs: "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" by Patsy & Elmo



Photo: Jurgen Howaldt

So there's a Washington Post  article entitled "All I Want for Christmas Is Not to Hear That Song."

"Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" is number two on the all-time hated list. (My confession: I get a kick out of the line "As for me and Grandpa, we believe." But, once a season is probably plenty.)

Number one hated song. Those dogs barking "Jingle Bells."

Barbra Streisand's "Jingle Bells" didn't fare well either.

My hands-down most hateable Christmas song is Neil Diamond's "White Christmas." I really love some of his stuff, but when I heard him sing "Ay, Ay, Ay'm dreaming of a White Christmas," I thought it was a joke. Sadly, it was not.

Anyhow, if you want to torture relatives at Christmas, "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" by Patsy & Elmo is available for free download from Freegal.

The Piano Player and Charlie Brown: “Skating” as played by George Winston

George Winston pays tribute to composer Vince Guaraldi in his album, Linus and Lucy. All the tracks on the album, including “skating” are available from  Freegal. I had always thought of Winston as an erudite fellow in a tux, but he’s actually described as a “balding grizzly-bearded man” wearing “jeans, a plaid work shirt and no shoes.”  He reportedly sometimes breaks out a guitar or a harmonica, or plays boogie-woogie piano and invites the audience up on the stage to dance.

I like him even better now. And for a little festive, jazzy background music, you can’t do better than Winston, Guaraldi, and Peanuts.

"George Winston." Contemporary Musicians. Vol. 43. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Gale Biography In Context. Web. 20 Dec. 2012.

(Yup, I'm a librarian. I look these things up.)

"There's a tree in the Grand Hotel": "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" sung by Dean Martin



Photo:  Eritfpdsw20

This bouncy little song was written by Meredith Wilson in 1951. If his name (yes, Meredith was a man's name back then) sounds familiar, it's because he wrote the music for The Music Man.

The story goes that he was staying in Yarmouth, Novia Scotia, looking out at "the tree in the Grand Hotel," --and presumable one in the park as well.

If Dean Martin isn’t your style, you can find versions by Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Johhny Mathis, Michael Buble, & Alvin & the Chipmunks on Freegal.

“Oh, the weather outside is frightful”: “Let It Snow” by Glee

Photo: Pollo

This nod to sitting smugly by the fire while the tempest rages outside was penned back in 1945. It was a modern song, mentioning newfangled things like popping corn. (Funny, I thought the Native Americans did it way back.)

Today, in Denver, the snow is falling (finally! –the first we’ve had this year), and it is nice to be sitting inside cozy and warm, though we are making scones instead of popping corn.
Glee has a jazzy version on Freegal.

When it comes to other versions, the question is who doesn’t have a version out. There are over a dozen pages of artists; here is just a sampling:  Johnny Mathis, Doris Day, Harry Connick, Jr., Frank Sinatra, Wynton Marsalis, Andy Williams, Bing Crosby, Jessica Simpson, Kenny G., and Dean Martin. If you are in a country mood, you can listen to Martina McBride, Tanya Tucker, or Austin band Asleep at the Wheel.

If you are in a really different sort of mood, you can listen to the Christmas Jug Band (they whistle the tune—reminds me of the Andy Griffith theme), or you can hear it sung in Polish by Moje Vanoce.

I came across a music box version by Mic Musicbox that I like. It sounds different from all the others.

“I Don’t Want a Lot for Christmas”: “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey

Here's Mariah Carey with Jimmy Fallon and a pop-up group of cute kids. Fallon, together with The Roots, uses instruments you'd find in a grade-school music room.

Carey's song is the only one of the last 2 decades to crack the top 10 favorite holiday song list.

Christmas is all about nostalgia, and people want to hear the songs they remember from their childhoods.

This song came out back in 1994. It would be nice if we could have 2 or 3 new songs each decade. I think they should put Randy Newman on the case. New Christmas tunes, please!

At any rate, Mariah Carey is on Freegal. You can download her song there.

“Ring Christmas Bells, Merrily Ring”: Carol of the Bells by Pink Martini

Photo:  David Blaikie

“Carol of the Bells” is based on a Ukrainian folk tune called “Shchedryk.” Aren’t you glad we have an English name for it as well?

I’ve always loved folk carols, especially the ones in minor key. The tune is a real workout for any vocalist (or handbell choir.)

Pink Martini has one of the freshest Christmas compilations out there, and the album Joy to the World is available on Freegal.

AllMusic says “this globally-minded collection is traditional and unpredictable at the same time.

