November 27, 2007
I prefer my Christmas spirit straight up, with a twist of lemon
One of my favorite things about the holiday season (oh, hell, at my house it’s Christmas, get over it) is the music. I love Christmas carols, preferably the ones about the Baby Jesus, because really those songs about Santa are mostly just annoying.
Especially the four hundredth time you hear them.
I am blessed with satellite radio in my car (thank you, Baby Jesus, and also the fine people at XM) and for most of the year I use it to torment my children with the Music of My Misspent Youth (”It’s R. E. M.! We love R. E. M.! Oooh, U2! From before they sold out! What? No, we’re not listening to the Led Zepplin channel. That’s for when you’re with Daddy. How about some Housemartins? Or maybe a little Erasure!”)
Side story: A few weekends back, Charlie and I went to feed the critters at the lake, and when we came home, Wade and Henry were sitting in Wade’s office, listening to Zepplin on Wade’s extra fancy stereo that none of us are allowed to touch. And Henry was reading the CD’s liner notes. I swear — I SWEAR — I saw Wade brush away a little tear, because he’s been waiting years — literally, YEARS, like his entire adult life — for that moment.
My husband is a gigantic, Zepplin-loving nerd. And apparently so is my son.
Where was I? Oh, satellite radio and the holidays! Right.
The kids are all about Christmas carols this year, too, although they mostly want to hear the Santa songs, not the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing Adeste Fideles. Which is unfortunate because those Mormons? Can SING.
Our compromise is this: we listen to the Rat Pack Christmas channel (not its real name) which is six straight weeks of Frank and Dean and Sammy and Nat and Bing and Rosemary Clooney and Lena Horne belting out The Classics (and also some Santa songs). There’s no Band Aid or Bing sings with David Bowie or dogs barking Jingle Bells, thank god, although there IS a totally creepy Paul Anka version of “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” which gives me the heebies every ear.
I love this version of Christmas; it’s so swank and swell and swinging. It makes Christmas seem grown up and sophisticated and not all about the kids. It holds out hope that the holidays can be a time when you might put on a pretty dress and stand around chatting drunkenly with other grownups. Most likely this is because on a couple of the recordings, I swear — SWEAR — that you can hear the ice clinking in the highball glasses.
Now THAT is Holiday Cheer. Ho ho ho.
Posted by Susan @ 7:53 pm • three martini parenting, fretful and worrisome
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November 27th, 2007 at 8:28 pm, Angella Says:
Amen, sistah!
I play the Classic Christmas channel on our satellite radio.
Though I do like to mix it up with some contemporary (or 70’s - Boney M - woo!) bands singing the classics.
Merry Christmas
November 27th, 2007 at 8:30 pm, chris Says:
Wow, I swear I was just listening to the Rat Pack Christmas or whatever it is really called. It makes me feel like the meaning of the season is the booze on the rocks.
And I like that.
Christmas music is my favorite part of the holiday also. Except for the endless track that plays in Old navy which makes me want to cut someone. And that is not at all what baby jesus would like
November 27th, 2007 at 8:50 pm, Erin Says:
Ooh, isn’t that Paul Anka version of that song TOTALLY CREEPY?
I love the music, too - but I tend more towards the really crazy churchy Christmas carols (I am not really crazy and churchy but something about that music gets me). Luckily my 20 month old isn’t talking yet so I am savoring this time listening to whatever I please.
November 27th, 2007 at 8:55 pm, Miguelina Says:
I agree with you 100%. I just LOVE the grown up and sophisticated Christmas of 40s and 50s nostalgia. Listening to that music makes me want to throw a Very Boozy Christmas party.
I think I just might.
November 27th, 2007 at 10:57 pm, Kendra Says:
I’ll take liquid holiday cheer any day!
Merry Christmas to you!
November 27th, 2007 at 11:18 pm, Busy Mom Says:
Housemartins! It’s happy hour again.
November 27th, 2007 at 11:56 pm, slynnro Says:
I can only tolerate OLD Christmas music. I hate it when make up new Xmas Crap Music. Except for that damn Mariah Carey “All I Want For Christmas Is You.” I want to hate it so badly, but I can’t.
November 28th, 2007 at 12:55 am, standing still Says:
Nine words that mean Christmas Swank: Andy Williams Christmas Album, Kay Thompson’s Jingle Bells. Find it and listen to it. You will literally bacon wrapped water chestnuts on a silver tray and smell the vermouth. It. Is. Christmas.
