Downloads for Christmas
Thursday December 11, 2008 in music |
This year I’ve been busy compiling our Christmas music. Pausing for thought, I’ve noticed that some of my choices are a little eccentric. Let’s go through them.
All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey
My daughter asked for this one, so I downloaded it from iTunes in one of my isn’t technology great? moods. My argument was that it was a joy to purchase a song in several seconds for only 79p – the same price that Woolworths charged for singles 30 years ago. And you had to leave the house too. It’s been less of a joy to have to listen to it though.
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams
What’s Christmas without a bit of easy listening? It’s also easy to imagine the accompanying film to this one. A perfectly groomed Williams in a snowy outdoors that doesn’t look cold at all. Rosy cheeked kids on sleighs, leaping off them to run indoors and open presents. But not Nintendo DSs – just simple and humble teddy bears and wooden toys. This song plays throughout – on wind up gramophone.
Stop the Cavalry by Jona Lewie
What, I don’t own this song already? Well, the thing is that our usual Christmas CD, called something like Now That’s What I Call the Best Christmas Compilation Ever Although in Truth Featuring Only About 40% of What You’d Really Call Decent Christmas Records, is damaged through overplaying. The terrible irony – you’ve guessed it already – is that whilst classics like Stop the Cavalry are damaged beyond repair the lesser songs, such as Sleigh Ride by the Spice Girls, play with perfect clarity.
Christmas Wrapping by the Waitresses
Ditto.
Last Christmas by Wham
My download excuse for this one is “my wife likes it”. You can tell I’ve been practising this one. I saw the video for this song recently and it’s weirder than I remember. A big haired George Michael looked very miserable at a Christmas gathering with Andrew Ridgely and Pepsi and Shirley. You can’t really blame him can you. Dreaming of a more fulfilling solo career, although not of the problems his later indulgences would invite.
It’s Christmas Time by Status Quo
I downloaded Status Quo’s 2008 Christmas single. “Why?” you demand. The funny thing is that the first time I heard this I thought it was truly awful. The second time I heard this I announced in the car that it was truly awful. However, by the time the boys had finished singing I was singing too – I’d grasped the simple pleasure of the song. My first Status Quo purchase. “About time too!” Rick and Francis will cry.
The downloading continues … but I’ll spare you the results.