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December is Christmas Songs and Carols Month!

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Post subject: December is Christmas Songs and Carols Month!
Posted: Thu 01 Dec , 2005 10:33 am
of Vinyamar
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Ok, I know I did the October Theme month...

Anyway! Put on your wooly hat, your scarves and gloves. Top up your hip flask with a little Brandy or Whiskey. We're going carolling!


It's the first of December and in this neck of the woods that means its time for the Christmas songs to be trotted out yet again.

So what's your favourite? Do you prefer the Hymns? The Carols? The Contemporary?

Here's my vote for the greatest Christmas song ever written:

You can listen here:
http://media.putfile.com/Pogues-Fairy-Tale-of-New-York

Quote:

Fairytale of New York
by
The Pogues and Kirsty McColl

It was Christmas Eve babe
In the drunk tank
An old man said to me, won't see another one
And then he sang a song
The Rare Old Mountain Dew
I turned my face away
And dreamed about you

Got on a lucky one
Came in eighteen to one
I've got a feeling
This year's for me and you
So happy Christmas
I love you baby
I can see a better time
When all our dreams come true

They've got cars big as bars
They've got rivers of gold
But the wind goes right through you
It's no place for the old
When you first took my hand
On a cold Christmas Eve
You promised me
Broadway was waiting for me

You were handsome
You were pretty
Queen of New York City
When the band finished playing
They howled out for more
Sinatra was swinging,
All the drunks they were singing
We kissed on a corner
Then danced through the night

The boys of the NYPD choir
Were singing "Galway Bay"
And the bells were ringing out
For Christmas day

You're a bum
You're a punk
You're an old slut on junk
Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed
You scumbag, you maggot
You cheap lousy faggot
Happy Christmas your arse
I pray God it's our last

I could have been someone
Well so could anyone
You took my dreams from me
When I first found you
I kept them with me babe
I put them with my own
Can't make it all alone
I've built my dreams around you

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cemthinae
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Posted: Thu 01 Dec , 2005 12:13 pm
TTBK's cemmie
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I'm a hymn girl all the way. :)

Silent Night (in original german) has a special place in my heart.

I also enjoy Greensleeves, if in minor key.


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Leoba
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Posted: Thu 01 Dec , 2005 12:26 pm
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Alatar, "Fairytale of New York" is one of my favourites too, especially as an adult.

But as a kid it was always Jona Lewie's "Stop the Cavalry" that I liked best

Quote:
Hey, Mr. Churchill comes over here
To say we're doing splendidly.
But it's very cold out here in the snow
Marching to and from the enemy.
Oh I say it's tough, I have had enough,
Can you stop the cavalry?

I have had to fight almost every night,
Down throughout these centuries.
That is when I say, oh yes yet again,
Can you stop the cavalry?

Mary Bradley waits at home,
In the nuclear fallout zone.
Wish I could be dancing now,
In the arms of the girl I love.

Dub-i-dub-i-dum-dum
Dub-i-dub-i-dum
Dub-i-dum-dum-dub-i-dum
Dub-i-dub-i-dum
Dub-i-dub-i-dum-dum
Dub-i-dub-i-dum
Dub-i-dum-dum-dub-i-dum
Dub-i-dub-i-dum
Wish I was at home for Christmas.

Bang goes another bomb on another town
While the Czar and Jim have tea.
If I get home, live to tell the tale,
I'll run for all presidencies.
If I get elected I'll stop
I will stop the cavalry.

Dub-i-dub-i-dum-dum
Dub-i-dub-i-dum
Dub-i-dum-dum-dub-i-dum
Dub-i-dub-i-dum
Dub-i-dub-i-dum-dum
Dub-i-dub-i-dum
Dub-i-dum-dum-dub-i-dum
Dub-i-dub-i-dum
Wish I was at home for Christmas.

Wish I could be dancing now,
In the arms of the girl I love.
Mary Bradley waits at home,
She's been waiting two years long.

Wish I was at home for Christmas.

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Lhaewin
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Posted: Thu 01 Dec , 2005 1:48 pm
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I like the first Chorus of the Christmas Oratory by Johann S. Bach best.

