The Power of Music
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 9:36AM I was trying very hard to get into the whole holiday spirit this year but was not having much success. I think the stress of money really put a damper on the cheery goodness I like to radiate this time of the year.
But last night I found my answer. Christmas music. And not just Cheesy Pop versions of Christmas songs like the HORRIBLE version of The Christmas Song by Whitney Houston in which she sings “To see if Reindeers really know how to fly!” Reindeers? WOW!
We had our weekly band practice at church and of course, this weeks practice was all Christmas songs. We sang, Do You Hear What I Hear?, Little Drummer Boy, Hark the Herald, Angels We Have Heard on High, Silent Night, What Child Is This, and Joy to the World! It felt so good hearing all the voices come together singing Silent Night. The backing harmonies, the melodic sound of flutes and piano keys was enough to send chills through my body.
The whole season makes sense to me when you sing about it in those great songs. The power of music never ceases to amaze me. When I am sad it can pick me up. It can make me angry or sleepy or even an race car driver when something rocking comes on and I am on an open highway! I love it.
So with that I am ready to sport my green and red attire and spread some holiday cheer.
I want to hear what your favorite Christmas songs are and we should have two categories. One being the religious type and the other being secular. NO VOTING FOR WHITNEY! Just kidding of course.
My favorites are Oh Holy Night and Sleigh Ride.
Reader Comments (11)
I love little drummer boy ... it's classic christmas.
Go Tell It On the Mountain and Santa Baby.
For me it's Silent Night (at our church every Christmas Eve there is a candleligth service and we sing this then it is amazing.) I also like Rudolph
Hark the Herald Angels Sing (I have a recording of this that our worship directory totally jazzed and funked up)
I'm dreaming of a White Christmas (I also have an awesome recording of this from a Christmas concert he held at our church)
let me know if you really want them I can dig it up and send it to you
The Little Drummer Boy by Bing Crosby and David Bowie and Celebrate Me Home by Kenny Loggins. The second one isn't that Christmas-y, but I am obessed with it!
Secular (a tie): Happy Christmas (War is Over) and Baby It's Cold Outside
Religious (oops another tie): O Holy Night or Mary Did You Know
So I am not so good at rules :D
Grown-up Christmas List & Breath of Heaven from Amy Grant
Religious - Little Drummer Boy & Hark, the Herald Angels sing (as sang by the Peanuts gang on the Charlie Brown Christmas - love it!)
Secular - 12 Redneck Days of Christmas by Jeff Foxworthy - hilarious!
Oh Come All Ye Faithful by the Morman Tabernacle Choir, and, of course, The Chipmunk Song.
I'm always a fan of We Three Kings (maybe because it's my mom's favorite also?) and Hark the Herald Angels Sing.
But as far as secular songs go, I really like "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and that great semi-tasteless punk gem, "Oi to the World" by The Vandals (also covered by No Doubt). I say SEMI-tasteless because at the end of the song, the punks and the skinheads decide not to beat each other up, and become drinking buddies instead.
Hope your holiday is super-musical!
The other night my daughter's choir sang "We are the Reason" by Avalon..I had never heard it before..but it was beautiful. Its my new favorite christmas song. They also sang Spirit of the Season from Polar express.
I think every year I have new favorites...but my all time favorite is a huge choir (like the mormon tabernacle choir) singing O Holy Night. That first 'fall on your knees' gets me every time.