Showing posts with label Christmas music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas music. Show all posts

Monday, December 21, 2015

Music Monday: It's Christmas Week!


It's Christmas Week!  I can't believe that we have almost reached Christmas 2015!  This year had really flown by.

A few years ago, Lady Antebellum released their Christmas Album On this Winter's Night.  I am in love with it.  I was listening to it (for probably the thousandth time) the other day, and I was struck again by two of the tracks that I really love.  I figured it was a good idea to share them here on my little corner of the internet.

This first one is a beautiful arrangement of "Silent Night"

Silent Night (Lord of My Life)



The title track of their album "On this Winter's Night" is incredibly gorgeous!


Have any of you heard this album?  What would your favorite track be?

Monday, December 14, 2015

Music Monday


Every year, I download at least one Christmas album.  This year, I downloaded Bethlehem by Kari Jobe.  Kari is a contemporary Christian music artist.  I recently started listening to songs of hers.  Her voice is beautiful, and she writes truly powerful, worshipful songs.

When I saw that she had a Christmas album, I knew it had to be my download this year.


One of my favorite songs from this album is her version of "O Come, O Come Emanuel."


I hope that you like it as much as I do!

Other songs on the album:
The Christmas Song
What Child is This?
O Holy Night
Silent Night
White Christmas
O Little Town of Bethlehem/Away in a Manger
The First Noel
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

I think the whole album was only $8.99 on iTunes.  If you like this song or her voice, I highly recommend a download! :)

Monday, December 7, 2015

Music Monday


It's been a long time since I've done a Music Monday!

I think December is a good time for this because it's Christmas Music time.  (Although, who am I kidding?  I started to listen to Christmas Music on October 1st....)

Last year, my friend, Kim, bought the new Pentatonix album That's Christmas to Me.  We played it while we were baking cookies, and I was immediately obsessed.  I ripped it to my computer and added it to my iTunes (and burned a copy for my dad for Christmas, too).

One of my favorite songs from their album is "Winter Wonderland/Don't Worry Be Happy".


Enjoy! :)

Monday, December 22, 2014

Music Monday: The Night Before...the Night Before...the Night Before Christmas

So I might have gotten carried away with the title, but I couldn't resist.  That's where we are on this Monday night, and I'm blogging in real time for a few reasons:

1) I've been scarce around these parts.  I've been trying my best to read and comment on the blogs I love, but writing my own blog posts has not been a priority for me as of late.

2) Today was my last day of work, and I'm officially on Christmas break.

3) I couldn't let it be the Monday before Christmas and not write some more about Christmas music, and this is a post I thought of a couple of weeks ago.


So I was singing away to the Christmas music on my way to work the other day, and I started to think, "If I ever got to record a Christmas album, what songs would I want to sing?"

Here's what I came up with (and in parentheses, I note my favorite versions, where appropriate):

1. White Christmas (Bing Crosby)
2. Merry Christmas, Darling (Karen Carpenter)
3. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Judy Garland)
4. Baby, It's Cold Outside (Dean Martin & Doris Day) I would want to sing this with: Blake Shelton or Adam Levine....just to be clear.
5. All I want for Christmas is You (Lady Antebellum)
6. Do You Hear What I Hear (Glee Cast) This version is a gorgeous duet that wasn't featured in the show, and also doesn't seem to actually feature any of the cast members I recognize.  Anyway, I think I'd like to sing it with Lea Michele.
7. Silent Night
8. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
9. Winter Wonderland
10. O, Holy Night

On an impulse, I actually recorded and posted a YouTube video of me singing "O, Holy Night" acapella. 


It is my plan to blog a bit more over the next couple of days, and definitely more over my break from work!

But just in case my plans fall through, I wish you all a VERY Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year! :)

Monday, November 24, 2014

Music Monday: Did I Really Listen to That?


I know some of you think it's too early for Christmas music, but not here in my world!  :)  I know that I usually rave about songs and/or albums that I love at Christmas. 

