Holiday Music (Or Not)
I am no fan of traditional Holiday music. My favorites would be, “Winter Wonderland†“Silver Bells†and “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.†That says more about my taste I suppose, but something about this time of year makes me long for those golden childhood years. I suppose it’s my way of trying to recapture whatever joy and spirit I had back then. I’m no Grinch, but once you are at the mercy of the consumerism that explodes after Thanksgiving you sort of lose your faith in humanity (read: RETAIL HELL!).
Just as “The Wizard of Oz†and “Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory†are in heavy rotation, so too are the albums I prefer to warm my cockles to. There’s one album in particular that just makes me smile all day and keeps me far more cheerful than if I hadn’t heard it at all…Harry Connick Jr.’s “Songs I Heard.†The best album when you’re feeling blue or blah and need a little familiar yet jazzy pick me up!
“Songs I Heard†has songs from all of my favorite childhood musical movies. You’ll hear HCJ’s renditions of songs from “Annie†“The Wizard of Oz†“Willy Wonka†“The Sound of Music†and more! He does a fabulous medley of “The Candy Man Can†and “Pure Imagination†that leaves me giddy to this day! Even friends who had never even heard of Harry Connick Jr. have heard that album (in my car or on my laptop) and they loved it instantly!
This year I have a new favorite album to make me bounce and giggle, “Miss Ella’s Playhouse†by Ella Fitzgerald, of course! Oh man…this album came out a few months ago and I love it! I mean it has the classics like, “The Muffin man†and “Tisket a Tasket†“Old MacDonald†and more. All of which are sung by Ella’s golden voice! So much fun! Instantly puts you in a light and friendly mood…I swear!
The best part of all of this mood altering music? You can listen to the entire album (once) for FREE!!! No gimmicks, lies or fine print. Just go to http://www.lala.com/ and type in the artist, look for the album and press play!!! You just create a username/password and that’s it. You don’t have to buy anything unless you want to, and if you do most MP3’s are cheaper than iTunes! RAD!
I’d love to hear what your favorite holiday music is! Or if you have another non-traditional way of cheering yourself up with all of the hustle and bustle that this season brings…Please share!
Happy Whatever You Celebrate!
What do you mean the consumerist explosion after Thanksgiving? The footsteps that lead to that year end tick tock begin as early as Halloween in some stores. It makes me feel queasy walking into Hallmark for a Halloween card only to have Santa waving his junk at me.
It’s disturbing.
P.S. love the site!!
Okay, too true on the before Halloween shopping insanity tip! I swear it starts in July at places like Michael’s (Crafts), for good reason, I guess…but dang!
And ew…what Santa waved his junk at you? Gross! I guess he’ll have to put himself on the naughty list!
I haven’t listened to that album in a few years which makes me sad because it is really good. I am going to put it in my car today. If i haven’t said it already (which I have), I love this site so far.
Oh man, it’s probably one of the more heavily listened to albums on my iTunes/iPod. It’s his voice and of course the familiarity of the songs and the way he’s changed some of them up a bit. LOVE IT! Trust me, you’ll be bouncing in your seat to that album again!