|
Post by Maolsheachlann on Dec 9, 2018 15:50:33 GMT
It's that time of year again!
I have mixed views about Christmas. It starts far too early, it's way too commercialized, and the "reason for the season" is too often forgotten or suppressed. These are familiar criticisms, but true for all that. I also have a personal gripe against Christmas-- it gets all the traditions. I wish they were more evenly distributed throughout the year.
But enough of that. What are your favourite Christmas songs, sacred and secular?
This occurred to me today as I listened to "Wonderful Christmastime" by Paul McCartney in the supermarket. It's always been one of my favourites-- I like the synthesizer sound on it. I like how simple and upbeat it is.
So here are some of my favourites:
1) The First Noel 2) Merry Christmas Everybody (Slade) 3) Wonderful Christmastime 4) God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen 5) Jingle Bells (well, I do) 6) O Come All Ye Faithful 7) Santa Baby (genuinely witty lyrics)
Christmas songs I hate:
1) Silent Night. Yes, I am the only person in the world who HATES Silent Night. I always have. It always made me sad, from the time I was a kid. Maybe it's because I hate silence! 2) A Fairytale of New York. A great song in its own right, but it's the kind of song that suffers from being played too often. There are some songs I could listen to any number of times, but this isn't one of them, perhaps because it's an emotional journey. To quote a line from the Wildhearts: "Nobody likes a long rollercoaster ride." 3) Christmas Wrapping. "Ooh, I'm so popular and sought after! Poor me!".
|
|
|
Post by cato on Dec 9, 2018 19:05:10 GMT
I can only really listen to Christmas music from the 17th of December. Listening to Christmas music in shops from Halloween on makes me ill.
I like most Christmas music with the exception of much of the 1970s offerings. I would add the first part of Handel's Messiah to my list along with Michael Buble's Christmas album which is a family cult classic.
|
|
|
Post by cato on Dec 9, 2018 19:05:57 GMT
I can only really listen to Christmas music from the 17th of December. Listening to Christmas music in shops from Halloween on makes me ill. I like most Christmas music with the exception of much of the 1970s offerings. Yes that's Slade !I would add the first part of Handel's Messiah to my list along with Michael Buble's Christmas album which is a family cult classic.
|
|
|
Post by cato on Dec 9, 2018 19:08:16 GMT
I didn't mean to quote myself above. I am not in the same league as the holy father. Some one bumped into me on the bus and I pressed some button on my phone. Sorry.
|
|
|
Post by Maolsheachlann on Dec 9, 2018 19:12:39 GMT
Doubtless, being Irish, you immediately said sorry when that person bumped into you!
|
|
|
Post by cato on Dec 9, 2018 19:26:52 GMT
Doubtless, being Irish, you immediately said sorry when that person bumped into you! No. Unusually instead I gave them a filthy look. Not that they noticed anyway!
|
|
|
Post by Séamus on Dec 10, 2018 9:38:43 GMT
🐟 It depends what you mean by... The trouble with carols is that they're all ok in small doses and you never get them in small doses. In recent years my favourite one on the more secular/contemporary side is Enya's TRAINS AND WINTER RAINS. Unfortunately it hadn't been written back in John Paul II 's day when the she did one of her rare live or semi-live performances at the Vatican's Christmas concert. Tommy Fleming singing CHRISTMAS 1915 is special also. For some reason Fleming drives my father mad; he doesn't like the way he hangs on to the notes. Clannad's CHRISTMAS ANGELS is amazing of course.DO THEY KNOW IT'S CHRISTMAS is acceptable because not overplayed. Sacred: I think I prefer the gentle ones- WHAT CHILD IS THIS or PUER NATUS IN BETHLEHEM, if Advent hymns can be included then CONDITOR ALMA or ALMA REDEMPTORIS MATER also. Overall THE HOLLY AND THE IVY or IN DULCI JUBILO are pretty enjoyable. A few which are not Christmas carols at all run through my head through the season especially coming up to New year's day,U2's classic was always one (🐠!) Fleming's SHE CAN'T BE REALLY GONE and also a classic Australian/New Zealand song which repeats "it's no New year's resolution" in it's refrain (although the title is actually something like 'message to my girl') Tim Finn was the vocalist for this one, whichever incarnation of whichever group he was with at the time. (For some reason Kylie Minogue's version of Alison Moyet/Vince Clarke's ONLY YOU has become de-facto seasonal in Australia also). Past favourites VENI EMMANUEL and WE THREE KINGS have been sung or played too often to keep me interested. I dislike WHEN A CHILD IS BORN it's seems neither sacred or secular, the words could almost refer to Mahatma Ghandi or Nelson Mandela, it's almost like the song wants to have meaning but can't. IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS and similar ones recorded by the likes of Crosby in the post-war years unsettle me a bit as they seem a bit too consumerist considering how little money people had at the time. Then again THE LITTLE BOY THAT SANTA CLAUS FORGOT is a bit over-sad, it could have at least had a happy ending.
