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Christmas music watchtower

Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:03 am
by succotash_54
"O Tannenbaum" by Nat "King" Cole What makes this version so unique besides it being Nat's version? Nat sings this ENTIRELY in German!! Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Wenn man kein Deutsch sprechen, kann man noch dieses Leid gern hoeren. Prima!

"Silver Bells" by Diana Ross And The Supremes No, she's a whore. Seriously, Diana sounds so full of herself when she sings this song... especially on the chorus. I only listen to this song as much as I have to, even then, under duress.

Christmas music watchtower

Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:50 am
by succotash_54
"Caroling, Caroling" by Nat "King" Cole Not really sure what this song's about, but it's ok.

Christmas music watchtower

Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 4:09 am
by succotash_54
"What Christmas Means To Me" by Stevie Wonder The other original standard from the boy-genius of Motown. Good groover, this one. Often covered, but no one's topped the original.

Christmas music watchtower

Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:15 am
by succotash_54
"Little Drummer Boy" by Josh Groban This one's actually an ill fit. For Josh's lush and broad vocals to do this martial beat... it's not a good fit. He sounds ok, but really, the song doesn't mesh together all that well this time.

Christmas music watchtower

Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:36 am
by succotash_54
"Wizards In Winter" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra If you didn't know it was them, the only way you'd know this was Christmas related would be by the little bit of the Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy that was included in it. Less memorable than their other two big songs, but not horrendous either.

Christmas music watchtower

Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2007 3:54 am
by succotash_54
These next three songs don't play on our station but at the Top 40 station, where I've walked in on these songs playing when I've checked on it, and in lieu of having any new songs to add to the watchtower tonight, I'll include these, especially since they are perennial favorites, despite our station not playing them.

"Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" by Elmo And Patsy The version you're familiar with is actually the second release, the re-recording of it. From 1984, this novelty number is a staple, even though most people over 30 despise this song. Yeah, it's disrespectful in a big way, but it's not THAT bad. By the way, I've heard the original version of it, too, before a major record label got a hold of it, had it re-recorded with more production magic, and turned it into the annual staple. But this entry is for the familiar version. I wouldn't mind playing it once in awhile, if our station had it.

"The Twelve Days Of Christmas" by Bob And Doug McKenzie Bob And Doug McKenzie are the lead characters' names on the old Canadian television show "SCTV" (which also spawned the movie "Strange Brew".) Comedy actors Rick Moranis (Honey, I shrunk my penis) and Dave Thomas (not the Wendy's founder) made the roles live, and on their album "Great White North", one of the tracks is this off-beat, off-key, and off-the-wall song that has become a staple at Top 40 and college radio stations...basically any station that caters to the younger crowd. This really is a funny song; I still crack up when Bob says "Yeah that beer is empty."

"The Channukah Song" by Adam Sandler I enjoy Adam's movies (well, except for The Longest Yard), and I love his "Ode To My Car", but this song is an abomination, in all of its versions. It's just not funny. And it drags on forever. No offense to the Jewish community, but they need a better standard/spokessong than this. I'm glad our station doesn't carry it.

And that'll do it for this year's watch from the tower. Merry Christmas to all, and to all, good music.

Christmas music watchtower

Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:03 pm
by succotash_54
Well, our station has decided to keep doing Retro Weekends, instead of suspending it for the Christmas season. So, nothing really to report from the Christmas Music Watchtower this year. I've picked up a couple albums from the station (free swag) that I'll probably review for you instead.

Christmas music watchtower

Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2009 5:48 am
by succotash_54
One new song to add this season! Aren't you guys so happy?!

"Cherry Cherry Christmas" by Neil Diamond: A newer song from the Great One. Several of his song titles over the years wend their way into the lyrics of this pun-filled number. Don't look for it to become a standard anytime soon. Rates a meh with me.

Christmas music watchtower

Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 8:50 am
by succotash_54
Some new additions for this year:

"Silver Bells" by Johnny Mathis: Hmmm.... Johnny is a great singer, and he usually does Christmas music justice. The main problem with his one is that he does to "Silver Bells" what the Spinners did to "Working My Way Back To You" and "Cupid": that is, he added what I presume to be original material to it into a mish-mash medley. And it doesn't work, for two reasons: one, Johnny is known as a crooner that does the standards well; two, it's a Christmas song... unless you're making a medley of familiar Christmas tunes, don't make the medley. Just don't.

"O Holy Night" by Kelly Clarkson: Considering how many versions of "O Holy Night" there are, how badly the contemporary ('90's or later) version usually suck, and how much I really don't care about Kelly Clarkson, you're expecting something scathing, right? Well, not this time. A choral accapella rendition with her singing the lead. Gotta give it up for her: deciding to prove she can actually sing, which she hasn't really been given the chance to do since being on American Idol. Not the best version of this song I've heard, but just might be the surprise listing in the Top Ten versions of this holiday staple.

Christmas music watchtower

Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 8:32 pm
by Area51Escapee
I actually think Kelly Clarkson is OK but I can't imagine her singing O Holy Night.

Christmas music watchtower

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 6:56 pm
by succotash_54
Our station went all Christmas starting this past Monday through the end of the holiday, so some more additions:

"Santa Bring My Soldier Home" by the Stunners: An R&B-flavored number, the lead singer sounding like Rihanna a little bit. The overall style is closer to TLC though. Actually not too bad, and since this diverges so differently from our usual style, I probably won't be playing this one too much. Not one I'd keep in my personal library though.

