12/15/2014
Day 76: Now, I know what you are going to say. Technically speaking, the 12 days of Xmas are actually the 12 days starting with Christmas Day and leading up to Epiphany in early January. You are correct, but in the Fanson household, the Holiday Seasons lasts a lot longer than that. We usually start as soon as the Thanksgiving Turkey is cool to the touch in late November (but not before). For us, this includes at least one (and sometimes two) Christmas trees, a full set of decorations inside and out, and of course, a random shuffle of Christmas music playing from the iPod roughly 24 hours a day for a month and a half. We love the Holidays in this household, and for me, the music of the holidays is a big part of that. So, for the next 12 days, I would like to share with you some of my favorite Holiday songs, both new and old. It only seems appropriate to kick things off with a song titled, "Merry Christmas Time Again" by East Lansing's own Wally Pleasant. Wally is pseudo folksy singer-songwriter that focuses on amusing, good-natured (most of the time), whimsical songs. He is sort of a local version of Weird Al Yankovic, only he does original songs. I even once had a chance to see him play at an East Lansing coffee shop with Eric Young when we were in high school. He seems like a fun guy. His take on a Christmas song shares some of the whimsy that made him (locally) famous. For example, Wally says that, "Christmas Day is when Jesus was born; and I guess that would make him a Capricorn." I guess that is pretty hard to argue with, now isn't it? (I also know what you are going to say here. Just go with it. It's Xmas for you-know-who's sake!)
12/16/2014
Day 77: I am sure that everyone has a favorite Xmas movie. My personal dark horse candidate is "Edward Scissorhands." But, fortunately for this project, perhaps my actual favorite Xmas movie also happens to be a musical, and that film is the 1954 Bing Crosby classic, "White Christmas." I can't say we watched it every year growing up, but it seems like we at least caught parts of it most years. The movie is so awesome that even the parts where it kind of goes off the rails ("Choreography" anyone?) it maintains the concept of being awesomely weird. I even had the chance a few year ago to attend a White Christmas sing-a-long event at the Michigan Theatre in Ann Arbor with Jen, Andy, Steph, and Bonnie. It was glorious. When Jen and I were first married and looking to add a few xmas CDs to our collection, one of the first ones that I picked up was a Bing Crosby compilation that naturally contains today's selection, the timeless, "White Christmas."
12/17/2014
Day 78: In late 2006, something very important happened in the history of modern music. Detroit singer-songwriter / musical genius Sufjan Stevens officially released a 5-CD box set entitled "Songs for Christmas, Volumes I-V." I don't like to through around the word "masterpiece" very often, but I think that this work qualifies. It is simply mind blowingly amazing. If you don't already own it, I suggest buying it right now. Just go to Amazon or iTunes; I'll wait..... Done yet? Maybe? The box set is a collection of new music and traditional songs and hymns related to the winter and the xmas season. Sufjan's music is an amazing mix of folk, electronica, and orchestral, and his collection seems to perfectly capture all the various emotions of season: the joy, the wonder, the mystery, and even that feeling of melancholy that goes along with the short days and long nights on winter in the north. You are going to be hearing several of his songs here for the next 10 days or so. For today, I am going to go with "Sister Winter." No matter how many times I hear this song, it gives me chills. The piano, the strings, the falsetto, the sweet duet, the way it builds to the end... it's amazing, and I hope you enjoy it.
12/18/2014
Day 79: Now I don’t want to give the impression that I don't like traditional xmas carols. That would not be the case. I LOVE traditional carols, but at times it is hard to find just the right version to put into the library. The internet and music stores seem to be littered with pop stars doing absolutely horrible versions of traditional songs. However, there are also a few alternative acts that have thrown their hats into the yuletide ring and actually made some pretty cool versions of some traditional carols. My favorite is today's selection, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" as performed by "Team Canada" (AKA, Sarah McLachlan and the Barenaked Ladies... my name for them, not theirs). It is a rollicking, joyous rendition. (The key ingredient is the string bass, I believe.) I challenge you to try to listen to it without tapping your feet a little. I don't think it is possible.
12/19/2014
Day 80: When I introduced the fabulous 5-CD Christmas set from Sufjan Stevens, I mentioned his ability to capture that melancholy feeling that for many if not most people hits us during the holiday season. I know that certainly suffer from a very mild form of seasonal affective disorder. It doesn't really negatively impact my life, but those long, gray days in the winter do make me cranky. I can feel it. (But, those bright snowy days? I love those. That is why I really enjoy winter.) So, the weather is certainly a part of the problem. But, the rest of story, I believe, is that during the holiday season, we are all expected to be happy, right? But, life is hard sometimes, and not everyone is, can be, and maybe even should be happy ALL the time, even during December. I think that today's selection, "Did I Make You Cry On Christmas? (Well, You Deserved It!)" again from Sufjan Stevens, captures some of that sentiment. His lyrics mention that, "I stay awake at night, After we have a fight, I'm writing poems about you, And they aren't very nice... Did I make you cry; on Christmas day? Did I let you down; like every other day?" Relationships are hard sometimes, and putting up a decorated tree isn't going to fix that. Sorry, I guess this song is a bit of a downer, but just like all of Sufjan's songs, it sure is beautiful. If nothing else, I think songs like this remind us that even when we are feeling down, there are a lot of other people that understand how you feel. It's OK. It's normal. And, if you are like me, songs like this help give me the strength to push through, just by reminding me that I am not alone.
