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"Christmas" Music

I like it when Willie Nelson sings Frosty the Snowman. I wouldn't have said that earlier this morning, but while I was out and about on an early run to The Store, driving a car with XM Radio, I pushed buttons until I found an all-Christmas station. Willie was singing the best rendition of Frosty the Snowman I believe I have heard. Huh, I thought to myself because I hate country music.

On an all-Christmas station I expect to hear a dozen different versions of Frosty followed by a dozen different versions of The Christmas Song, which always irritates me because everybody knows the only one who can rightfully sing The Christmas Song is Nat King Cole. But it was the song after Willie Nelson that made me wish I had satellite radio in my regular car. Dan Fogelberg sang:

Met my old lover in the grocery store
The snow was falling Christmas Eve
I stole behind her in the frozen foods
And I touched her on the sleeve...

I laughed out loud. What? I thought to myself. Is this a Christmas song? It must be because the story takes place on Christmas Eve and the song ends with Auld Lang Syne. What kind of station manager would schedule this song in an all-Christmas format? Well, the same one who would pick the next one, Vince Vance and the Valiants:

You are the angel atop my tree
You are my dream come true
Santa can't bring me what I need
'Cuz all I want for Christmas is you

I laughed out loud again, and I was disappointed when I pulled into my driveway and had to leave the car and satellite radio. It was kind of like playing the slots in Atlantic City--you're sure the next token will be the big one, the one that will make the hours on the filthy stool redeemable. I was sure if I sat in my car long enough I would hear something to make up for the songs I had just had to sit through.

I am determined now to find an on-line all-Christmas streaming radio station, one with a drunk for a programmer who wouldn't a know a good Christmas song if it was piped directly into his ears. The anticipation of the next song will make the day fly by. Wondering if I will get to hear Eartha Kitt sing Santa Baby just once will make the Jingle Bell Rock renditions a little more tolerable.

Come and trim my Christmas tree,
With some decorations bought at Tiffany's,
I really do believe in you,
Let's see if you believe in me,
Boo doo bee doo.

Comments

dive said…
Okay, Robyn. Now you've got me hiding under the table.
There's really an ALL CHRISTMAS station?
You're not just making this up to scare me?

I think I'm going to dig a hole and hide in it until next year.
Scout said…
Oh Dive, if I get nothing else out of this post today, your reaction will be enough. Very funny.

allchristmasradio.com

Right now, Dean Martins is singing Baby It's Cold Outside.
Scout said…
Wait, it's not Dean Martin anymore. It's Regis Philbin. That's even better.
Sassy Sundry said…
I'm not sure if I could abide all-Christmas, all-the-time radio, but thanks for the link. I'll give it a listn.
Iwhen it comes to Christmas music I like to old ones like Mitch and Bing. My favorite Drum corps CD is Ornaments in Brass - a compilation of horns playing many versions of Christmas songs. It's mellow and sweet and it's... christmas for sure, drum corps style
Scout said…
Sassy, all day would get on my nerves, I'm sure, but there are some standards I never get tired of. I could listen to Bing singing White Christmas and Nat King Cole singing The Christmas Song and Judy Garland singing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas on a loop for hours.

Rich, the only Bing song I can't stand is Mele Kalikimaka, I'm afraid, even with the Andrews Sisters. And I've never been a fan of Mitch Miller. Vince Guaraldi is at the top of the list of favorites.
Sassy Sundry said…
I just got in the mood for Christmas Wrapping, by the Waitresses. I wonder if they play that one.
Sassy Sundry said…
Oh, and Regis scares me.
Scout said…
Regis Philbin scares everybody.

I have switched to my Christmas folder on iTunes, and Liona Boyd playing Spanish Carol is making me all happy and ready for some cookie cutouts with royal icing.
Utsav said…
Interesting- we both have Christmas music posts today. Only, mine's about this CD I found about four years ago and I want everybody to hear. Luckily it's an instrumental album, so I don't have to endure all the 'soulful' lyrics and singing.
Scout said…
Utsav, I read your post today but didn't comment because I was musically out of my league. Although I notice you had never heard Christmas Time Is Hear before. It's a great little Vince Guaraldi tune that I love to play on the piano, not well mind you, just enough to make me happy.

Guaraldi has an entire Christmas CD of simple jazzy trio tunes that were used for A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Sassy Sundry said…
Had fun listening to Charlie Brown Christmas again. Thanks for the inspiration.

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