Today, I talk about one that I wish I hadn't wasted my time listening to.  Luckily, I bought it at a yard sale (from my brother, nonetheless) for $1.  


I'm not a huge Kenny Chesney fan.  In fact, I wouldn't even rank him in my Top 10  20 country artists.  I like some of his songs that they play on country radio.  Because of that, my love for country music, and my love for Christmas music, I decided to give this CD a try.

I hated it.  Even the traditional carols weren't very good.  For me, I think this was because they were slowed down unnecessarily.  I mean, I'm sorry, but "Jingle Bells" is supposed to be a pretty upbeat and peppy song, Kenny.  What were you thinking?

And while I do love Bing Crosby's version of "Mele Kalikimaka," I'm not otherwise a huge song of island-y, tropical Christmas songs.  I know that not everyone lives where there's snow, but doesn't everyone still want a white Christmas?!  ("Mele Kalikimaka" doesn't bother me because it's specifically stating that this is the Hawaiian Christmas greeting.  AND it's Bing Crosby!).  So the title track was just irritating to me.  Not to mention that it's really not the most grammatically correct title.

There are actually two redeeming songs on this album.  "Christmas in Dixie" features Randy Owen.  I'm not sure if it's because it's one I've heard before or if it's because there's less on Kenny Chesney singing in the song, but this one is pretty good.  "Just a Kid" is also a beautiful song with a really good message to it.  I just think it would be a million times better is someone else was actually singing it.


Have you heard this album?  What did you think?

Monday, November 10, 2014

Music Monday: It's that Time of Year!

Somehow, I managed to be so busy that it has been close to a month since I've written a blog post!  Sheesh.  Today, is an in-service day that we don't actually have to attend.  I know.  It makes no sense.  Long story short, we stay after school for a total of 7.25 hours over two days to do parent-teacher conferences so that we actually don't have to go to work today.

Anyway without further adieu...


Every year it gets harder and harder for me to wait to start listening to Christmas music.  I know, I know.  There are some of you out there who just cringed.  But the fact is that I love Christmas music.  It's not that I don't appreciate other holidays.  Scott and I had a great time getting dressed up and going out on Halloween.  And I LOVE Thanksgiving.  In fact, I've come to appreciate Thanksgiving more than Christmas.  There's less stress, less pressure, less disappointment on Thanksgiving.  That being said, as soon as November 1st arrives, I'm ready for my Christmas tunes.  I mean, it's not like they even HAVE Thanksgiving music.

I saw this on Facebook:


This is the truth.  The music stations on DirecTV add a Christmas channel.  Hallmark starts showing Christmas movies, and the season of love, joy, and peace begins!  

Scott is not a huge fan of Christmas music, so unfortunately, I did not get to listen to Christmas music on our way home from our Halloween night out.  

In my family growing up, my dad would start to play Christmas music on November 1st, and that was when we would start watching Christmas movies together.  Last year, I walked into my parents' home, and my brother immediately asked me to name the first Christmas album that each of us would pick to play when the season begins.  

It was pretty easy to do.  Here are my family's go-to first-album-of-the-season Christmas albums.
(Let me also be clear that these are all albums we originally listened to on RECORDS.  :)  A few years ago, my dad transferred all of the albums to CDs so now I can take them anywhere. )

Me: The Beach Boys Christmas Album

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I do actually have this on a CD my dad didn't make.  It includes bonus tracks with songs that were not from this album originally and remakes of some of the original songs.  I will not lie: I usually stop listening after the original album's concluding song: "Auld Lang Syne."

My brother, David: Merry Snoopy's Christmas

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I always tease him and say that this isn't really a Christmas album because there are "unChristmasy" songs on it.  But that doesn't mean I love it any less.  

Mom: Kenny Rogers: Christmas

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This is another one of my favorites.  Hearing the beginning notes of the first song on the album always make my heart leap because it really feels like Christmas!