Other classic renditions include those by George Winston (piano),  Mannheim Steamroller (tech), and The Robert Shaw Chorale (chorus). John Williams also included his rendition on the Home Alone album.

“Over the hills, and everywhere”: “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” Robert Shaw Chorale

Photo: Eirian Evans

One year, after a hectic holiday season, I decided to drive the 4 hours to my parents' house on Christmas day. It was a perfect time.

The roads were deserted, and I found a great FM station that played the kind of Christmas music I like (traditional, not too much of the pop stuff.) As I drove over the pass in the Sangre de Cristo mountains, an energetic rendition of "Go Tell It on the Mountain" came on. I felt like singing "hallelujah."

It was the Robert Shaw Chorale’s versions, and it’s available on Freegal. James Taylor and Simon & Garfunkel have nice renditions, too.

That evening, I arrived at my parents refreshed from having an afternoon of alone time. And my mom had homemade chicken soup waiting for me.

Moms are like that.

“Thou and I shall see him dine”: “Good King Wenceslas on the album Piano Christmas

Photo: Gryffindor

This carol has a special place in my heart. I remember my mother singing it to my sister and me before we went to sleep.

We lived in a little 8’X23’ trailer house in a windswept mountain valley.

I was always intrigued by the thought of the king looking out of his grand palace and deciding to go out into the snow to take food, wine, and fuel to a poor man in the country.

Freegal has dozens and dozens of renditions of the song. I like the meditative piano version by Randy Klein.

But you can get it in all kinds of styles. Give a listen to Dixieland Ramblers, Mambo Folk, Tropical Steel Band and Columba Mistrels (celtic.)

(There is also one by a group called “Jingle Punx.” But I don’t recommend that one unless you’re really angry this Christmas.)

A Plea for Peace During the Cuban Missile Crisis: "Do You Hear What I Hear?" sung by Carrie Underwood

Photo

I've always liked the chain of events in this song.

The night wind whispers to the little lamb. The lamb passes on the message to the shepherd boy. And so on. Sort of a Christmas version of telephone.

But I was surprised to find out that it was written during the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis as a plea for peace.

According the The New York Times it was written by a Ms. Gloria Shayne Baker. Her husband wrote the music.

Carrie Underwood's version (along with dozens of others) is available on Freegal.

That Little Show Choir: The Glee! Christmas Album

Fans of the show Glee! can find all kinds of cast recordings on Freegal.

The Christmas album includes 10 tracks, with favorites such as “Jingle Bell Rock,” White Christmas,””Feliz Navidad,” “Silent Night,” and “Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah.”

Best Books and Films for Families with Children from China

Books, Panda Items & Other Favorites

Permit me to stray a little off-topic here (although Freegal does have a pretty wide selection of Chinese traditional music as well as pop music--C-Pop they call it.)

My husband & I decided to adopt a girl from China 14 years ago, and since then I've read everything I could about China--histories, novels, memoirs. This site lists the best things I've found, all the way from picture books for the little ones to steampunk novels for teens. I have quite a few things geared towards moms & dads, too.

So, if you know anyone with children from China, these books & DVD's (I've thrown in a few cute panda items & other things, too) would make great gift ideas.

“I’ll be so blue thinkin’ about you”: “Blue Christmas” by Elvis Presley

Photo: Alexofdodd

"Blue Christmas" is ever cemented in our minds as Elvis Presley's hit song, but country music pioneer Ernest Tubb was actually the first person hit the charts. In January of 1950 Tubbs’ version spent a week on Billboards "Most-Played Juke Box (Country& Western) Records chart.

Who knew they had such a list? Presley's version is available on Freegal.

Sadly, Tubbs' is not.

"So this is Christmas": "Happy Christmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon

Photo: Alina Zienowicz

This song is sort of a combination protest/Christmas celebration song.

I've always been drawn to the folksy tune of this song, and thanks to a little research on Wikipedia today, I know why.

It's based on the tune for the folk ballad "Stewball."

Try singing these lyrics to the tune of "Happy Christmas," and you'll see what I mean:

Oh, Stewball was a race horse

And I wish he were mine.

He never drank water

He always drank wine.

Lennon has elevated the song considerably.

Sadly, there are no Beatles on Freegal..  But Murdo Mcrae does a version similar to Lennon's. If you're not an absolute purist, it's a nice cover. (If you are an absolute purist, I understand.)

Wata Igarishi and Roch Voisine also do interesting versions.

The Mistake That Sold a Million Records: “Music Box Dancer” by Frank Mills

I hadn’t thought of “Music Box Dancer” as a Christmas song until it started showing up in Christmas light displays. (Those displays tread a fine line between spectacular and garish, but this one in my neighborhood makes me smile.)

