Hey there ladies and gentlemen!
So, it's only two days 'til Christmas! I was supposed to drive to upstate NY from NYC this afternoon, but my car died (something wrong with the starter, an antifreeze leak, etc.), SO here I am twiddling my proverbial thumbs in my parents' empty apartment on Bleecker Street. There are two upshots to this:
1) I get to go to my friend Jack's band's show tonight at the Gramercy! The band is called
Night Fevers and are definitely worth checking out. I love their song "Way I Am."
2) I have time to post a little Christmas tunes post on ze blog. In general, I prefer more traditional, choral Christmas music. But every once in a while, I come across a Christmas(y) song that is more modern/fun/indie that I actually like.
Here we go:
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How come I can't have a child's Christmas in Wales, too?
It's not fair. |
GOOD (CHRISTMAS) SONG the first:
Child's Christmas In Wales by John Cale, from his album "Paris 1919."
OK, so this song isn't particularly Christmas-y, but it IS based on a
short story by Dylan Thomas by the same name. You should definitely read it. Here is a snippet:
' "Get back to the Presents."
"There were the Useful Presents: engulfing mufflers of the old coach days, and mittens made for giant sloths; zebra scarfs of a substance like silky gum that could be tug-o'-warred down to the galoshes; blinding tam-o'-shanters like patchwork tea cozies and bunny-suited busbies and balaclavas for victims of head-shrinking tribes; from aunts who always wore wool next to the skin there were mustached and rasping vests that made you wonder why the aunts had any skin left at all; and once I had a little crocheted nose bag from an aunt now, alas, no longer whinnying with us. And pictureless books in which small boys, though warned with quotations not to, would skate on Farmer Giles' pond and did and drowned; and books that told me everything about the wasp, except why." '
Anyhoo, the song is a good one. John Cale was one of the founding members of the
Velvet Underground. He was Welsh himself, so I guess he identified with the song. Enjoy!
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| Lookin' good, Sufie. |
GOOD (CHRISTMAS) SONG the second:
Star of Wonder by Sufjan Stevens, from his album "Peace: Songs for Christmas, Vol. 5".
I know I've
posted about Sufjan before, but I just had to post one of his Christmas songs. He released five(!!) short-ish albums of only Christmas songs, which is typically awesome of him. This song, though, is my favorite of all his Christmas songs, and is definitely in my top five of ALL of his songs. It's an absolutely gorgeous song about the appearance of Christ and the Star of Bethlehem. It sounds like snow falling and stars twinkling and mysterious births. Give it a listen.
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| Darker My Love pretending to be statues and not fooling anyone. |
GOOD (CHRISTMAS) SONG the third:
Snow Is Falling by Darker My Love. This song is actually from a Christmas compilation sponsored by Target. Totally random, I know. You can download it for free here:
The Christmas Gig. There are actually quite a few fun songs on the sampler, and it's free, so why not?
Another GOOD SONG on there:
Party Hard by Little Isidore.
MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL! Safe travels. I hope you enjoy being with your loved ones, eat lots of tasty food, and don't forget the reason for it all.
Over and out,
Anna
