Arts and Entertainment
Song of the Day 12/23: Paul Simon, “Getting Ready for Christmas Day”
Everyone knows why there have never been any good Hanukkah songs — the Jewish songwriters were too busy writing Christmas music. From Mendelssohn to Johnny Marks, Jewish composers and lyricists have produced an outsized portion of holiday perennials, so it’s kind of surprising that Paul Simon, who used Christian imagery frequently throughout his long career, […]
Song of the Day 12/22: George Winston, “The Holly and the Ivy”
The words to this old English carol date to at least the early 19th century, possibly the early 18th, and the concept it’s based on, using holly as a symbol of Jesus Christ, goes back to medieval times (the ivy, though given short shrift in the lyrics, represents Mary). Like most true folk songs, its […]
Song of the Day 12/21: Hall & Oates, “Jingle Bell Rock”
The first rock and roll Christmas song was not classified as a rock and roll song when it was released. Bobby Helms was a country singer who had a pair of No. 1 hits on the country charts before the song he’s remembered for was released in 1957. It was released just two days before […]
Song of the Day 12/20: David Qualey, “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”
New Age guitarist David Qualey recorded a few LPs for Windham Hill, and his arrangement of this famous Bach piece was one of the label’s standout tracks. It featured not only on the compilation disc “A Winter Solstice III,” released in 1990, but was even pressed as a promotional single. Most people think of this […]
Song of the Day 12/19: Debbie and the Darnels, “Santa, Teach Me to Dance”
Every year musical artists record new Christmas songs to release into the world, hoping they’ve found the next chestnut that will make them as famous as Mariah Carey. It almost never happens, but people keep trying, because if “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” can become a holiday staple, anything is worth a shot. […]
Song of the Day 12/18: Alex Boyé, “Little Drummer Boy”
Originally titled “Carol of the Drum,” this Christmas standard was written in 1941 by an American composer, Katherine Kennicott Davis, who mostly wrote music for the choir at Wellesley College, where she was a student and later a teacher. It’s usually given a somewhat somber treatment, but not by English-born Nigerian Alex Boyé, a onetime […]
Song of the Day 12/17: Keb’ Mo’, “Jingle Bell Jamboree”
I’m not sure when Keb’ Mo’ wrote or recorded this tune. It shows up on compilation albums as far back as 1999, and he released it himself on a 2011 EP. Its mention of CDs dates it to sometime in the ’90s. It’s not likely to become a classic, but I like the way it […]
Song of the Day 12/16: Louis Armstrong, “Zat You, Santa Claus?”
The music makes it sound more like a Halloween song than a Christmas tune, but it’s a valid question — who’s that at the door so late? It’s a reminder that a fat white guy trying to get into your house in the middle of the night isn’t necessarily St. Nick. Satchmo recorded this tune […]
Song of the Day 12/15: Diana Krall, “Christmas Time Is Here”
Yesterday I said “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” was the saddest Christmas song, and Nathan Arizona nominated this one as a challenger. He’s almost right — almost. This is the most depressing Christmas song, which is a little different. Lee Mendelson’s lyrics list the subtle joys of the season, all undercut by the melancholy […]
Song of the Day 12/14: Judy Garland, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
Jason said a few days ago that he’s not ready for a “little” Christmas, so to help him out I’m starting this year’s 12 Days of Christmas Music with the song that advocates exactly that. Not only is this the saddest of all Christmas standards, its lyrics seem prescient about Christmas 2020: Through the years […]
Song of the Day 12/13: Charley Pride, “The Snakes Crawl at Night”
Hall of Fame country singer Charley Pride died of Covid-19 yesterday at age 86. He didn’t break the color barrier in country music, but he was the genre’s first black superstar, racking up 30 No. 1 hits on the country charts. Born in the Delta in Sledge, Miss., Pride grew up listening to the Grand […]
Song of the Day 12/12: Bob Dylan, “Things Have Changed”
It was 20 years ago that the film “Wonder Boys,” based on Michael Chabon’s novel, was released, with this then-new song anchoring the soundtrack, and things remain crazy and times remain strange. The movie bombed, but Dylan won an Oscar for the song, and performed it on the telecast via satellite link from Sydney, Australia, […]
Song of the Day 12/11: Soul Survivors, “Expressway to Your Heart”
Kenny Jeremiah, the lead singer of the Soul Survivors, succumbed to COVID-19 a week ago. While he might not be the best-known musician to die this year, his group’s big hit represents a small piece of music history. When we think of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff today, we associate them with Philly soul, the […]
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