Do You Hear What I Hear?

So I lied. There's one more. This was also my Uncle Bill's favorite. And yes, it's the ol' Bingo again.

I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas. We return to our regularly scheduled boring blog on Monday, December 29.

Hallelujah!

It still gives me chills when I hear it. Pay attention to the audience - see, they're standing as everyone is traditionally supposed to do. I do it (not when driving the car of course), but you would be surprised how many do not. I've had the good fortune to actually perform this - and it's no easy task.

Here is what Wikipedia has to say about Handel's Messiah:

The most famous movement is the "Hallelujah" chorus ..."

"In many parts of the world, it is the accepted practice for the audience to stand for this section of the performance. Tradition has it that King George II rose to his feet at this point. As the first notes of the triumphant Hallelujah Chorus rang out, the king rose. Royal protocol has always demanded that whenever the monarch stands, so does everyone in the monarch's presence. Thus, the entire audience stood too, initiating a tradition that has lasted more than two centuries. It is lost to history the exact reason why the King stood at that point, but the most popular explanations include:

1) As was and is the custom, one stands in the presence of royalty as a sign of respect.
2) The Hallelujah chorus clearly places Christ as the King of Kings. In standing, King George II accepts that he too is subject to Lord of Lords.
3) He was so moved by the performance that he rose to his feet.
4) He arrived late to the performance, and the crowd rose when he finally made an appearance.
5) His gout acted up at that precise moment and he rose to relieve the discomfort.
6) After an hour of musical performance, he needed to stretch his legs.

There is a story told (perhaps apocryphally) that Handel's assistant walked in to Handel's room after shouting to him for several minutes with no response. The assistant reportedly found Handel in tears, and when asked what was wrong, Handel held up the score to this movement and said, "I thought I saw the face of God"."

Whatever the reason, people stand. So remember that the next time you hear this. Unless, of course, you're in a car or something ...



Merry Christmas everyone. Hallelujah, the Lord is born.

O Holy Night

My countdown of favorite Christmas songs is almost over (aren'tcha glad). This song has always brought me such joy - but especially with the great Josh Groban singing it. Enjoy!

The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth

I watched the Bing Crosby Christmas Specials every year, and 1977 was no exception - especially with the appearance of David Bowie. My word, what possibly could the two of them do? What they did turned out to become Christmas music history that is still played today. I loved this then, and I love it now.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

This is my favorite scene from the movie Meet Me in St. Louis and also my favorite version of the song. No one sings this like Judy Garland.

Sleigh Ride

Without the words. I prefer it this way. Don't get me wrong, they're lovely words, but there's something about LeRoy Anderson's great music that makes this song complete without them. Don't pay any attention to the pictures, just close your eyes and listen to the sleigh riding across the snow, the horses' legs lifting high in the drifts, wind whipping the scarves around the riders heads. I love listening to this.

I'm such a Red-Neck

No, I'm not referring to Bubba the red-necked kitty.

I just love this song. No, realy, I do. It's such a catchy tune, and what better way to spend a Saturday than to hum this one over and over and over until you're ready to run something over with a reindeer. Enjoy!!!

In the Bleak Midwinter

This was my mother's favorite Christmas Carol, mostly for the second verse. I always think about her every time I hear it.

Where are you Christmas

As most of you know, my mother passed away only a few months before Christmas. When the holidays came around I wasn't sure what I would do. I didn't feel like celebrating, and yet I made an effort. But it wasn't the same. I began hearing this song on the radio and it would make me cry - it described most of what I was feeling. I couldn't find Christmas anywhere, but most of all, I couldn't find it in my heart. I can remember driving home from work and this song would play and I would cry. Eventually, I found a bit of Christmas and this song has become one of my favorites.

Kermie and Piggy in a Pear Tree

I don't like very many versions of 12 Days of Christmas - sorry, it just gets nauseating. But this is the exception 'cuz it's such damn fun!! Enjoy this rendition from the 1979 TV Christmas special A Christmas Together with John Denver and the Muppets.

Mother Nature has PMS!!!!!

I’m not kidding. Sunday we were at 80 degrees – well, mostly. Here it is Sunday evening at 11:07 and it’s 45 with a wind chill of 39. Which, by the way, is supposed to be Monday’s high. Yeah, can we say hormonal shift? Back into the 60s by the end of the week, and then we’ll probably start all over again. This, dear readers, is why a lot of people around here are sick – up and down, up and down, winds from this direction and then from the other. It’s a mess. We could actually have sleet Tuesday morning – oh goody, goody.

Anways, as you’ve probably heard, there’s this thing called Christmas that is coming up. I know, I know – where have I been? Last year I did recipes, this year I’m going to treat you with my favorite Christmas songs.

This next one was written by a man named Mark Lowry (along with someone named Buddy Greene). He’s a member of the Gaither gospel group and when I heard the song the first time I couldn’t believe that he wrote it. Why? Think of Goober as writing this song and you’ll get the idea. Mark is the comedian of the group and I would have never thought that he was capable of such beauty. Here is his rendition as I believe that it is the best version of this song. Enjoy.