Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Do You Hear What I Hear?

One of the things I love the most about the holidays is the music. One of our radio stations started playing it continuously the week before Thanksgiving (at least, that’s when I discovered it), and I’ve been listening to it ever since. Certain songs mean different things to me, the one in the title because it’s the favorite of my favorite uncle and it was also one of the few that I could play on the piano. Silent Night has morphed into an especially poignant song for me – the last couple of months of mother’s life she would suddenly launch into singing it over and over. We even played it at her funeral. I Wonder As I Wander pulls at me, I sang it as a solo once at church. White Christmas, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, Merry Christmas Darling are among the ones that will bring a tear to my eyes while Baby It’s Cold Outside, Winter Wonderland, Santa Baby, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer are just plain fun. I even like that new version of the Grinch song, but I can never remember who sings it. Mom’s favorite Christmas song was In the Bleak Midwinter, so it holds a special place. I love the Bing Crosby/David Bowie version of The Little Drummer Boy. And then there’s the Hallelujah Chorus – I have to keep myself from standing when I hear it in the car. Even the dreaded Feliz Navidad (a song I generally hate) has a new meaning for me since mother died – I know I’ve told this story before, but one Christmas I was baking and that song came on. I commented on how it would now be stuck in my head the rest of the day. Without batting an eye, mom replied “There isn’t anything else up there.” Now I hear the song and smile before I groan about it. So no meanies here – I don’t want to know about what songs you hate, but tell me what’s your favorite Christmas song and why.


Peanut Butter Blossoms

Make your favorite peanut butter cookie dough, or use 1 18-oz roll of refrigerated peanut butter cookie dough.

3 tablespoons sugar
36 Kisses (yeah, that’s what they say, some reason I use a little less – must make my balls too big – hey, watch it!)

Heat oven to 375. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in sugar. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately top each cookie with 1 Kiss, pressing down firmly so cookie cracks around edge. Remove from cookie sheets. Cool completely before storing (or you’ll smash the chocolate)

Makes about 3 dozen cookies (yeah, right)

22 comments:

Lis said...

Favorite hands down is Elvis' Merry Merry Christmas baby. It'll put a smile on my face whenever I hear it. Plus we always play Elvis' christmas records when we open christmas presents
Love White Christmas and Dean Martin's version of Baby Its Cold Outside. And Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers version of I Believe in Santa Claus. I remember buying that LP! lol

Shesawriter said...

My favorite Christmas cartoon of all time has to be Santa Claus Is Coming To Town ... oh, and Frosty The Snowman.

Anonymous said...

Don't know if it strictly counts as a Christmas song, but it was released for the Christmas market.
Paul McCartney's Frog Chorus! It was this fun little tune with a great video. mainly aimed at kids. But the reason I remember it was that I was at school and we chose to reproduce it. Different kids were different animals and I had to be the conductor. It was such fun standing there directing all these 'frogs'!

Brandy said...

I love to hear hear Carol of the Bells. I don't know why, I just love the energy and loveliness the song has. Second favorite would have to be Emmanuel. It touches my soul. For fun songs, I love I'll be Home for Christmas. I sang this song as a solo for a huge Christmas party my Dh had when an (female)accapella group I was in sang at the Wing Christmas party. I don't ever remember being so scared in my life before that moment. Hallelujah Chorus is beautiful. My HS chorale group sang that one. Okay, I face it, I love most all Christmas Carols/Songs!!!! Thank you for asking this question.
I've seen Peanut Butter Blossoms, but never tried one. I may have to change that!

Anonymous said...

My favorite right now is called "Walkin' 'Round In Women's Underwear". It's sung by a fabulous male chorus to the tune of "Walking In A Winter Wonderland", and I absolutely love it. Makes me smile every time.

There are a few 'traditional' ones. One of them would be "O Come, O Come Emmanuel". Wonderful Gregorian-chant/mystical sort of sound to it. A lovely tune.

Joely Sue Burkhart said...

My favorite is the song about Mariah, the poor orphan girl, and the first nightingale song. I think it's called The Gift. If I'm in the mood for a funny song, I love Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer.