|
|
|
Post by Maolsheachlann on Dec 10, 2018 14:15:29 GMT
A few which are not Christmas carols at all run through my head through the season especially coming up to New year's day,U2's classic was always one (🐠!) I have forgiven Horslips for calling the organisers of the Irexit conference "sadsters" and objecting to Dearg Doom being played at it. I've gone back to listening to them. I haven't gone back to listening to U2 after their abortion referendum intervention; I don't know if I ever will, either. (Then again, U2 were never one of my favourite bands like Horslips.) Another difference is that Horslips don't profess to be nationalists, but U2 do profess to be Christians (three of them, at least).
|
|
|
Post by Maolsheachlann on Dec 10, 2018 16:00:51 GMT
(For some reason Kylie Minogue's version of Alison Moyet/Vince Clarke's ONLY YOU has become de-facto seasonal in Australia also). Well, Wikipedia said it was released on a Christmas album, so that explains it. I always think it's perverse that non-Christmas themed songs become Christmas favourites, given there are so many Christmas songs to choose from. "Let it Snow!" has no reference to Christmas. Jingle Bells was originally a Thanksgiving song. (By the way, I've always thought the Irish language alternative lyrics are pretty good.) Bualadh bos, bualadh bos, buailfimís go léir, Tá Daidí na Nollag ag teacht anocht, Anuas an similéar. ó, bualadh bos, bualadh bos, Buailfimís go léir, Tá Daidí na Nollag ag teacht anocht Anuas an similéar. Tá'n Nollaig buailte linn, Tá áthas ins an aer, Tá sneachta ar an dtalamh, Tá réaltaí ins an spéir. Táimid ag dul a chodladh Is tá ár stocaí réidh. Tá Daidí na Nollag ag teacht anocht Anuas an similéar. [Curfá] A Dhaidí, brostaigh ort, Is cuir do mhála síos. Líon suas an stoca beag le feiríní arís, Is mithid duit imeacht suas an simléar. Tá páistí beaga ag feitheamh ort i ngach aon áit faoin speir. English translation: Clap your hands, clap your hands, Clap hands everyone (all of us), Father Christmas is coming tonight Down the chimney. . Clap your hands, clap your hands Clap hands everyone (all of us), Father Christmas is coming tonight Down the chimney. Christmas is coming near us, Joy is in the air, Snow is on the ground, Stars are in the sky, We are going to sleep, Our stockings are ready, Father Christmas is coming tonight, Down the chimney. [Chorus] Daddy, Relax, Lay down your bag. Fill the small sock a gift again, It is time you depart up the chimney. Small children are awaiting you everywhere under the sky. On a similar theme, my favourite film Groundhog Day is often considered a Christmas film though it should be quite obvious it's not, from the very title if nothing else.
|
|
|
Post by cato on Dec 10, 2018 17:46:35 GMT
(For some reason Kylie Minogue's version of Alison Moyet/Vince Clarke's ONLY YOU has become de-facto seasonal in Australia also). Well, Wikipedia said it was released on a Christmas album, so that explains it. I always think it's perverse that non-Christmas themed songs become Christmas favourites, given there are so many Christmas songs to choose from. "Let it Snow!" has no reference to Christmas. Jingle Bells was originally a Thanksgiving song. (By the way, I've always thought the Irish language alternative lyrics are pretty good.) Bualadh bos, bualadh bos, buailfimís go léir, Tá Daidí na Nollag ag teacht anocht, Anuas an similéar. ó, bualadh bos, bualadh bos, Buailfimís go léir, Tá Daidí na Nollag ag teacht anocht Anuas an similéar. Tá'n Nollaig buailte linn, Tá áthas ins an aer, Tá sneachta ar an dtalamh, Tá réaltaí ins an spéir. Táimid ag dul a chodladh Is tá ár stocaí réidh. Tá Daidí na Nollag ag teacht anocht Anuas an similéar. [Curfá] A Dhaidí, brostaigh ort, Is cuir do mhála síos. Líon suas an stoca beag le feiríní arís, Is mithid duit imeacht suas an simléar. Tá páistí beaga ag feitheamh ort i ngach aon áit faoin speir. English translation: Clap your hands, clap your hands, Clap hands everyone (all of us), Father Christmas is coming tonight Down the chimney. . Clap your hands, clap your hands Clap hands everyone (all of us), Father Christmas is coming tonight Down the chimney. Christmas is coming near us, Joy is in the air, Snow is on the ground, Stars are in the sky, We are going to sleep, Our stockings are ready, Father Christmas is coming tonight, Down the chimney. [Chorus] Daddy, Relax, Lay down your bag. Fill the small sock a gift again, It is time you depart up the chimney. Small children are awaiting you everywhere under the sky. On a similar theme, my favourite film Groundhog Day is often considered a Christmas film though it should be quite obvious it's not, from the very title if nothing else. Has anyone ever recorded the Irish language version? It sounds catchy and looks easy to learn.
