I'm thinking of what I want to do for my Soundtracking columns in the month of December - I'd like to do some holiday columns.
One will be the history of some of our favorite holiday songs, and the tradition of caroling. One will be a holiday playlist. And one will review some musical Christmas movies!
I would like to get some quotes from Gatherers to include in the article series. So in the comments, if you have a moment, please answer the following little survey:
1. What is/are your favorite Christmas carol(s) and why?
2. Do you have a favorite musical Christmas movie? Why do you like that one?
3. Do you prefer traditional carols or modern Christmas songs? Why?
4. What songs do you think we should feature in our holiday playlist?
I'd also love to do a special featuring Gatherers singing holiday songs - so if you're brave enough to try your hand at a Christmas carol and tape it, please let me know and publish the video or audio to the Soundtracking group!
Any other thoughts on what I should do?
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Comments: 31
The last question though....I think you should feature a few "Remakes" of Christmas songs by Rock Bands...
2. Do you have a favorite musical Christmas movie? Why do you like that one?
Charlie Brown Christmas,, I love it mainly because I love the peanuts, and mainly becuase my nephew was named after Linus, and when we were younger we both would sit down and watch it, those memories are so special to me..
3. Do you prefer traditional carols or modern Christmas songs? Why? I love the traditonal carol in our church, we all make such wonderfull music in a speacail place of that, it is almost like angels singing together.. I do like some modern music,, my kids love to hear my John Denver and Muppet album...
4. What songs do you think we should feature in our holiday playlist?
a mixture of both traditional and modern, they are done so well, and not junky like our rap and souless stuff is .... I love to hear from all , classical music, such as Manhiem Steamroller, and how they turn classical into most beautyfull inrumental music there is... I also love to hear all our singer try their rendidtion of the music. may it be country or classical, or Bruce Springteen, they all do so wonderfull. Esp david bowie and bing crosby
2. Do you have a favorite musical Christmas movie? Why do you like that one? I still like all of them but I am tired of them at this point in my life - We never had a musical that everyone would be willing to watch so I don't have a favorite or I am still waiting to discover it.
3. Do you prefer traditional carols or modern Christmas songs? Why? Having sung in so many choirs and groups I cannot take sides in that debate - I love music and whether it is caroling or secularized music, it is seasonal and I like whatever is appropriate to the setting - i would not want to do the "Hallelujah Chorus" going door-to-door or sing "Here Comes Santa Claus" in the church choir.
4. What songs do you think we should feature in our holiday playlist? There are so many good background CDs out there to set and continue the mood that any of them are appropriate - I like the Mannheim Steamroller CDs for tree trimming, party mood setting and just sitting and looking at the decorations by the light of the tree. Acoustic and orchestral CDs offer background without words so everyone can hum along or sing if they so choose.
The lyrics are a cute story of a guy talking to a boy about what he wants for Christmas and it is soooo much fun to sing along!
2. Do you have a favorite musical Christmas movie? Why do you like that one? I love so many holiday movies, for musical one, I'd have to say White Christmas. I love the way they all came together to help out a former military officer/friend. Those were the days, when people were willing to lend a hand and be so giving.
3. Do you prefer traditional carols or modern Christmas songs? Why? I don't have a preference. I really enjoy both.
4. What songs do you think we should feature in our holiday playlist? I think a mix of old and new, that way it will hopefully cover everyone's taste. :)
2. Do you have a favorite musical Christmas movie? Why do you like that one? White Christmas. I just does something for my heart! Kind of naustalgic.
3. Do you prefer traditional carols or modern Christmas songs? Why? I like both. A good mix of old and new.
4. What songs do you think we should feature in our holiday playlist? Please, pretty please something from Mannheim Steamrollers? I have to go searching in our boxes (we moved) for last year's CD's. We can't find them. Boo hoo!
2. Do you have a favorite musical Christmas movie? Why do you like that one? Can't think of one.
3. Do you prefer traditional carols or modern Christmas songs? Why? Traditional. They're just more meaningful.
4. What songs do you think we should feature in our holiday playlist? Carol of the Bells, Silent Night, Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.
The Scent of Humanity
My favorite is Adeste Fideles, I sang in a polyphany choir as a child and another as a student in college so the traditional songs in Latin are all favorites of mine.
2. Do you have a favorite musical Christmas movie? Why do you like that one?
My favorite is White Christmas because it represents everything Christmas means to me- hope, love, belonging. mmm
3. Do you prefer traditional carols or modern Christmas songs? Why?
Well, like I said earlier I prefer the traditional ones because those are the ones I have sung myself so much.
