And, at last, we come to the end. Continue reading “Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 26: St. Stephen’s Day Murders”
Month: December 2021
Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 25: The Rebel Jesus/Skyline Jig
I have gone back and forth trying to decide which song I wanted to post on Christmas Day, which is the next-to-last day of my Virtual Musical Advent Calendar. Continue reading “Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 25: The Rebel Jesus/Skyline Jig”
Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 24: Silent Night
When I was growing up, we only went to church a handful of times; each of those times was Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Continue reading “Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 24: Silent Night”
Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 23: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Our last entries of this Advent Calendar will be closing out over the next three days, as we celebrate Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and St. Stephen’s Day in quick succession. This is therefore our last “regular day.” As such I thought I’d post a few of my favorite carols from the hymnal of the Anglican and Episcopal church, which is the church my parents called home in years past, and the one my wife and younger son call home today. Continue reading “Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 23: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”
Virtual Musical Calendar, December 22: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Has there ever been a more ironically-titled Christmas song than Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas? So saccharine is the promise of the phrase “merry little Christmas,” and so jolly the majority of the song’s recordings, that it was not until I was an adult that it finally hit me how achingly sad its message truly is. Continue reading “Virtual Musical Calendar, December 22: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”
Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 21: The Holly & The Ivy
Happy Solstice, everyone!
Today’s listed song is The Holly & The Ivy, but in honor of the Winter Solstice I’m actually going to share several songs with you. These songs represent the growing resurgence of those wonderful old carols that blend the imagery of the Christian nativity with old English paganism and, in many cases, literal blood sacrifices to the gods. Continue reading “Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 21: The Holly & The Ivy”
Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 20: Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Here’s a confession I am embarrassed to make: like most suburban white kids of my generation, the very first version I ever heard of Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) was the one by U2, featured on the classic compilation A Very Special Christmas. Continue reading “Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 20: Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”
Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 19: Another Christmas Song
One of the more modern wrinkles to the Holiday-canon effort is the “funny/novelty” Christmas song. Unfortunately — and probably predictably — funny/novelty Christmas songs are usually quite terrible. More than that, they’re often embarrassing, offensive, or both. But it has become such a pervasive sub-genre that I feel the need to at least acknowledge it in this Advent Calendar. Continue reading “Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 19: Another Christmas Song”
Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 18: White Christmas
It’s one of those not so well known facts that Bing Crosby’s recording of White Christmas is the top single record of all time. Continue reading “Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 18: White Christmas”
Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 17: Donde Esta Santa Claus?
The selection of Donde Esta Santa Claus? is unique to this Advent Calendar, because, save a single exception of just one recording, it is one the most annoying songs ever recorded. That single exception, however, is exceptional — and enough to secure it a spot on our Holiday playlist. Continue reading “Virtual Musical Advent Calendar, December 17: Donde Esta Santa Claus?”
R. Tod Kelly 