We are now about to reveal the secrets of the Advent/Christmas posts for 2022.
Most of them I put together in late August and early September when I was recovering from COVID because I couldn’t focus on anything else.
I took this list of songs and flung them into different piles. These are songs people hate, and those are the ones that are overplayed. Of course, I always have to find a STAX Christmas list.
Do I want a Motown list? I started one and then abandoned it. Nah, they don’t move me as much. And my favorite, What Christmas Means To Me by Stevie Wonder, was on a post from 2018, which I decided to link to in its entirety. I loved those Nowell We Sing Clear tracks that kick off that piece. All of the links to that post still worked as of September 1, 2022, except one, which I switched out.
The remaining rosters I wanted to share closer to, or on, the actual holiday. Thus the songs on this list are the tunes that didn’t fit in any other pile.
Tunes
Merry Xmas (War Is Over) – John and Yoko and The Harlem Community Choir. This song always saddens me, as it’s always played in the same month as John’s death on December 8, 1980.
Mary’s Boy Child · Harry Belafonte. I’ve noted that my father’s musical stylings were clearly influenced somewhat by Harry.
Louisiana Christmas Day – Aaron Neville. This is such a fun song.
The Christmas Waltz -Nancy Wilson. This is the jazz singer, not a member of Heart. I first heard of her because her albums would be pictured on the inner sleeves of my Beatles and Beach Boys albums on Capitol Records.
Carolina Christmas – Squirrel Nut Zippers. My parents moved to NC in 1974 with my baby sister. My sister’s still living there.
Christmastime Is Here – Vince Guaraldi Trio. Why do I find the vocals of this so affecting?
Merry Christmas, Baby – Charles Brown. A great vocalist I didn’t know until I was an adult.
2000 Miles – Pretenders. The first this I heard this, I didn’t listen fully. It’s very touching.
Little Drummer Boy (African Tribal Version) – Alex Boye’ ft. Genesis Choir. This is also touching, and the family’s situation is quite believable these days.
Hamildolph! (An American Christmas Story) – Eclipse 6. A Hamilton parody, 100% a cappella.
You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch. “Written and composed for the 1966 cartoon special How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The lyrics were written by Theodor ‘Dr. Seuss’ Geisel, the music was composed by Albert Hague, and the song was performed by Thurl Ravenscroft.”
Check out Kelly’s Daily DoseDaily Dose of Christmas