Dad: The Mormon Tabernacle Choir Sings Christmas Carols


I certainly can't say that I don't enjoy any of these albums.  I love them all!  They always remind me of Christmases growing up.  We would play them while we decorated for Christmas and on Christmas morning...so many good memories.

This does not mean that I don't look for new music to listen to!  Over the past few years, I've downloaded two Glee Christmas albums and Kelly Clarkson's new album last year.  This year, I added two more albums to my collection.

Idina Menzel- Holiday Wishes

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Because, um, yeah.  Have you heard her sing?!

Michael W. Smith- The Spirit of Christmas


This is a really cool album because Michael collaborates with a bunch of other artists!  Michael W. Smith is a Christian music performer who has been making albums for YEARS.  He has a unique voice that I've always loved, and I've always had a crush on him!  If you haven't heard any of his music before, I suggest starting with his Christmas albums.  :)

So...what's your go-to Christmas album?  Have you added anything new to your collection this year?

Monday, December 30, 2013

Music Monday: The Servant of the Lord

Simple Moments Stick

On Friday, the lovely Susannah from Simple Moments Stick hosted her monthly Faith & Fellowship link up.  This month's topic is "The Servant of the Lord."  It is so fitting for this time of year to reflect on Mary and how she so willingly and without question accepted God's plan for her.....

....carrying a baby when she was an unmarried virgin woman.

Whoa.

In case you're not aware, that was kind of a huge "No, no" back in Mary's time.

Here's what happened:

"God sent the angel Gabriel....to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.  The virgin's name was Mary.  The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored!  The Lord is with you.'  
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.  You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus....'  
'How will this be,' Mary asked the angel, 'since I am a virgin?'
The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God....'
'I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered.  'May your word to me be fulfilled.'"  (Luke 1:26-31; 34-35; 38 NIV)

Mary doesn't go all.....human....on the angel.  She only asks one question.  She wants to know how it will happen since she's a virgin.  She doesn't ask, "Are you sure the Lord wants me?" or "Do I have to?".  She doesn't say, "That sounds nice, but no thank you."  or "But what will everyone think about me?".  She DOES say, "'I am the Lord's servant....May your word to me be fulfilled."

What does this have to do with music, since it is, in fact, Music Monday?

I sang this song in church on Sunday.  It's called "You're Here".  It's a song by Francesca Battistelli, and it's about Mary on the night Jesus was born.


Of course, we don't know for sure if Mary knew the ultimate sacrifice that baby Jesus would pay by dying on the cross to save our sins, but she sacrificed her reputation, the possibility of losing her fiance, and her body to bring the Savior into the world.

Without question.

If only we could be the humble Servants of the Lord that Mary was.


Monday, December 16, 2013

Music Monday: One of my Favorite Christmas Songs

I'm sticking with my Christmas theme for music Monday.  My friend, Kristin at Life's an Adventure has done a couple of posts with many versions of one Christmas song, and I have been wanting to do one, too.  I already shared two of my most favorite Christmas songs in my Music Monday post with my reader's favorite Christmas songs ("White Christmas" & "O Holy Night"). 

Another one of my favorites is "Carol of the Bells".  I was singing along with a version on the way to work the other day, and I realized something.  Singing any one part of this song is super boring.  It's the same thing over and over.  haha  BUT when all of the parts come together, it becomes such a beautiful song!  Here are some of my favorite versions of "Carol of the Bells"

This is the version I chose for my reader's favorite Christmas songs.

 
Kenny Rogers
 
 
Straight No Chaser
 
 
Claymation Christmas
 
If you never saw this TV special before, you totally missed out.  This is just one of the many fun and funny adaptations of Christmas Carols performed by animated clay characters!  (Seriously, if you never saw it, you REALLY need to watch this!)
 
 
Are there any versions of this song that you really enjoy?
 