Christa said...

I think my favourite is Do They Know it's Christmastime by Band Aid. It seemed to inspire USA for Africa and Northern Lights and the awareness of poverity in Africa. The band membersdid it for charity and you saw that they didn't get all glammed up.
I was up at my sister's this w/e and she had Christmas cds on. I know one of them was Holly Cole's Baby it's Cold Outside, so now I have that running through my head.
I have always liked The Little Drummer Boy by Crosby/Bowie and most of the others you mentioned.

Dru said...

My favorite is Nat King Cole's The Christmas Song. When I hear it, I think of the last time my whole family was together at Christmas just enjoying one another.

When I'm home alone, I like to blast Handel's Messiah Christmas Highlights, especially Hallelujah.

Kelly Boyce said...

I love Hard Candy Christmas. Since I'm usually...okay ALWAYS single on Christmas while the rest of my family isn't, it just seems to resonate with me. Especially the line about buying a car and driving so far they all lose track'.

catslady said...

Joely Sue - the nightingale song is also my favorite - I have a cd by Garth Brooks and he sings this one. makes me cry every time.

Hope you're feeling better, Bailey.

Anonymous said...

I love the oldies. Dean Martin's version of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" (though I've always been baffled why it's considered a Christmas song...) and Eartha Kitt's "Santa Baby".

And "Walking 'Round in Women's Underwear" is hysterical!!!

Melissa Amateis said...

Favorite songs: Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel; White Christmas; God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; O Holy Night.

And all the songs from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer with Burl Ives!

Bailey Stewart said...

All good songs.

Tori - I've wondered the same thing. Why do radio stations quit playing "Winter" songs after Christmas? After all, Winter Wonderland, Baby, It's Cold Outside, Let it Snow etc, aren't about Christmas, they're about Winter. I have to admit, I've never heard Walking 'Round in Women's Underwear, but it sounds funny.

I'm feeling a bit better today. Didn't get a lot of sleep last night - never take an expectorant before bed-time. I'm buying a cough suppressant today to bed-time. That is, when I can get my lazy ass in gear and go to the store. I have to go - out of kitty litter.

Anonymous said...

What Child is This - I first learned this when I was in 3rd or 4th grade. We had recently learned "Green Shelves" in school. I was fascinated by how the song I learned in school could be the same melody as this Xmas hymn. I no longer remember the words for Green Shelves but the haunting melody of the verse then the joyous sounds of the chorus still fill me with wonder and awe.

Denise McDonald said...

My favorite song is "I wanna Hippopstamus for Christmas" hehe - LOVE that song!

Bailey Stewart said...

Oh, um, Susie, Sheesh, um, I don't know quite how to put this, but, er, do you mean Green Sleeves? *g*

Denise McDonald said...

DOH! - even though I can't spell it...sheesh!

Kelly (Lynn) Parra said...

My kids and I always sing Santa's coming to town!

anne frasier said...

ooh, i might have to make the peanut butter blossoms. haven't had those since i was little. yummm. you're a genius to mention a ROLL of cookie dough.

yes, i can do this.

Anonymous said...

Yes, your right, Green SLEEVES. You know I'm dislectic, right? Thanks for bringing that to my attention.

Anonymous said...

My favorites are two very different songs. One of them also is "The Little Drummer Boy". Though it is probably thought of as a children's song, for me it has deep meaning. God can turn a simple thing like drumming into something wonderful. Everybody has a worthwhile gift or talent and nobody is worthless.

The other one is "O Holy Night". The melody is just beautiful and the words also are very meaningful. I can really get "lost" in this song; everything else just fades away.

Happy Birthday, Susan!

Anonymous said...

Yeah, anything from the Messiah will do it for me too. There are also some strictly German ones that I really love as well as some French ones.

You do all know, I guess, that Handel's "Messiah" was written in English. I don't even know if there's an official German version. He did spend a lot of years in Britain and might have even died there.

Some of the "newer" ones I have never even heard of. That underwear one sounds like a fun one.