You can download it free from Freegal.

Back in 1978, Frank Mills’ song was originally sent to “easy listening” stations in Canada, but it was sent to one pop station by mistake. The DJ there decided he liked the B side and started playing it.

It struck a chord, and soon Top 40 stations around the US were playing it, as well. It went gold in ’79.

(PS  If you live in the south metro area of Denver, check out this article for a driving tour, including this house.)

"You'd Better Watch Out": "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" by Bruce Springsteen

Santa skis into town? Why not? Photo credit

I'm pretty sure this is the only Christmas song that starts with a threat. (OK, maybe it’s a warning.)

Listen to The Boss kids, he knows what's comin' down.

I had always thought this was a B-list song. But Springsteen's version gives it heart and attitude.

And you can download it free, from Freegal.

“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas”: “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby

Photo: Pollo

According to the Guinness Book of Records, this is the best-selling single of all time, selling 50 million copies. You can download it from Freegal and make it 50 million and one.

After my teenage daughter and I heard it on the radio, this is how our conversation went:

ME: That’s Bing Crosby singing.

HER: What? I thought his name was Bill or something.

ME (after some thought): No, you’re thinking of Bill Cosby. The comedian. Very different from Bing Crosby the singer. He was known for being smooth and debonair.

HER (after some thought): Mom, how smooth and debonair can he be? He calls himself BING. It’s like he’s a second-rate search engine.

ME: Sigh.

“It’s lovely weather for a sleigh ride together…”: “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson

Photo: Declan Jewell

"Sleigh Ride" has just seemed like one of those songs that is always around during the Christmas season, and no wonder since year after year it is the most-played song on the radio, according to ASCAP.

It was written by Leroy Anderson, he of the songs that feature creative sound effects. My parents had an album of The Boston Pops performing a Leroy Anderson fun fest, and there were songs with typewriters and chickens, and such.

You can find about any style you'd like in Freegal. In addition to traditional orchestra versions, you can find renditions by Johnny Mathis, Ray Conniff, Wynton Marsalis, Harry Connick, Jr., Neil Diamond, Mitch Miller, Andy Williams, George Shearing, Clay Aiken, Duke Ellington, Henry Mancini, Columba Minstrals (Celtic), Nashville Superpickers, and Kenny G.
I prefer the orchestral versions by Arthur Fiedler or Christmas Strings.
 

"Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time"

Photo: Lourdes Cardenal

If you're a purist and have to have Paul McCartney's rendition of "Wonderful Christmas Time," well, it isn't on Freegal.

None of the Beatles are.

But if you just love the song, like me, Murdo Mcrae and company do a nice version. You can find theirs, and lots of other covers on Freegal.

12 Cellos: "Carol of the Bells" by The Piano Guys

There is really only one piano guy in The Piano Guys. The others do strings. This version of "Carol of the Bells" has 12 cellos and is available from Freegal. It's just amazing.

They are named after a music store called--what else?--The Piano Guys.

Bring in the Glass Harp: “The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” by Tchaikovsky

I love this rendition that my cousin found and sent to me.

Tchaikovsky brought in an entirely new instrument called the celesta that lent the song its unique celestial bell sound.

The glass harp is equally entrancing.

Sadly, I couldn’t find any glass harp rendition on Freegal. But I found dozens of others:

·         Leonard Bernstein and Arthur Fiedler for traditionalists.

·         Yule-a-Go Go for a rough-hewn jazz version,

·         Los Angeles Jazz Orchestra for a classic jazz version

·         Angels of Venice for a somewhat syncopated version

·         Spongetones for a bizarre version

·         Woody Phillips in an even more bizarre “toolbox” version. Seems to include ratchets and power saws

A Girl in Appalachia: “I Wonder As I Wander” sung by Theresa Donohoo

Photo: Joshua Strang

The plaintive song sounds like a folk carol passed down through the generations, but it was actually written by musician John Jacob Niles.

As Niles tells it, the song was inspired by a young girl in Murphy, North Carolina in 1933. Her father was a traveling preacher, and needed to do one more revival to have the money to move on.

But the police considered him a public nuisance and were ready to eject them.

A girl called Annie Morgan came out and sang the first three lines of this song. Niles paid her 25 cents each time she performed it, and after eight tries, Niles said, “…I had only three lines of verse, a garbled fragment of melodic material—and a magnificent idea.”

You can get Theresa Donohoo’s rendition of “I Wonder As I Wander” free from Freegal.