12/20/2014
Day 81: When it comes to my xmas playlist, I can essentially break it into a few categories. There are all the Sufjan Stevens tracks, there are instrumental or vocal traditional carols, and then there are the secular seasonal tracks. It is this 3rd category where things can get dicey. Sure, pretty much anything from Bing Crosby is going to be solid, but let's face it, there are a lot of xmas songs out there that are just bad (Santa Baby? Ugh.) or at least questionable (I am looking at you, "Baby it's cold outside" Here is a hint. If you have to include the line, "What's in this drink?" in a duet that often features an older man trying to convince a young woman to stay a little longer... perhaps you should rethink life.) But fortunately, there are several options that seem to be able to successfully navigate the pitfalls to produce song that are fun, festive, and full of holiday charm. Today's selection, "Everybody's Waiting for the Man with the Bag," sung by Kay Starr is one of our favorites. It has that big band, fun loving 50s feel that really gets the foot a-tapping. I think it is always good for a pick-me up, especially after I bummed everybody out yesterday. Enjoy!
12/21/2014
Day 82: If my calendar is correct, today is the longest night of the year: AKA the winter solstice. It only seems appropriate that today's selection be the song "Winter Solstice" from Sufjan Stevens. It is perhaps the only instrumental track that made my cut for this project. You may have heard it before on some TV ads or movies. This is one of those tracks that captures some of the wonder of the xmas season. I usually picture a small child viewing a brightly lit display. I don't know about you, but the bright sounds of the synthesizer are making me feel just a little bit warmer on this shortest of winter day.
12/22/2014
Day 83: OK, back to some more old school holiday fare. Today's selection is "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" by Brenda Lee. I would imagine that this might be the type of xmas song that might drive some people nuts, but I love the retro, rock-a-billy feel to this. What can I say, I just "get a sentimental feeling when [I] hear [those] voices singing ." Plus, there is a pretty good sax solo to boot. Right on Brenda!
12/23/2014
Day 84: Time draws short, it is officially Christmas Eve Eve (as I sometimes call it). Of course, one of the iconic symbols of Christmas is the star that guided the wise men to the baby Jesus. Today's selection, "Star of Wonder" is another gem from Sufjan Stevens that appears to flirt a bit with this concept. It is another musical tour-de-four of piano, horns, and his lovely falsetto. The video attached to the track is a lovely accompaniment to the song through a series of beautiful images of the night sky. It is just another magical example of why this 5-disc set is such a must have. Star of wonder indeed.
12/24/2014
Day 85: Happy Christmas Eve! Today's selection may seem strange, and perhaps it is, but that is just the way I roll sometimes. Today's song is "The Christians and The Pagans" from Dar Williams, an absolutely fabulous folk-singer songwriter from upstate NY. The ballad that she has constructed takes place right on or before Christmas, and as the title suggests is about a Christian family and the holiday meal that they share with their pagan niece Amber and her friend Jane. Now, I think everyone is aware of the various connections between the timing of the traditional Christian holiday of Christmas and the various celebrations of the solstice, but you don't really see the juxtaposition of those two worlds very often. Dar Williams presents the situation is a very sweet way and thought provoking way. There is a lot of things that could be said about this song in regards to tolerance, etc., but for me the most important thing is that this song is all about family. Some of my fondest memories of Christmas Eve were the years when we would gather in Florida at Grandma and Grandpa Fanson's trailer with the Fanson clan and spend the evening playing cards and eating a mountain of shrimp. The key message of the song, I believe, is that not all families will see eye-to-eye on everything and it is the love and respect for each other's differences that make a family strong. The two lines that I love most from the song are part of the opening, "He told his niece, 'its Christmas eve, I know our life is not your style,' She said, 'Christmas is like solstice, and we miss you and it's been awhile," and towards the end, "Amber's uncle saw how amber looked like Tim and like her father. He thought about his brother, how they hadn't spoken in a year, He thought he'd call him up and say, 'its Christmas and your daughters here.' He thought of fathers, sons and brothers..." So, as you gather with your family and/or friends today and tomorrow to celebrate the holiday, I hope that you remember that even if their lives are not your style, that family is family. And, if you have a sibling that you haven't spoke to in a year. Give 'em a call. I am sure they would be happy to hear from you.
12/25/2014
Day 86: Merry Christmas everyone! I am sure that everyone has something better to do today than read this message, so I will try to keep this brief. I have offered up a lot of perhaps non-traditional xmas songs over the past week or so, but today I wanted to give you a taste of Sufjan Steven's more traditional fare. So, I hope you enjoy his take on the classic carol "Holy, Holy, Holy." I hope you find this lovely duet as beautiful as I do. For unto us a child is born. Unto us a Son is given. God bless.
12/26/2014
Day 87: Christmas is over, and if you are like me, it is probably a bit of a let down. Fortunately, I think that I have saved the best xmas song for last, but it is a bit of a doozy. I have talked a lot the two 2 weeks about Sufjan Steven's Christmas box set, but the song that originally convinced me to buy the set, the song that started it all, is today's selection, "That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!" In part, this is a song about a holiday disaster where a father gets angry and decides to throw his children's new gifts into the woodstove. But, it also captures some additional melancholy aspects of the holiday in such a hauntingly beautiful way, that I find this song to be simply irresistible. "Holy night, nothing seems right." It gives me chills every time, and not just from thinking about shoveling snow. This is one of my favorite songs in the entire library.
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