Monday, December 9, 2013

Music Monday: Recent Christmas Songs

If you've been around here for any length of time, you know how much I love Christmas music!  Last week, I shared my readers' favorite Christmas songs. 

This week, I wanted to share some Christmas songs that have been released recently that I just love!  They're not remakes of traditional songs (which I also love, of course), but they are originals that I hope will eventually become holiday staples....they certainly are for me!

Christmas Eve with You ~Matthew Morrison (Will Schuester) & Jayma Mays (Emma Pillsbury): Glee
 
This isn't an actual video as for whatever crazy reason this song was never aired in an episode!  (Insane.  I know.)  It's beautiful.
 
And it's currently the alarm on my phone.
 
On this Winter's Night ~Lady Antebellum
  
 
I love this song.  I love Lady Antebellum.  I love Hillary Scott's voice.  I think what I love most about her is that her range is similar to mine, so I can always sing her songs! :)

Underneath the Tree ~Kelly Clarkson

 
Kelly performed this song live on The Voice this week (not this video), and it caused me to download her new Christmas album.  (It's only $7.99 on iTunes!)  The album is pretty good.  I actually prefer her original songs to the remakes of traditional songs.  Don't get me wrong, her voice is amazing, but I like my traditional Christmas songs without a lot of crazy embellishment.  She does a lot of that with them.  Her rendition of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is in a pretty high key, and it just doesn't sound right to me.  I still prefer Dean Martin & Doris Day's version.

ANYWAY....are there any recent Christmas songs that you really love?  Have you heard Kelly's new album, Wrapped in Red?  Please share! :)
 

Monday, December 2, 2013

Music Monday: Readers' Favorite Christmas Songs

I have been looking forward to this post since the idea first crossed my mind!  I asked my readers to share their favorite Christmas songs with me, and I'm going to share them with you now!  Unless they specified the artist of their favorite Christmas song, I'll share my favorite version of the song. 

So let's get started, shall we?

Ashley and Brooke both picked "White Christmas," which happens to be my favorite Christmas song, too!  My most favorite version of this song is by Bing Crosby.

 
The "Christmas Song" by Dave Matthews Band is Casey's choice.  I actually never heard this song until I looked it up to share with all of you.  Strange.  Because I seriously thought I've heard every Christmas song out there! ;)

 
Our next song is also one I really enjoy.  Both Chantal and Kristin picked "Carol of the Bells."  There are quite a few versions of this song that I like, but this one is my MOST favorite.  It is the version featured in The Santa Clause.  We sang this version in my high school choir. 
 

For those of you who would prefer (or will have) a tropical Christmas, Elizabeth's favorite Christmas song is "Christmas Island" by Leon Redbone.  (Another one I hadn't heard before!)

 
My cousin, Jaime, picked two for me to share with you!  First is "The Christmas Song" by Nat King Cole.  The second one is "O, Holy Night," which is my other favorite Christmas song!

 
I can't get over how much I love Lea Michele (Rachel Berry from Glee) singing this in Season 4.
 
 
Next, we have "The Little Drummer Boy" picked by Jane and Rachel.  I chose this version by Frank Sinatra because who doesn't love Frank??
 
 
Julie's favorite Christmas song is "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year."  I love this one by Andy Williams.
 
 
This one was also a popular pick.  "All I want for Christmas is You" by Mariah Carey was picked by both Kelly and Sarah. 
 
 
"Silent Night" is another beautiful Christmas carol.  Kristin said she likes it nice and simple.  I hope this one does the trick for her.  It's one of my favorites by Gene Autry.  (She's been writing her own posts about her favorite versions of Christmas songs.  You should visit to check them out!)
  
 
Susannah likes "The Christmas Waltz."  This version by Karen Carpenter is amazing.  She had such a beautiful voice. 
 
 
Last, but certainly not least, we have Tarole's favorite Christmas Song.  This one is also called "All I want for Christmas is You," but it's by Vince Vance and the Valiants.  It's not the same song as the one with the same title by Mariah.
 
