I have played the guitar since high school, and that was a long time ago. Music has changed a lot since the late 60's, but there is one genre that remains fairly consistent year after year ... and that is holiday music.
Now before anyone chastises me and says that it's "Christmas" music, please understand that not all holiday music is Christmas music. As a matter of fact, most of the songs that we often associate with "Christmas" make no reference to Christmas at all!
Some common examples are "Jingle Bells. "Winter Wonderland" and "Frosty the Snowman" which make no reference to Christmas whatsoever. Most holiday revelers would also be surprised to note that "Deck the Halls" falls into that non-Christmas category and is actually based on a pagan ritual.
Even Christmas songs themselves fall into two subsets of holiday music, as there is both secular and religious music. This offers an ecumenical opportunity for a wide variety of celebrants with different religious affinities. Some might offer that it's the best of both worlds.
As for me, I prefer the more ancient carols in their original languages. "Adeste Fidelis," "Stille Nacht," and "In dulci Jubilo" are among my favorites.
Of course, those songs weren't all THAT old when I was in high school!
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Richard, I didn't know you played guitar! Learn something new everyday! Do you play both acoustic and electric?
And for the record, I like all Christmas music!
I like it when someone or a band comes up with a new Christmas song - because frankly, it has to be pretty good to listen to it for more than one year! But hey, writing a good Christmas tune is like being born in a leap-year, you don't really age like everyone else ;)
Richard - Fun post as music sets the tone of the Holiday seasons. May I add "Cantique de Noël" to your classic selection. My fingers are rusty but still occaisionally grab the six string in the corner. Cheers for keeping your music
You make some really cogent points here about holiday music, the season that is intended to celebrate our lord, Jesus Christ.
Bob...
I play mostly acoustic, lately I have been playing a 12-string Fender acoustic miost of the time, but I do have a pickup in in and amplify it gently! Christmas music sounds awesome on a 12-string! THX
Steve...
I remember when a lot of those songs came out ... and you're right ... they never seem to age! Thanks for the comment.
Claude...
That is one of my favorites to play ... it translates very well to the guitar! Thanks my friend.
HEY!!! What songs are you calling old?! Boy, most of these were new just last year or so.
Richard, if you want a really great acoustical holiday music CD, check out "The Gift" by Eric Tingstad. It is simply some of the most peaceful and beautiful guitar arrangements I've ever heard. It's hard to find...if you can't find it, email me and I'll try to burn you a copy.
Kyle..
But there is a secular aspect as well ... kind of makes it "all-inclusive!" THX
Bill...
Oh come on, some are from the year before last! lol
Melissa...
I think that I have that in the archives somewhere ... I will revisit it! tHX
I'm not old school with my Christmas music. I like the new stuff =D My pastor reminded me this morning about the 2 I'll be singing this Christmas... one he wrote (that I've had to sing every Christmas for 5 years now) and an Amy Grant track for "Grown Up Christmas List". ;-)
Richard, There is nothing better than a small town parade. It seems as if the whole town really gets into it. I am not quite ready for Christmas music yet...
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I love Christmas music Richard! And music from the 60's is one of my favorites considering I was born in '65, lol :)
Thanks for the post Richard. Come around Christmas time, I'm typically overdosed on holiday music. But I always did get a kick out of Adam Sandler's - Hanukkah song!
Richard, I do love the real older songs, I used to sing in a choir a lifetime ago. We did many of the songs in their original language. But, my favorite song is a bit newer, "O Holy Night", that just gets me every single time.
You are right, many of our songs make no reference to anything about Christmas, yet we don't stop to realize that.
It is not Christmas in my eyes until I hear Bing Crosby and my aunt Carol singing "Silver Bells". (she sang under the name Carol Richards). The song is goofy to be sure, but it just hits that memory button, which causes the eyes to get a bit on the misty side. Then after that I love Mario Lanza and do you remember the Mitch Miller sing along Christmas songs? LOL, oh wow, I need to take a nap now, am I feeling old!
You're right, I have heard many remakes of Holiday classics, like the ones that you mention, but they seem to all be along the same lines just by a different artist.
Richard:
Christmas music is not my favorite, but I enjoy seeing that old clip of Bing Crosby and David Bowie singing "The Little Drummer Boy."