Tis the season for Christmas music. For my post I'd like to talk about the ups and downs of those very special songs that (most of us) only listen to this time of year.
First let's talk about my favorite Christmas music. My favorite Christmas album hands down is Relient K's "Let it Snow Baby....Let It Reindeer." I know, clever. This album is actually an expanded version of their previous Christmas album, "Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand." Here are some favorite tracks:
Santa Clause is Thumbing to Town: A hilarious depiction of disaster at the North Pole which causes Santa to have to hitchhike his way around the world to deliver presents.
I Celebrate the Day: A Christmas love song to Jesus as only Relient K could create.
I Hate Christmas Parties: An angsty Christmas break-up song. Hopefully no one can relate, but a good song nonetheless.
In Like a Lion (Always Winter): This is arguably not a Christmas song. It first appeared on one of their EPs and seems to clearly be an unfairly rejected track for the Narnia soundtrack (the main theme is "always winter, but never Christmas"). It may not technically be a Christmas song given that it's a song looking towards the end of Christmas and cold weather, but the song still has a Christmas-y feel.
Boxing Day: A perfect day-after Christmas song. If you're unsure about Boxing Day, find out more here. It's really more of a Canadian thing.
Relient K also has a really good version of "Sleigh Ride" which I may or may not have been caught car-dancing to. Here's the animated music video, and no I don't know why they're all rabbits.
As far as classic songs go, my all-time favorite is The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams
Now let's talk about the other side of Christmas music. In my years of loving Christmas music, I've noticed a few oddities about some Christmas songs. Take my favorite for example, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year: "There'll be scary ghost stories and tales of the glories...." Ghost stories? Who tells ghost stories on Christmas? Yeah there's "A Christmas Carol" with the ghosts of the various Christmases, but shouldn't the scary stories be kept to Halloween?
Another one, "Santa Clause is Coming to Town": "You better watch out! You better not cry!.....He sees you when you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good, you better be good for goodness' sake!" What delightful lyrics to sing to your children! "Hey kids, you better be real good because Santa is watching you all the time and he's coming for you! Now let's take you to the mall to sit on his lap!"
Let's not forget the passively aggressive undertones of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas.":
"Now bring us some figgy pudding and a cup of good cheer.....We won't go until we get some, so bring some out here."
First of all, who eats figgy pudding? Figgy pudding is neither A) a yummy sounding treat or B) something that seems appropriate to ask someone for outside their house. If you're going to ask for food at someone's house in return for a Christmas carol, at least pick something like cookies, or some egg nog, or a friggin' candy cane. Have some standards, people. And why are you showing up at my house asking for food anyway? Halloween was two months ago! You should leave and go meet up with those guys telling ghost stories on Christmas. It is not appropriate to show up singing outside my house saying you won't leave till I give you figgy pudding. If you keep standing out there singing then all you'll be getting from me is a restraining order. Now get off my lawn so I can go back to watching Christmas Vacation.
For more cynical views on Christmas and many other holidays, check out this Jim Gaffigan video.
"Merry Christmas ya filthy animal."
3 comments:
We made a figgy pudding this year. It's basically a fruit cake (with some dried figs involved) that's soaked in rum or brandy, lit on fire and served with whipped cream or hard sauce. If you come caroling we will definitely give you some!
HAHAHAHAHA! i was JUST thinking the part about the ghost stories the other day when i heard that song on the radio! I was like-- wait, what?! Who does that?!
you two are amazing. merry christmas :)
You two may not remember me but I am friends with Katie and Jeremiah and also the nurse at ACU. I saw that Katie had a new blog listed and so, I checked it out. Excited that it was someone that I kind of know...Stephanie, I used to see every week while working out and you were waiting for kids to show up for some special program that you were involved in. I was so excited to see that you are living in Alexandria. I was born there and lived there for the my first few years but mostly grew up in Springfield. Later and married we lived in Bowie, Maryland for 18 years and I worked at Prince George's Hospital Center. I hope that you are loving it there. I just told Wayne Barnard about a small congregation that meets in Georgetown. You might want to check them out sometime. The pastor is an amazing guy, Greg Merlo. The church is called 3 Strands Community Church. Now I can read your blog and pretend that I still live there.