 
Thanks to all you who shared your songs with me!  Any songs that you would add to our list?
 
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Monday, November 25, 2013

Music Monday: TV Theme Songs, Part III

I am having way too much fun with these TV Theme Songs!  It's really taking me back to so many shows that I loved watching!

Just in case you missed them, here's Part I and Part II!

Saved by the Bell (1989-1993)

 
This doesn't SHOW the actual theme song, but it does play it. 
 
Words cannot express to you how in love I was with Mark-Paul Gosselaar (Zack Morris).  Mario Lopez (Slater) wasn't bad either.  I learned to appreciate him long after Saved by the Bell was off the air.  :)
 
The Brady Bunch (1969-1974)
  
 
I seriously loved this show so much?  Cheesy?  Sure.  But it was SUPPOSED to be.  It was a show that demonstrated good family values.  :)
 
The Partridge Family (1970-1974)
 

I had a hard time finding the actual video for this one, too.  But this theme song is great! :)  Who doesn't love a family that travels around singing and playing instruments!?
 
The Facts of Life (1979-1988)
   
 
This is another one of my all time favorite shows AND theme songs.  It's another one that my cousin, Jaime, and I used to love watching...and quoting! :)
 
This concludes my TV Theme Songs series!  Next Monday, I will be featuring my READERS' favorite Christmas songs!  Thank you to everyone who shared your favorite Christmas songs so far.  If you haven't yet, there is still time.  Just fill out the form below!
 



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Monday, November 18, 2013

Music Monday: TV Theme Songs, Part II

Last week, I started writing about some of my favorite TV theme songs.  Since I am a self-diagnosed TV addict, the post kept getting longer and longer.  I figured it was best to write another installment, and so, here we are!

Cheers (1982-1993)
Honestly, I never really watched Cheers.  I was really too young for the content of the show, but I remember that my parents watched it, and it's got a great theme song!


Three's Company (1976-1984)
Please note that I watched this show in reruns.  It was seriously so funny! 


 
Greatest American Hero (1981-1983)
Ok, I'm including this for Scott.  As I was writing this post, he asked what I was doing.  I told him what I was writing about, and he was like, "You better include Greatest American Hero."  I never saw this show, but I do know the theme song because he likes it so much, and it IS a good one.
 
 
Laverne & Shirley (1976-1983)
Last week, I shared the Happy Days theme song, and I can't believe that I didn't think of Laverne & Shirley right away.  For starters, this show was a spinoff of Happy Days.  My cousin, Jaime, and I LOVED watching this show.  We always said that she was like Laverne and I was like Shirley.  :)  This theme song is great!
 
 
The Flintstones (1960-1966)
  
 
The Jetsons (1962-1988)
 
 
I hope you're enjoying these posts as much as I am!  I have more to come next week!  There's still so many more good theme songs out there.  They just don't make them like this any more!
 
In case you haven't done it yet, I'm going to be writing a Music Monday post in December featuring my readers' favorite Christmas songs!  Fill out the form below to share yours!  (You don't have to have a blog to participate!)
  


 
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Monday, November 11, 2013

Music Monday: TV Theme Songs

I wrote a music post a couple of weeks ago on a Monday, and so did Julie!  Great minds think alike, I guess.  I have some more music themed posts in mind, so I'm going to keep up with my own little Music Monday for a bit.  :)

Scott and I downloaded some TV theme songs a couple of years ago.  I was listening through the songs on my iPod in ABC order, and I had quite a few come on in a row.  It got me thinking about some of my all-time favorite TV theme songs, and what better place to share them than right here on my blog??