Here is the text in German and English:
Quote:
Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage,
Ruhmet, was heute der Hochste getan!
Lasset das Zagen, verbannet die Klage,
Stimmet voll Jauchzen und Frohlichkeit an!
Dienet dem Hochsten mit herrlichen Choren,
Lasst uns den Namen des Herrschers verehren!


Rejoice, exult! Up, glorify the days
praise what the All Highest this day has done!
Set aside fear, banish lamentation,
strike up a song full of joy and mirth!
Serve the All Highest with glorious choirs!
Let us worship the name of the Lord!

You can listen to a part of it here:

http://www.kantorei.de/downloads/Berlin ... uchzet.htm

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yovargas
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Posted: Thu 01 Dec , 2005 1:50 pm
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"Oh, Holy Night", when song by someone who can really hit the those high high notes, is the best Christmas song ever. :)


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S_O
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Posted: Thu 01 Dec , 2005 1:53 pm
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Me too yov!! Even though I'm not the least bit religious, the swelling of the music during "fall on your knees" never fails to give me chills. The music is absolutely beautiful. I also love "Baby It's Cold Outside." :)

Otherwise I'm not too into carols. After singing them all through elementary school, I'm kind of burned out. :P

Last edited by S_O on Thu 01 Dec , 2005 1:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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TheMary
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Posted: Thu 01 Dec , 2005 1:54 pm
I took the stars from my eyes, and then I made a map, And knew that somehow I could find my way back; Then I heard your heart beating, you were in the darkness too - So I stayed in the darkness with you
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yovargas wrote:
"Oh, Holy Night", when song by someone who can really hit the those high high notes, is the best Christmas song ever. :)
Best Christmas song ever. :love:

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Lay down
Your sweet and weary head
Night is falling
You’ve come to journey's end
Sleep now
And dream of the ones who came before
They are calling
From across the distant shore

Why do you weep?
What are these tears upon your face?
Soon you will see
All of your fears will pass away
Safe in my arms
You're only sleeping


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cemthinae
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Posted: Thu 01 Dec , 2005 2:04 pm
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yov, SO & TM, you need to hear Josh Groban's version then. V good. :D

(I could always email it to you...)


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Alatar
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Posted: Thu 01 Dec , 2005 2:16 pm
of Vinyamar
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I adore that too, but we've a whole month to get through... :)

Here's Josh Grobans Version:
http://www.warnerreprise.com/asx/joshgr ... _128-a.asx

Its a little pulled for my taste. This piece needs to be sung with purity and accuracy, not slid all over the place.

And anyone who attempt to sing this without the Choir backing has left out half the song. The important half.

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Sidonzo
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Posted: Thu 01 Dec , 2005 2:54 pm
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Yes, put me down as one who thinks O, Holy Night is one of the most beautiful carols. And yes S_O, "fall on your knees" is the highlight! :D I also agree with you Alatar, that a choir backing the singer is the way to listen to this song. Magnificent!

Another favorite Christmas Carol is O Come, O Come Emmanuel...another absolutely divine carol. Ahhhh...shivers! :)

More favorites to come as I don't want to use them all up in the first day!

~Sidonzo


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Meril36
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Posted: Thu 01 Dec , 2005 3:10 pm
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My very favorite is Carol of the Bells. Wassail Song is also one of my favorites.
Quote:
Wassail, wassail, all over the town,
Our bread it is white and our ale it is brown,
Our bowl it is made of the green maple tree,
In the wassailing bowl, we'll drink unto thee.

This hat to the ox, and to his right eye,
Pray God send our master a good Christmas pie,
A good Christmas pie, as e'er I did see,
In the wassailing bowl we'll drink unto thee.

This hat to the ox, and to his right horn,
Pray God send our master a good crop of corn,
A good crop of corn, as e'er I did see,
In the wassailing bowl, we'll drink unto thee.

This hat to the ox, and to his long tail,
Pray God send our master a good cask of ale,
A good cask of ale, as e'er I did see,
In the wassailing bowl we'll drink unto thee.

