Comments on: Fa La La La La http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/12/fa-la-la-la-la/ Truth Will Prevail Sun, 12 Feb 2012 01:03:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: slothdog http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/12/fa-la-la-la-la/#comment-33021 slothdog Wed, 08 Dec 2004 20:39:06 +0000 /?p=1701#comment-33021 A couple of local artists with decent Christmas albums: <a href="http://www.peterbreinholt.com/">Peter Breinholt</a>: Noel (very traditional, acoustic) <a href="http://www.shupe.net/">Ryan Shupe & The Rubberband</a>: The Gift A little more "out there": <a href="http://www.adifferentdrum.com/artist.php?n=ADDCD1218">Red Letter Day: A Synthpop Christmas</a> for some electronic Christmas tunage. (The singer of Intuition, who nails a somewhat laid back version of "O Holy Night" here, happens to be LDS. Actually, you can download an mp3 of that track <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000X2D1G/ivorytower-20">from Amazon</a>.) I'll also second the recommendation for <a href="http://www.trans-siberian.com/">Trans-Siberian Orchestra</a>, since they're new to me this year. Make sure to read the stories behind the CDs, especially <a href="http://www.trans-siberian.com/discography/lostxmas-story.shtml"><i>The Lost Christmas Eve</i></a>. Good stuff. A couple of local artists with decent Christmas albums:

Peter Breinholt: Noel (very traditional, acoustic)
Ryan Shupe & The Rubberband: The Gift

A little more “out there”:
Red Letter Day: A Synthpop Christmas for some electronic Christmas tunage. (The singer of Intuition, who nails a somewhat laid back version of “O Holy Night” here, happens to be LDS. Actually, you can download an mp3 of that track from Amazon.)

I’ll also second the recommendation for Trans-Siberian Orchestra, since they’re new to me this year. Make sure to read the stories behind the CDs, especially The Lost Christmas Eve. Good stuff.

]]> By: William Morris http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/12/fa-la-la-la-la/#comment-32546 William Morris Tue, 07 Dec 2004 20:12:31 +0000 /?p=1701#comment-32546 It's a fun album. And, yes, the McKenzie Brothers piece is quite funny. The lyrics are hiliarious, but what crackes me up most is the rinky-dink keyboard used to back-up their (and I use this term loosely) singing. ----- On the topic of holiday humor. Count me as one of those that finds Adam Sandler's "The Hanukkah Song" hilarious. It’s a fun album.

And, yes, the McKenzie Brothers piece is quite funny. The lyrics are hiliarious, but what crackes me up most is the rinky-dink keyboard used to back-up their (and I use this term loosely) singing.
—–

On the topic of holiday humor. Count me as one of those that finds Adam Sandler’s “The Hanukkah Song” hilarious.

]]> By: Russell Arben Fox http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/12/fa-la-la-la-la/#comment-32501 Russell Arben Fox Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:54:01 +0000 /?p=1701#comment-32501 Hey, I should get that. Partly because it would replace my old, taped copy of Hall and Oates "Jingle Bell Rock," but mostly because of the McKenzie Brothers' "Twelve Days of Christmas." Oh man, that's something we haven't even touched yet--Christmas humor. Billy Crystal's "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire," anyone? Hey, I should get that. Partly because it would replace my old, taped copy of Hall and Oates “Jingle Bell Rock,” but mostly because of the McKenzie Brothers’ “Twelve Days of Christmas.” Oh man, that’s something we haven’t even touched yet–Christmas humor. Billy Crystal’s “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire,” anyone?

]]> By: Susan Malmrose http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/12/fa-la-la-la-la/#comment-32500 Susan Malmrose Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:52:29 +0000 /?p=1701#comment-32500 That Ramones tune is certainly an excellent one, but if we're talking rock'n'roll/pop Christmas music, we can't forget the Waitresses - "Christmas Wrapping," Prince - "Lonely Christmas" and "Father Christmas" by the Kinks. That Ramones tune is certainly an excellent one, but if we’re talking rock’n'roll/pop Christmas music, we can’t forget the Waitresses – “Christmas Wrapping,” Prince – “Lonely Christmas” and “Father Christmas” by the Kinks.

]]> By: William Morris http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/12/fa-la-la-la-la/#comment-32497 William Morris Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:40:05 +0000 /?p=1701#comment-32497 I actually own the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005NTQA/103-5750676-0391803?v=glance">VH1: Big 80's Christmas</a> album from Rhino records. The reason, of course, is because it contains the best secular Christmas song ever: Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight) by The Ramones. I actually own the VH1: Big 80′s Christmas album from Rhino records.

The reason, of course, is because it contains the best secular Christmas song ever: Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight) by The Ramones.