November 28th, 2007 at 1:10 am, She Likes Purple Says:
As PATHETIC as this makes me, when you mentioned Paul Anka, I got a sad longing for a Gilmore girl or two.
November 28th, 2007 at 8:21 am, All Adither Says:
Oh yeah. Nat King Cole, baby.
November 28th, 2007 at 8:31 am, Lori Says:
You see, my favorite Christmas cd is Bing Crosby’s White Christmas. But I also like the other Rat Pack songs. They’re fantastic!
November 28th, 2007 at 9:14 am, mark Says:
XM Rules, although it’s not Christmas season till the BC Clark jingle is on. And the Christmas blend at Starbucks.
But what is up with turning on your Christmas lights a week before Thanksgiving?
That is just wrong.
November 28th, 2007 at 9:57 am, amy Says:
what is the XM christmas channel?? I have XM, but why do I not know this???
November 28th, 2007 at 10:31 am, Sherry Says:
XM 103-107.
My husband has XM in his car and we recently swapped for a week or so. The Boy demanded Radio Disney (I prefer the 70s, Broadway, or Lucy). I now enjoy Aly & AJ’s Potential Breakup Song. I’m a little too old to be going around singing it, but, hey, I’m also too old to care what people think about me.
(I also like the Pussy Cat Doll’s Fuego. Don’t tell.)
November 28th, 2007 at 10:37 am, Susan Says:
Shhh — my children do not know that there is such a thing as Radio Disney. And NO ONE is going to tell them. Got it? Good.
Christmas songs are on XM 104 and 106. And there are also about fifteen Country Christmas stations, but I think Toby Keith singing Away in a Manger makes the Baby Jesus cry, so we don’t listen to those.
Amen.
November 28th, 2007 at 12:33 pm, Kate Says:
Oh, do I love Christmas music. LOVE IT.
November 28th, 2007 at 1:34 pm, Kian Says:
OMG I have to hear Band-Aid at Christmas time so that I can *completely* geek out and tell anyone and everyone precisely which artist is singing when and make everyone “SHUT THE HELL UP SIMON LE BON IS SINGING NOW!!”
So completely sad but so completely true.
November 28th, 2007 at 6:40 pm, Shash Says:
My hubby tears up a little each time his oldest son puts on his Led Zeppelin T-Shirt and goes off too school.
Just spreading the gospel, he is
Shash
(who now, for some reason, NEEDS XM Radio)
November 28th, 2007 at 7:11 pm, chichimama Says:
OK, so what XM channel do you listen to normally? Because I clearly need to start listening to that one instead of the ehh one I have settled on (and yes, Radio Disney is EVIL. There is no such thing as Radio Disney on our XM. Really. I swear.).
November 28th, 2007 at 7:15 pm, Susan Says:
Okay, DO NOT LAUGH: I listen to Fred and Ethel and Lucy, and the 80s station, and the Real Jazz channel.
Balanced out with lots of NPR, and my really pitiful CD collection (all produced in the 80s — no seriously).
November 28th, 2007 at 7:34 pm, MaryP Says:
I have always differentiated between Christmas carols and Christmas songs. Carols are the ones with heritage and history (and they’re all about baby Jesus); Christmas songs are modern and generally they’re either sentimental pap or hokey Santa Songs.
My favourite traditionals are Joy to the World and Oh, Holy Night.
I looove Jewel’s version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, even though really? I hate that song. But once you hear that version, you’ll understand. (My brother heard it and harrumphed. “THAT’S not the traditional version.” Well, no. That’s why I like it. Besides, it’s RUDOLPH. Rudolph is NOT tradtional.)
I also love Blind Boy’s bump’n'grind version of Away in A Manger.
Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir does some gorgeous stuff. Go Tell it on the Mountain, delicious.
And you’re right: Those Mormons? Can SING.
November 28th, 2007 at 7:35 pm, MaryP Says:
Blind Boys OF ALABAMA. The group is “Blind Boys of Alabama.”
November 28th, 2007 at 10:18 pm, mark Says:
I listen to Real Jazz, the Folk Channel, Bob Edwards in the morning on XMNPR, and my five year old likes XM Kids, I try to stay away from the Disney Channel.
I will also listen to the XM MLB channel, (big baseball fan)
November 29th, 2007 at 9:20 am, Wendy Says:
That is it, I am truly convinced that you were definitely born way pass your time.
Merry (h’cup) Christmas and remember don’t get too close with that drink, it is flammable.