4. What songs do you think we should feature in our holiday playlist?
I would love to hear a version of Feliz Navidad, besides traditional music it is one of my favorites. The music is so completely upbeat and you can't help but feel happy.
2. Do you have a favorite musical Christmas movie? Why do you like that one? I think it's called "The Land of Misfit Toys." It was a sequel to Rudolph. This little movie is wonderful, it shows children, and adults, that there is a place for everyone.
3. Do you prefer traditional carols or modern Christmas songs? Why? That's a tough one. The carols are wonderful, but I do enjoy the modern Christmas songs, My Christmas tradition is to put up my lights, invite some folks over for the lighting and turn on Sleigh Ride done by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops.
4. What songs do you think we should feature in our holiday playlist? Sleigh Ride, I'll be Home For Christmas, Drummer Boy.
2. No favorite musical Christmas that I can think of.
3. Traditional carols, for me.
4. As wide a variety as possible
While I prefer to watch the half hour Christmas cartoon specials, memories of my childhood, my favorite Christmas movie would probably be "It's A Wonderful Life" starring Jimmy Stewart. This film was inspired by my hometown of Seneca Falls, New York, which is also the birthplace of the women's rights movement and home of the National Woman's Hall of Fame. Frances Ford Copalla visited the town and modeled much in the movie after Seneca Falls, right down to the name of the frictional town in the motion picture, Bedford Falls. Even the bridge in the movie is fashioned after a bridge in Seneca Falls which is located right outside the back door of the house I used to live in before I recently relocated to Rochester. The story behind the bridge in Seneca Falls...an American sailor of Italian decent jumped off the bridge into the icy waters of the Seneca-Cayuga Canal to save the life of a woman who had leaped off the bridge in an attempt to take her own life. While the woman was saved, the sailor lost his life in the rescue attempt. A plaque is on the bridge recognizing his heroism. Every Christmas, Seneca Falls holds an "It's A Wonderful Life" festival and 'turns' into Bedford Falls for a weekend including a visit by the actress who played Stewart's youngest daughter, ZuZu. She is the only member of the cast still alive.
Of course, I enjoy some of the modern Christmas music, but I prefer the traditional carols; memories of my childhood that we learned in school and church when I was growing up.
Any and all songs featured will be enjoyable and I'll make sure I listen to. I'm sure you'll come up with a great selection.
Too bad you didn't have more time; you could have done the 12 Soundtrackings of Christmas with many more features and songs.
2. Do you have a favorite musical Christmas movie? Why do you like that one? The half-hour clay animation Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Back in the days before DVD and even before VHS, it was such a special treat to see this on television every year.
3. Do you prefer traditional carols or modern Christmas songs? Why? I like 'em all, old, new, serious and silly.
4. What songs do you think we should feature in our holiday playlist? How about "There's Something Stuck Up in the Chimney?" LOL
I also Love the tune to the Wexford Carol.
2. Do you have a favorite musical Christmas movie? Why do you like that one? White Christmas. It's a well made classic!
3. Do you prefer traditional carols or modern Christmas songs? Why? - I prefer carols that are performed well! It doesn't really matter whether they're new or old. I just don't like the extremely silly modern ones - "Grandma got run over by a reindeer" has to be my most hated christmas song ever.
4. What songs do you think we should feature in our holiday playlist? "Baby, It's Cold Outside". It's a great song that doesn't get played enough.
as you fulfill these requests, if you're looking for versions of Feliz Navidad and Little Drummer Boy that differ a bit from the well known recordings, check out the ones by Asleep at the Wheel.
on your playlist, I'd like to see Walk Through Bethlehem. Ashley Cleveland, who wrote it, and Trisha Yearwood have both recorded it, I expect others have as well.
2. Do you have a favorite musical Christmas movie? Why do you like that one? "White Christmas" and "Holiday Inn" are traditional favorites for me.
3. Do you prefer traditional carols or modern Christmas songs? Why? Some of each. I enjoy the "fun" holiday tunes, as well ~ "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus", "Santa, Baby", "The Marvelous Little Toy" ~ and more.
4. What songs do you think we should feature in our holiday playlist? Mannheim Steamroller is played more than any other artist/group in my house during the holiday season. The group's "Joy to the World" really puts "JOY" in the forefront!
Christmas Albums, and don't forget the Chipmunks.
2. White Christmas (love rosemary clooney)
3. I love both
4. I'm with the Garden Witch....Mannhein Steamroller, very happy and powerful music