|
|
|
Post by assisi on Dec 10, 2018 19:45:27 GMT
A few which are not Christmas carols at all run through my head through the season especially coming up to New year's day,U2's classic was always one (🐠!) I have forgiven Horslips for calling the organisers of the Irexit conference "sadsters" and objecting to Dearg Doom being played at it. I've gone back to listening to them. I haven't gone back to listening to U2 after their abortion referendum intervention; I don't know if I ever will, either. (Then again, U2 were never one of my favourite bands like Horslips.) Another difference is that Horslips don't profess to be nationalists, but U2 do profess to be Christians (three of them, at least). As a Horslips fan I had the same problem. I got round it through a sly little trick, as follows: They were Irish Nationalists when they wrote and recorded their music. However now they have caught the PC virus and just aren't the same men. It is the 1970s Horslips we like, not the tired old men of 2018.
|
|
|
Post by Maolsheachlann on Dec 10, 2018 20:02:43 GMT
I have forgiven Horslips for calling the organisers of the Irexit conference "sadsters" and objecting to Dearg Doom being played at it. I've gone back to listening to them. I haven't gone back to listening to U2 after their abortion referendum intervention; I don't know if I ever will, either. (Then again, U2 were never one of my favourite bands like Horslips.) Another difference is that Horslips don't profess to be nationalists, but U2 do profess to be Christians (three of them, at least). As a Horslips fan I had the same problem. I got round it through a sly little trick, as follows: They were Irish Nationalists when they wrote and recorded their music. However now they have caught the PC virus and just aren't the same men. It is the 1970s Horslips we like, not the tired old men of 2018. In fairness, I think they are probably being consistent. They fused Irish folk music with rock, and were criticized for it by some (or so I've heard it). So they have always probably been anti-insular. The Man Who Built America also has themes of discrimination against immigrants so they probably see the world in those terms. I can understand why an artist would want to borrow from everywhere, but my view is that somebody has to be insular at some point or there's no native tradition at all. The arts, and the world, needs puritans as well as synthesists. I don't even doubt the synthesists are more talented, for the most part. But I think they are in debt to the mediocre, who generally built up the traditions they draw on. Cato, I'm not sure the song has ever been recorded-- I remember it from school.
|
|
|
Post by assisi on Dec 10, 2018 20:37:53 GMT
As a Horslips fan I had the same problem. I got round it through a sly little trick, as follows: They were Irish Nationalists when they wrote and recorded their music. However now they have caught the PC virus and just aren't the same men. It is the 1970s Horslips we like, not the tired old men of 2018. In fairness, I think they are probably being consistent. They fused Irish folk music with rock, and were criticized for it by some (or so I've heard it). So they have always probably been anti-insular. The Man Who Built America also has themes of discrimination against immigrants so they probably see the world in those terms. I can understand why an artist would want to borrow from everywhere, but my view is that somebody has to be insular at some point or there's no native tradition at all. The arts, and the world, needs puritans as well as synthesists. I don't even doubt the synthesists are more talented, for the most part. But I think they are in debt to the mediocre, who generally built up the traditions they draw on. Cato, I'm not sure the song has ever been recorded-- I remember it from school. I'm maybe being a bit cynical but the 'Man who Built America' album was generally viewed at the time as their attempt to break into the American market. Earlier albums such as the 'Tain' were a bit like the concept albums of the 1970s, all the songs relating to a unifying theme, in this case the Tain Bo Culaigne of Irish legend. They weren't shy about mining traditional music for tunes in those days. One of their main men Barry Devlin has worked in the media ever since Horslips more or less packed it in, including some early videos of U2. I suppose current media culture in Ireland would soon knock out any ideas of nationalism out of him. Just noticed on Wikipedia that Devlin's sister was married to Seamus Heaney.
|
|
|
Post by Séamus on Dec 11, 2018 7:35:38 GMT
(For some reason Kylie Minogue's version of Alison Moyet/Vince Clarke's ONLY YOU has become de-facto seasonal in Australia also). Well, Wikipedia said it was released on a Christmas album, so that explains it. I always think it's perverse that non-Christmas themed songs become Christmas favourites, given there are so many Christmas songs to choose from. "Let it Snow!" has no reference to Christmas. Jingle Bells was originally a Thanksgiving song. (By the way, I've always thought the Irish language alternative lyrics are pretty good.) Bualadh bos, bualadh bos, buailfimís go léir, Tá Daidí na Nollag ag teacht anocht, Anuas an similéar. ó, bualadh bos,...etc. My father has often sung it through the years to his grandchildren. I think he only knows the first verse though. Christmas hymns or songs can be a two-way stream also- one lovely hymn that's usually labeled 'a Basque carol' begins 'The Angel Gabriel from heaven came' I've heard sung in March for the Annunciation (it mentions the Annunciation only, not the birth of Christ) and can be used without seeming out of place on any Marian feast through the year. A Wesleyan hymn usually used for Advent 'Lo He Comes With Clouds Descending' can and is used at any time and works particularly well as a recessional on the Ascension. Handel's ' And the Glory of the Lord', was written for the 'Incarnation part' of his oratorio, but I've heard sung at a St Luke's day ceremony.
|
|
|
Post by Maolsheachlann on Dec 11, 2018 9:49:11 GMT
Regarding "Buala bos", I remember singing a version of it in school which ended one verse with "nó ní gheobhaidh tú dinéir", but I don't see that anywhere.
|
|