I can no longer pretend it is not the Christmas season, though I try and I try. I don't remember exactly when the holiday season went from being the most wonderful time of the year to the least wonderful time of the year. I'd like to think it was when I became an adult, but I am still working on that, so that can't be when. I do long for the old-fashioned Christmas, with snow on Christmas Eve. And carolers. I remember driving around with a few friends on Christmas Eve in the 80's, visiting each other's families. That was nice. Some eggnog in one house. A taste of whatever was for dinner in another house. I also love the idea of finding that one special gift. "Mary's going to love this. Fred needs gloves." Ralph and Alice Kramden had the right idea, even if he blew it. Save up some money, find one special thing. Boom. Christmas. 2017 and there are commercials actually suggesting a new car as a Christmas gift. Blow me, St. Nick.
I do love Christmas music though, even if the first few notes of just about any song, bring on some hall of fame melancholy. You don't have to be an altar boy to appreciate the beauty of the melody in "O Holy Night." It's almost over, and by January 2nd, mankind will go back to telling everyone to fuck off all over again until the next Thanksgiving Day Parade. I guess I'll suck it up. The world can really be a beautiful place. You just have to try harder to ignore the assholes.
10 comments:
When I was binge listening St Vincent awhile back there was something familiar about her voice I couldn't put my finger on, but drew me in.
A couple weeks in I suddenly recognized her voice as the one in Sufjan Stevens heartbreaking "That Was The Worst Christmas Ever".
One of her first professional gigs was in his band.
Her voice makes it really go somewhere special.
http://alanwalkerart.com/audio/that_was_the_worst_christmas_ever.mp3
Amazon is streaming for free the "Jingle Bell Rocks" documentary about the subculture of collectors/makers of oddball Christmas music. Already watched it twice. Since a lot of it centers around NYC, you may have met some of these guys, Sal.
happy holidays, Sal. Thanks for keeping me sane all year
Christmas, Bah Humbug. People need to realize that being polite at Christmastime as a means to apologize for being a douche the whole year, does not work. They're still douches, it's just colder out.
As to the music, pre-19th St days, my father would put a speaker outside of our house about a week before Christmas, and play Christmas music all day long. Looking out mu window, I can see the smiles on peoples faces as they walked by. None of the neighbors complained (that I know of). Though, the boys (you know them) had a laugh making fun of me, especially Carl. But, that was the post card type of Christmas we all like to remember. No worries in the world, other than whether we got the game/toy/album that we wanted.
Oh, and the 'speaker', was stolen from an old drive-in theater, the kind that hung from your car window. So, the quality left a lot to be desired. And of course, nobody cared about the quality of the sound, they just enjoyed the season as they walked to wherever it was that they were going.
One of the offices I visit - I'm a computer tech and a ramblin' guy - plays Christmas music all day long and by the 2nd hour I'm ready to take a hostage.
Having said that, I was in Big Lots the other day - fuckin' Big Lots, yeah! Cheap batteries! - and that Waitresses Christmas song came on and it actually made me happy for a couple of minutes. That's some charming shit.
Then I bought a pack of double-As and went home - not to toboggan, but to bongin'.
Anyway, this blog is one of the good things in the world, and so are you Sal. To you and all of the wise and funny commenters here, Garry Crimble.
We spend most of Christmas time in the car. The eve, the day, the day after. We are the cool aunt & Uncle with no kids so we get to drive everywhere. This year - no exception: Ocean View DE ~~> Gillette NJ ~~> Norwalk CT ~~> Rockaway NJ ~~> Ocean View DE. One of the things, THE thing that kept us sane was the Burning Wood mixes over the years. Thanks for that and for continuing to be you.
C.
aw shit. I decided it was time to say something sweet and positive about this blog and Sal and all you others....but Charlie, Noam & Chris beat me to it, and said it better than I ever could. So, me too!
Actually, you nailed it Sal. The formula is: Ignore + Eggnog = Merry Christmas!
Thanks for another year of grooves! May 2018 be our Ticket To Ride!
I'm so with you on that subject.
You forgot to mention: fighting siblings, whiney sister who did not get that _____ that she asked for, drunken father, a stressed out crying mother, drunken family and neighbors, fights at the kid's table, whiney sister crying that _____ "broke her toy", and dealing with the alchy assholes on my dad's side of the family. As a adult: Dealing with obnoxious people in stores (this time of year brings out the worst in people), dealing with annoying people at work, fighting at the table with my alcoholic sister in-law. Whenever 12/1 rolls around, I can't wait for New Years Day.
I try to be nice year round! I do! But at least once a year the jerks try and remember to rein in their jerkiness. I mean, isn't 50 weeks a year enough without them even trying? :) Ignore+Eggnog= Christmas might just win the Nobel. I'm so sentimental I tear up at my own Christmas playlists which I've had about six rock solid ones for many years so even the transitions I chose eons ago start to feel right. I would hate holiday music piped in at work but as long as I'm the deejay, it's great. Now back to one of the Sufjan eps.... Merry Christmas Sal and thanks for the blog and the music and you know, you!
Post a Comment