Come butler, and give us a bowl of the best,
And we'll pray that your soul in Heaven may rest,
But if you do bring us a bowl of the small,
May the Devil take butler, bowl, and all.

And here's to the maid in the lily white smock,
Who tripped to the door and slid back the lock,
Who tripped to the door and pulled back the pin,
For to let these jolly wassailers walk in.

Wassail! Wassail! Wassail all over the town!

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Axordil
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Posted: Thu 01 Dec , 2005 3:42 pm
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I used to be able to hit the high note in "Oh Holy Night" if sufficiently, um, relaxed. :cheers:

It's been a while...I fear I would sound like Cartman these days.

And of course, there's the Kipper Family.
Quote:
Death or Glory Wassail

Wassail Wassail, we know you're about
Though you sit in the dark and pretend that you're out
If you're thinking of calling the police to give chase
Just who do you think is singing the bass

Chorus
Wassail Wassail, all over the town
We are all Wassailers of fame and renown
Open your doors and fill up our cup
Or we'll sing through your letter box until you cough up

Wassail Wassail, all over your garden
If we've done any damage then we beg your pardon
We're sorry to call upon you so late
But we had to pick the lock on your gate

Wassail Wassail, that you may believe
Tis more blessed to give than it is to receive
The more that you give the more blessed are you
The more we receive the less damage we'll do

Wassail Wassail, with a crisp ten pound note
We can all drink your health down at the Old Goat
If you haven't a tenner two fivers will do
If not things don't look very healthy for you

Wassail Wassail, all over for now
Now you've seen sense we will make no more row
Peace be upon you all at your repose
And we'll come no more nigh you until the pubs close

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In some cases, firing the drummer helps.


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tinwe
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Posted: Thu 01 Dec , 2005 4:23 pm
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I’ve always been partial to Silent Night myself, not just because it’s a beautiful piece of music, but for sentimental reasons as well. It has special meaning to my mother, who is from Austria, where the song originated.

Every year on Christmas Eve my father would hold a candlelight service at his church and my mother would tell the story of how Franz Gruber, the organist at the village church in Oberndorf Austria, had composed the melody on his guitar because mice had eaten through the bellows of the organ and a storm had prevented the repairman from coming to fix it.

Then she would sing the song in it’s original German.

:love:

Never failed to bring a tear to my eye.

One of my favorite versions is the one on the Mannheim Steamroller Christmas album, the first one, known as the Gold Album. It’s an instrumental, but it’s just stunningly beautiful.

Mannheim Steamroller Christmas

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Meril36
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Posted: Thu 01 Dec , 2005 4:48 pm
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Oh yeah, and I also like "Betelehemu." (Even though I have no idea what the heck they're saying.)
Quote:
A-wa yo a ri ba-ba gbo ju-le.
A-wa yo a ri ba-ba fe yin-ti.
A-wa yo a ri ba-ba gbo ju-le.
A-wa yo a ri ba-ba fe yin-ti.
Ni-bo l'a-bi Je-su
Ni-bo le g-be e.
Ni-bo l'a-bi Je-su.
Ni-bo le g-be e.
Be-te-le-he-mu i-lu a-ra.
Ni-be l'a-bi ba-ba o da-ju.
Be-te-le-he-mu i-lu a-ra.
Ni-be l'a-bi ba-ba o da-ju.
I-yin, i-yin, i-yin ni fun o.
I-yin, i-yin, i-yin ni fun o.
A-du-pe fun o.
A-du-pe fun o.
A-du-pe fun o-jo o-mi.
Ba-ba o-lo re o.
I-yin fun o ba-ba.
I-yin fun o ba-ba.
I-yin fun o ba-ba a nu.
Ba-ba to-da wa si.

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Trying for profundity only limits depth.

With all the anger in the land, how long before the judgement day? Before we cut the fat ones down to size? Before the barricades arise?

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Ara-anna
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Posted: Thu 01 Dec , 2005 8:27 pm
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I like Celine Dions version of O Holy Night better, and I am not a Celine fan.

