The Wine Commonsewer

I'll Be Home For Christmas

Good Morning Gentle Readers,

TWC is a Christmas music snob. I am the Grinch Who Stole Most of the Christmas Music because much of it is sterile and forgettable (or downright annoying). That indictment includes more than a few of the classic medieval hymns that are right popular among Catholics and Protestants alike.  I mostly keep that stuff to myself and I'm sure many people do not share my eclectic tastes, which are laid bare in the TWC Christmas Tuneography.

Though the lyrics were written by a homesick college student, I'll Be Home For Christmas was popularized in 1943 by Bing Crosby and touched the heartstrings of soldiers far from home as well as Americans on the home front whose sons and husbands were not coming home for Christmas.

If you are a jazz fan you will appreciate Dianne Schurr's cover and realize how difficult vocal jazz is to do well. If you detest jazz, you will realize that Dianne Schurr's cover is arguably the best, anyway. Ever. I know it's not fair. Bing and Sinatra didn't have our technology. But still. The woman can sing.

I'd planned to whip up a You Tube video for the occasion, but we is outta time, so what you don't see is what you get.

As Ever,

TWC

Christmas Eve Stress

Gentle Readers,

Can't see the video? Look here.

As Always,

TWC

Tip of the glass to Soozie

White Christmas?

Good Morning Gentle Readers,

That cold front that moved through here Wednesday left us with this.....

Taken from the deck of the master bedroom here at Casa de las Rocas Grandes looking southwest toward the Pacific.

Also taken from the deck of the Casa. My friends Michelle and Ty live in the neighborhood you can see at the base of the hills.

It is rare to see snow at this elevation. Ordinarily, there might be a light dusting after a cold and stormy night.

Heck, it even snowed in Lost Wages.....

The sun is shining.
The grass is green.
The orange and palm trees sway.
I've never seen such a day.
In Beverly Hills LA.
But it's December the 24th,
and I am longing to be up North.

Recognize the words? That is the first verse, but you don't often hear it sung that way.

Bonus:

As Always,

TWC

My Dear, We're Still Good Bye'n Biscuit Boy? Is that you & LC?

Good Morning Gentle Readers,

Lost in the clamor for the neutering of the season is the reality that many of our most beloved Christmas tunes were written by [gasp] Jews. White Christmas and The Christmas Waltz, for two.

Sammy Cahn and Jules Styne penned Let it Snow in 1946 as a paean to bygone eras. Okay, so it isn't quite an actual song about Christmas. But it is. Ask my mom.

What a great arrangement. Love the intro. Nobody in the modern era does Big Band better than Harry Connick, Jr.

Bonus: When I was a little kid I thought they were singing Let Us Know! Go figure. It never made much sense to me, but I belted it out (off key) along with the likes of Sinatra.

As Ever,

TWC

Drink Your Gin & Tonica

Can't see the vid? It's here.

As Ever,

TWC

Before Phil Spector Shot Them All.....

.....there was Nick's Joisey Girls singing jingalinga ding dong ding.....

You think Tina Turner had it rough? Oh, Hush!

As Always,

TWC

Last Christmas

Good Morning Gentle Readers,

Last Christmas Ashley Tisdale (High School Musical) performed Last Christmas live at the Rockerfeller Center.

The House Blond suggested it and, of course, TWC had her look at the Wham rendition of the original. That was back when MTV actually played videos. Get to the roots, eh?

I'm mid-lifin' here (Mrs TWC says I'm long past mid-lifin'), but that was 24 years ago. Where did all that time go?

The HB liked Ashley's better. Maybe I do too.

As Ever,

The Wine Commonsewer

Santa Take The Freeway Down

Good Morning Gentle Readers,

We officially kicked off Christmas Season here at Casa de las Rocas Grandes this weekend with Lynyrd Skynyrd's Run Run Rudolph. Not a lot of people have heard this rendition though it is arguably the best. Course if you don't like Southern Fried Hockey Boogie, then maybe you'll not agree.

 

Since one wasn't available, TWC put it together last Christmas and you'll see my kids pix in the video. The Spirit of the Season cannot go forward until we play Lynyrd Skynyrd's Run Run Rudolph. It marks the beginning and is as much a part of the kid's Christmas musical traditions as Bing Crosby and Nat Cole.

As Ever,

TWC

Ave Maria

Gentle Readers,

Not much to add.

Almost a sacrilege to mention that if you cannot see the video you should look here.

I believe that Franz Schubert composed the music around 1825 and that, originally, the lyrics came from Lady of the Lake. The Latin, Ave Maria, was superimposed later. 

You don't have to be Catholic to appreciate the lyrics or the haunting beauty of Karen's song stylings.

May your Christmas be blessed.

TWC

Every Mother's Child Is Going To Spy

Good Morning Gentle Readers,

First performed by Nat Cole in 1946, this reprise was performed in 1961 for his television show. Aptly titled The Christmas Song, it is America's Christmas Song, and is arguably the finest Christmas song every written.

Although it's been sung, many times, many ways, by many others, all are but pale imitations, none of which can compare to The Christmas Song.

Look here if you cannot see the video.

Although it's been said, many times, many ways.....

From Casa de las Rocas Grandes, Merry Christmas to you.

As Ever,

TWC