"Shake Up Christmas" by Train: Pat Monahan trying to do the same kind of rap/singing that he does in "If It's Love". One that's getting a surprising amount of airplay so far this love. Stick around, even if you like Train, you might be sick of this one by the time Christmas finally tolls.

"Overture/The First Noel" by Daryl Hall And John Oates: It's Hall and Oates in their modern period. Need I say more? Yuck. And six and a half drawn out minutes, too.

"Little Drummer Boy" by Wilson Phillips: Nice and upbeat with the trio singing some lush harmonies. Gotta give them credit. A little corny, but a nice version of this standard.

Christmas music watchtower

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 8:44 pm
by succotash_54
"Christmas Tonight" by Dave Barnes featuring Hillary Scott: A modern day take on "Baby, It's Cold Outside"... kind of. Stylistically pretty similar, but boring. Not great.

"Last Christmas" by Taylor Swift: You read right. Wham's perennial fruitcake spiced up by Taylor Swift. Replete with all the production effects to make it palatable. May actually be heavily rotated, but still not good.

"Nut Rocker" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra: This is actually a cover of a song done in either '61 or '62 by studio group B. Bumble And The Stingers. A rock and roll take on the classic overture from the ballet "The Nutcracker." Surprisingly, this one's gaining a bit of ground, perhaps people are worn out on "Sarajevo"?

"Universal Child" by Annie Lennox: The ex-Eurythmic does this one, and melodically, it reminds me of the song that plays over the credits at the end of the movie The Princess Bride. Not really sure if the lyrics actually have that much to do with Christmas, but they must. I don't think it's about the Christchild, but my attention wasn't held rapt by the song either.

"My Only Wish (This Year)" by Britney Spears: Modern music's third-worst mother (after Courtney Love and Michael Jackson). She recorded this one back when she was still claiming her virginity. Admittedly, I don't hate Britney's music as much as I should. It's nothing artistic, but at least it doesn't pretend to be. It's dangerously close to guilty pleasure territory for me. But I'll say meh to this one. It's cute, but doesn't bowl you over with emotion.

"Christmas Lights" by Coldplay: And we go from an artist I should hate but don't really to an artist I should like, but don't really. "Viva La Vida" notwithstanding, I've always found Coldplay's music too ethereal, joyless, and well.... cold. It just seems to me that that's the last thing Christmas music should be. So it's new heights in artistic achievement and undiscovered depths of indifference that it strikes in me.

"Angels We Have Heard On High" by Josh Groban and Brian McKnight: Another one that sounds good in theory, but doesn't execute well. Just drags out too much.

"All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth" by Spike Jones And His City Slickers: The classic novelty Christmas song, and really the only version that does the composition any justice. Such a classic, but because of its age, does not get played all that often.

"Thank You (Christmas Remix)" by Jim Brickman and Matt Giraud: There's that annoying red flag again! It's the original composition with holiday bells and chimes added to make it sound seasonal! And it sucks!

Christmas music watchtower

Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 11:06 pm
by succotash_54
"Silent Night" by the Boyz II Men: Accapella rendition by one of the last great vocal groups. Slow and soft, but understandably so. Good.

"Oh Santa" by Mariah Carey: Another upbeat Christmas jam from Mariah Carey. A little less coherent, but still plenty fun.

"Snoopy's Christmas" by the Royal Guardsmen: This classic actually spent 5 weeks at #1 on Billboard's annual Christmas charts. Great song. This is the band that put out "Snoopy vs. The Red Baron" and once again indulges the WWI Flying Ace fantasy of the world's most famous beagle.

"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" by Chicago: This is a new song. Or newer... in other words, without Peter Cetera, sounding younger and younger... still, it swings, which is nice... just sounds cheap for Chicago is all.

"Christmas Time Is Here Again" by MercyMe: A vocal interpretation of the song that is part of the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack. Given that it's MercyMe.... pee-yew.

"Last Christmas" by the Glee Cast: Yep, the cast of the hit TV show... Lea Michele on lead vocals. I'm just getting into Glee myself. So I enjoyed this.

"Please Come Home For Christmas" by Bon Jovi: More similar to the Eagles' rendition than Charles Brown's, but a nice modernized version of this classic.

"This Gift" by 98 Degrees: Pure boy-band pap. Ignore it. I do.

"I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day" by Wilson Phillips: Fun and upbeat, this one's pretty good.

Christmas music watchtower

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 3:05 pm
by succotash_54
"Fairies (From Nutcracker)" by Mannheim-Steamroller: A typical MS treatment of this song generally known and loved as "The Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy". I'm not a fan of Mann-Steam (that's what she said), and this one really seems to try to modernize/cutesy up the song, and it's really just very stupid.

"All Alone On Christmas" by Darlene Love: I love Darlene Love and everything she does. It would be on the highlights of my radio career to interview this woman. And I love this song from the soundtrack of "Home Alone 2". Though reminiscent of the old Phil Spector "Wall Of Sound" in terms of production, it doesn't quite have the depth and grit to it. Still, I love it, but it won't get played too much. True statement: our station is playing this song because not even three hours before playing it, I gave my copy of it to my program director to rip and load into our library. You're welcome.

Christmas music watchtower

Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 4:01 pm
by succotash_54
"Sleigh Ride" by the Carpenters: Fun upbeat, AC style of the classic. One of the few songs that Richard sings on too, along with Karen. He tells us about what's going on at the home of Farmer Grey. I like it.

"Here Comes Santa Claus" by Elvis Presley: Another gem from the King. Nice and bouncy, it evokes the bubbly anticipation that keeps us up night with a stethoscope to the walls, listening for reverberations from the chimney.