]]> By: kris http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/12/fa-la-la-la-la/#comment-32496 kris Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:36:24 +0000 /?p=1701#comment-32496 This year's favourites (some Canadian content here other than the Barenaked Ladies) Chor Leoni (a men's choir from British Columbia) "Yuletide Fires" ; (http://www.chorleoni.org/recordings/yuletide.html) Musica Intima (also from B.C.) , "Nativite " You can sample here: (http://www.musicaintima.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/page.inside/pageID/4AC97691-8379-4A54-9BC051AB7B04A779/index.html) (A Classical Kids Christmas (from the group that brought you "Beethoven lives Upstairs)((http://www.childrensgroup.com/sections/classical/content_ck_christmas.html) Looking forward to the nerdy post on Christmas music Kristine -- O magnum mysterium is my favourite! This year’s favourites (some Canadian content here other than the Barenaked Ladies)

Chor Leoni (a men’s choir from British Columbia) “Yuletide Fires” ; (http://www.chorleoni.org/recordings/yuletide.html)

Musica Intima (also from B.C.) , “Nativite ” You can sample here:
(http://www.musicaintima.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/page.inside/pageID/4AC97691-8379-4A54-9BC051AB7B04A779/index.html)

(A Classical Kids Christmas (from the group that brought you “Beethoven lives Upstairs)((http://www.childrensgroup.com/sections/classical/content_ck_christmas.html)

Looking forward to the nerdy post on Christmas music Kristine — O magnum mysterium is my favourite!

]]> By: Russell Arben Fox http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/12/fa-la-la-la-la/#comment-32495 Russell Arben Fox Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:27:50 +0000 /?p=1701#comment-32495 Jonathan, "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" is indisputedly the <i>best</i> of all those crazy stop-motion Rankin/Bass productions. Fred Astaire narrated; Mickey Rooney voiced Kris Kringle. Who can forget the evil toy-hating Bavarian despot, Burgermeister Meisterberger? And it wasn't just the assembled forest creatures who witnessed their wedding; "the Lord" was their too, at least according toe Astaire's narration. I was always impressed by that injection of Christianity into the special. Clearly, overall its much superior to the overrated "Here Comes Santa Claus" (i.e., the Heatmiser-Coldmiser one) or, worst of all, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," which even Burl Ives couldn't save from being utter dreck. Jonathan, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” is indisputedly the best of all those crazy stop-motion Rankin/Bass productions. Fred Astaire narrated; Mickey Rooney voiced Kris Kringle. Who can forget the evil toy-hating Bavarian despot, Burgermeister Meisterberger? And it wasn’t just the assembled forest creatures who witnessed their wedding; “the Lord” was their too, at least according toe Astaire’s narration. I was always impressed by that injection of Christianity into the special. Clearly, overall its much superior to the overrated “Here Comes Santa Claus” (i.e., the Heatmiser-Coldmiser one) or, worst of all, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” which even Burl Ives couldn’t save from being utter dreck.

]]> By: Will http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/12/fa-la-la-la-la/#comment-32491 Will Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:18:05 +0000 /?p=1701#comment-32491 Jazz: Along with the Vince Guaraldi Charlie Brown Christmas music, I recommend Wynton Marsalis's <a HREF="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000026UM/104-3556999-2991135?v=glance">Crescent City Christmas Card</a>. Sophisticated and fresh arrangements. Except for Kathleen Battle's rendition of Silent Night -- that goes on the worst list. Jazz: Along with the Vince Guaraldi Charlie Brown Christmas music, I recommend Wynton Marsalis’s Crescent City Christmas Card. Sophisticated and fresh arrangements. Except for Kathleen Battle’s rendition of Silent Night — that goes on the worst list.

]]> By: Jonathan Green http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/12/fa-la-la-la-la/#comment-32488 Jonathan Green Tue, 07 Dec 2004 18:14:26 +0000 /?p=1701#comment-32488 Remember those classic stop-motion animated Christmas specials? I think a high point has to be "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town," which has Santa joined to Mrs. Claus in common law marriage without benefit of clergy but with assembled forest creatures as witnesses. I'm not making this up. I assume it made sense at the time (1970). Remember those classic stop-motion animated Christmas specials? I think a high point has to be “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” which has Santa joined to Mrs. Claus in common law marriage without benefit of clergy but with assembled forest creatures as witnesses. I’m not making this up. I assume it made sense at the time (1970).

]]> By: Frank McIntyre http://timesandseasons.org/index.php/2004/12/fa-la-la-la-la/#comment-32480 Frank McIntyre Tue, 07 Dec 2004 17:26:04 +0000 /?p=1701#comment-32480 OK, speaking of Christmas Specials, <a href=http://www.nationallampoon.com/nl/08_features/xmasspecials/xmasspecials.asp>these</a> are made up, but very funny. <a href=http://www.stomptokyo.com/movies/star-wars-holiday-special.html>This</a>, on the other hand, was not made up. OK, speaking of Christmas Specials, these are made up, but very funny.

This, on the other hand, was not made up.

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