Sweet Chthulhu, has there been a better holiday song in the last twenty years? Don't make me come out there and hurt you.
Good dog, is there a sweeter voice than Kirsty MacColl's? (I saw her singing with Midge Ure once, before her untimely demise. In the midst of life, etc. etc.)
Is there an uglier mother than Shane McGowan?
I was more than a bit down his week. I put on my christmas playlist tonight, and poured (several) glasses of wine. As you might imagine, the tunes may have been short on the standards, but plenty of good alternative stuff. The Chieftains, Bruce Cockburn, Barenaked Ladies, They Might Be Giants, Mojo Nixon.... lots of other good stuff, even more non-traditional stylee....
The Payolas, Christmas is Coming. The Pretenders, 2000 Miles. I listened to David Bowie and Bing Crosby singing the Little Drummer Boy while I was watching war pictures on the news. XTC, Thanks For Christmas. Low. Weird Al, even (Christmas At Ground Zero. Maybe not so funny after 2001; maybe even better). Trans-Siberian Orchestra, yes and I won't apologize. The Kinks and ELP. Cracker, Merry Christmas Emily. Carnival Art, Bring A Torch Jeannette Isabella; Queen. Los Lobos. Ramones, Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight). Cocteau Twins. Sarah McLachlan. Timbuk 3, All I want For Christmas (is World Peace). Yes, even Geldof and Band Aid, bite me already.
O so much more, over 200 songs. Blue Girl and Neddie Jingo. Henry Rollins doing Night Before Christmas. A Rounder Records sampler. Spinal Tap and MightyMighty Bosstones. If I could work out a clean cassette-to-digital transfer, I would have a superb local band, the Mighty (Rein)Deerlick doing Bells To The Wall.
I was more than a bit down this week. Perhaps unexpectedly, this odd assortment of noises... has made me feel better. You know, the artists all did their songs earnestly, very little irony involved (except maybe Wall of Voodoo's Shouldn't Have Given Him A Gun For Christmas). Even for a pathetic embittered atheist, honest expressions of love, hope and peace can be soothing. Healing.
I was more than a bit down this week, this month, this fall, this year. As ever it seems , I find help and solace in music. As my son's Spamalot shirt says, I'm not dead yet.
more...
..."was more than a bit down his week. I put on my christmas playlist tonight..."
ReplyDeleteSee, therein lies your problem. You are depressed and feed your depression with Xmas carols, hoping to find solace in Jimmy Stewart based fantasies, when the source of your depression is the holiday.
Just quit. No longer pay attention to a holiday that is, in all respects, nothing more than worship of gluttony.
Once freed from the shackles of "Xmas spirit" you can just go ahead and be happy or miserable on your own without societal pressure.
--
Ted Williams
PS: the Pretenders never surpassed their first two albums and that Bowie/Crosby thing always cracks me up. Look at the neck on that alien !"Marvelous.."
I'm sorry you've been a bit down this week, BP. I hope things are looking up for you today.
ReplyDeleteAs Grizzled tells me when I'm down, "It's all good, honey bunny!" and somehow I believe him and it usually is.
ReplyDeleteFeel better Rotten Honey Bunny McDonald! It's all good!
You know, sometimes we have to feel the blues so we can appreciate the highs. And I hope a high pressure system moves your way soon.
ReplyDeleteLove the Pogues. Favorite song lyric ever: "It was Christmas Eve, babe. In the drunk tank...."
ReplyDeleteSuch a sentimental holiday chestnut.
Thanks all.
ReplyDeleteAnd this isn't the concern troll thread, Ted...
BP, I am sorry you have been feeling down this year. I am hopeful next year will be a better year for each and all of us.
ReplyDeleteAs for Ted, he seems to have some sort of weird thing with Pinko doesn't he? As though he both wants a box from Hickory Farms this year and Pinko's #.
AG makes me laugh...
ReplyDeleteMerry merry and happy happy. Hoping your seasonal affectived disorder clears up soon. And that mine does too. Sigh. I make no apologies, my favorite holiday song is "Do they know it's christmas" I can't turn it up loud enough. Beel Fetter soon.....
ReplyDeletegreat christmas song.
ReplyDeleteI have been listening to holiday tunes since Thanksgiving, and am getting our tree tomorrow.
I think it does help, even for us atheists. Just the good parts about family and friends and cheer and "love and hope and peace" like you said.
thinking happy thoughts for you Rotten.
It's always darkest before the dawn. Or before you snap and off a bunch of your enemies. It's all good.
ReplyDeleteThe Pretenders are coming to a bar in my neighborhood in February (and what a bar it is). If you can get yourself here, I'll buy you a ticket and loan you a futon to sleep on.
Snag, as my Dad used to say when us kids would be fighting up in our bedrooms: Don't make me come up there.
ReplyDeleteGenerous as it sounds, I think I may have to pass. This time. I'm keeping my time open (and saving my lunch money) for a Figgs show in Febb.
BTW, that dawn/offing your enemies thing? Is there any way of telling which one is coming?
He promised me the futon anyhow. :-p
ReplyDeleteWell, hello, Sir Jennifer Bringdown!!
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'll take the futon after all, just to frustrate the Bitter Cookie Queenifer.
I saw the Pretenders at the Milwaukee Auditorium quite a few years ago, Chrissie Hynde was preggers. She was involved with Jim Kerr, and Simple Minds opened up.
Not bitter, just accurate.
ReplyDeleteI'll go. I saw the Pretenders back at the Aragon Brawlroom back in the late 80's. It was an excellent show.
ReplyDeleteSnag- I don't even need your futon. I'll just head back to my hotel room after I drink all of your liquor.
Any Saturday shows at The Guthrie? Or, I could visit an old college pal at the Frank Theatre.
I usually bust out the Cloud Cult, Years Around the Sun, and my newest fave, Laura Marling (although I'm not so hot on her after I saw her featured on a Starbucks, buy this crap, album) during this time of year... wait, what the hell was I doing in a Starbucks? Avoiding the panhandelers or something.
ReplyDeleteI would put down some feel better sentiment, but in the end, the thought counts more than the words.
And "up" ain't so great either.
Only AG made him laugh.
ReplyDeleteFor AG's next act...
La. La.
Only AG knows what that could be mixed with his favorite vodka, good music, attractive show girls and leaky ass dog.
I kind of miss Ted. I hate when the good trolls quit. First Dean Esmay, followed by Sean S., then Chuckles, I mean Shoelimpy, now Ted.
Damnit.