And I heard it once, sung in its orginal language, french, by a French Candian who should have been a professional singer. The whole story behind the song is what holds some of the magic for me.

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cemthinae
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Posted: Thu 01 Dec , 2005 8:37 pm
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Alatar, I'm afraid I get a bit swoony for Josh... so it doesn't matter is it isn't the best version eva... I'm gonna like it anyway! ;)

Tinwe, tis a favourite story of mine as well. And my favourite hymn, as I posted before.

:love:


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MariaHobbit
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Posted: Thu 01 Dec , 2005 8:42 pm
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For some reason, Weird Al's "Christmas at Ground Zero" has been running through my head for the past couple of days. :scratch:

It's Christmas at ground zero
There's music in the air
The sleigh bells are ringing and the carolers are singing
While the air raid sirens blare

It's Christmas at ground zero
The button has been pressed
The radio just let us know
That this is not a test

Everywhere the atom bombs are dropping
It's the end of all humanity
No more time for last-minute shopping
It's time to face your final destiny

It's Christmas at ground zero
There's panic in the crowd
We can dodge debris while we trim the tree
Underneath the mushroom cloud

You might hear some reindeer on your rooftop
Or Jack Frost on your windowsill
But if someone's climbing down your chimney
You better load your gun and shoot to kill

It's Christmas at ground zero
And if the radiation level's okay
I'll go out with you and see all the new
Mutations on New Year's Day

It's Christmas at ground zero
Just seconds left to go
I'll duck and cover with my Yuletide lover
Underneath the mistletoe

It's Christmas at ground zero
Now the missiles are on their way
What a crazy fluke, we're gonna get nuked
On this jolly holiday

Last edited by MariaHobbit on Thu 01 Dec , 2005 8:44 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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laureanna
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Posted: Thu 01 Dec , 2005 8:42 pm
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I visited the Soviet Union around Christmas, 1980, back during the height of the Cold War, communism, and its state religion, Atheism. I peeked in the door of a Catholic Church in Vilnius (Lithuania), during an evening service. Around the door hovered younger men and women who didn't want to be seen in a church, because it would decrease their chance of getting Communist Party membership - necessary for the good jobs. The main room was packed, mainly with older women. They were singing Silent Night in Lithuanian. It was beautiful. :love:


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Ara-anna
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Posted: Thu 01 Dec , 2005 9:05 pm
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Wait, here's one of my favorites for Christmas


Hard Candy Christmas

Hey, maybe I'll dye my hair
Maybe I'll move somewhere
Maybe I'll get a car
Maybe I'll drive so far
They'll all lose track
Me, I'll bounce right back

Maybe I'll sleep real late
Maybe I'll lose some weight
Maybe I'll clear my junk
Maybe I'll just get drunk on apple wine
Me, I'll be just

Fine and Dandy
Lord it's like a hard candy christmas
I'm barely getting through tomorrow
But still I won't let
Sorrow bring me way down

I'll be fine and dandy
Lord it's like a hard candy christmas
I'm barely getting through tomorrow
But still I won't let
Sorrow get me way down

Hey, maybe I'll learn to sew
Maybe I'll just lie low
Maybe I'll hit the bars
Maybe I'll count the stars until dawn
Me, I will go on

Maybe I'll settle down
Maybe I'll just leave town
Maybe I'll have some fun
Maybe I'll meet someone
And make him mine
Me, I'll be just

Fine and dandy
Lord it's like a hard candy christmas
I'm barely getting throung tomorrow
But still I won't let
Sorrow bring me way down

I'll be fine and dandy
Lord it's like a hard candy christmas
I'm barely getting through tomorrow
But still I won't let
Sorrow bring me way down

I'll be fine and dandy
Lord it's like a hard candy christmas
I'm barely getting through tomorrow
But still I won't let
Sorrow bring me way down

'Cause I'll be fine
(I'll be fine)
Oh, I'll be fine

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S_O
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Posted: Thu 01 Dec , 2005 9:39 pm
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:LMAO: :LMAO: :LMAO: MH! I love that song! I'd completely forgotten it.

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