Happy Days (1974-1984)

For you "young-ins" out there, the show Happy Days took place in Milwaukee in the 1950s and 1960s.  It focused on the Cunningham family.  Ron Howard...yes, the movie director, had a starring role as Richie Cunningham.  And Henry Winkler starred as Arthur Fonzarelli, aka "The Fonz".  I would also like to clarify that I watched this show in reruns since I was born two years before it's final season.  :-p


Full House (1987-1995)
 
I don't care how young you are, I shouldn't have to give you the details on this one, right?  Right?
 


 
Family Ties (1982-1989)
 
*sigh* I'll explain this one, too.  ;)  Or rather, I'll let you read the words from Wikipedia.
 
Set in suburban Columbus, Ohio during the early years of the Reagan administration, Elyse and Steven Keaton (Meredith Baxter-Birney and Michael Gross) are baby boomers, liberals and former Hippies, raising their three children: Alex (Michael J. Fox), Mallory (Justine Bateman) and Jennifer (Tina Yothers). Married in 1964, Elyse is an independent architect and Steven, a native of Buffalo, New York, is the station manager of WKS, a local public television station. The couple later has a fourth child, Andrew (Brian Bonsall).

Much of the humor of the series focuses on the cultural divide during the 1980s when younger generations rejected the counterculture of the 1960s and embraced the conservative politics which came to define the 1980s. Both Alex and Mallory embrace Reaganomics and exhibit conservative attitudes: Alex is a Young Republican and Mallory is a more materialistic young woman in contrast to her feminist mother. Mallory was also presented as a vacuous airhead, who was fodder for jokes and teasing from her brother Alex. Jennifer, an athletic tomboy and the youngest child, shares the values of her parents and just wants to be a normal kid. Elyse and Steven have a fourth child, Andrew, born in 1984 whom Alex doted on and quickly molded in his conservative image.
 
I will also share with you that Michael J. Fox was my first Celebrity Crush. 
 
I was 5.
 
 
Perfect Strangers (1986-1993)
 
Again, the words of Wikipedia:
 The series chronicles the relationship of Larry Appleton (Mark Linn-Baker) and his distant cousin Balki Bartokomous (Bronson Pinchot). Larry, a Wisconsin native from a large family, has just moved into his first apartment in Chicago, Illinois, and is savoring his first taste of privacy when Balki, a hitherto-unknown cousin from a Mediterranean island, Mypos, arrives intending to move in with him. Balki, who was a shepherd on Mypos, interprets what little he knows about the United States by relying on his own (often out-of-context) recollections of American pop culture.  After initially gently rebuffing his cousin's request to stay at his apartment, aspiring-photographer Larry decides to take Balki under his wing and teach him about American life. However, the neurotic Larry frequently proves to be as inept as Balki, if not more so, and often gets the pair into situations that only Balki can set right.

 
Family Matters (1989-1998)
 
Please tell me you've heard of Steve Urkel!!
 
 
Step by Step (1991-1998)
 
Wikipedia states: Set in a substantially fictionalized version of the city of Port Washington, Wisconsin, Frank Lambert, a divorced contractor with three children, sons J.T. and Brendan and daughter Al, impulsively marries Carol Foster, a widowed beautician who also has three children, daughters Dana and Karen and son Mark. Both were residents of Port Washington, but met while vacationing separately in Jamaica. Their children are surprised and angered when they learn of the marriage. Stories depicted typical situations of a new blended family, their differences causing arguments and resentments between them, but the family eventually growing to tolerate and develop loyalty to one another.
 
 
Full House, Family Matters, Step by Step, and Perfect Strangers made up my Friday nights for a short period of time.  ABC used to have TGIF, which was an evening of family friendly TV shows.  I honestly just don't think they make shows like these any more! 
 
I think I may have to share some more TV theme songs.  As I was writing this, I thought of so many more! 
 
Do any of your favorite shows have good theme songs??
 
***Last year, I wrote a daily blog post with my favorite Christmas songs.  This year, I am going to be writing a music post about my readers' favorite Christmas songs!  If you'd like to help me out, please fill out the form below!!  :)***
 
 



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