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Special Report
Musical Humbug
(Page 2 of 2)
OF COURSE, THE MOST MEMORABLE Christmas songs -- if not necessarily the most popular on the radio -- are the old carols, including Huckabee's favorite "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," written in the 18th century by evangelist Charles Wesley. "Joy to the World" also dates to the 1700s, while "Silent Night" began as the German "Stille Nacht" in 1816, and "Angels We Have Heard On High" is an Anglican priest's 1862 translation of a traditional French carol.
"O Come All Ye Faithful," was originally "Adestes Fidelis," but don't let the Latin title fool you into thinking it possesses a particularly ancient pedigree -- written in 1751, it's of more recent vintage than either "Joy to the World" or "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing." Still more recent are "The First Noel" (circa 1820), "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" (1850), "We Three Kings" (1857), "O Little Town of Bethlehem" (1868), and "Away in a Manger" (1885).
So if you want to have a really old-fashioned Christmas, what should you sing? Three tunes lead that list. "What Child Is This?" is sung to the 16th-century English folk tune "Greensleeves," although the familiar lyrics were written in the 1860s. The most ancient of well-known carols is "O Come, O Come, Immanuel," its lyrics translated from 9th-century Latin, its melody 15th-century French, and its original inspiration from the prophet Isaiah, 8th-century B.C.
We are now deep into Christmas tradition, far away from sleigh rides, dancing snowmen and Dean Martin crooning about popcorn by the fireside. For now we come to my personal favorite carol, "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen." Its cheerful tune disguises the in-your-face lyrical aggression -- the very first word declares an evangelical intent to impose religious beliefs on the listener.
Best of all (and I'm surprised this fire-and-brimstone aspect didn't make it Huckabee's favorite) "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" reminds us that "Christ, our Savior" was born to "save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray." Satan, sin and salvation -- now, that is what I call Christmas tradition.
And so, to all you secular Scrooges and Grinches and Kathleen Parkers, on behalf of all us Bible-thumping right-wing holy rollers, I wish you a very "oogedy boogedy" Christmas.
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Appleby| 12.15.08 @ 7:01AM
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas was made, er, notorious in a movie called The Victors, about the post-war mop-up overseas; in one early-morning scene they are taking a spy out to be shot in the show, with that song playing in the background.
It has given me a certain moody pleasure since then.
Melvin Leppla| 12.15.08 @ 7:11AM
After recently traveling abroad during the Christmas season, I have observed the United States is the only country that doesn't celebrate Christmas. Asia celebrates Christmas, Europe celebrates Christmas, as well as other countries.
Asia has Jews and Muslims, Europe has Jews and Muslims, and other countries have Jews and Muslims and my personal observations did not see one Jew or Muslim writhing in agony upon the in fear of going to Jewish or Islamic hell for celebrating Christmas.
So what is the deal America? Why must we enter into this long dissertation of the analysis, of the inclusiveness over Christmas year after year after year? This dissection of Christmas is stupid and moronic because we are the only country that refuses itself the enjoyment of Christmas.
The celebration of Christmas is many things to many people, it is up to the individual and family in how they choose to celebrate, but this is a classic example when this Country has educated elitists with political power to force their personal political views upon the masses.
Here is a bit of advise to the Supervisors of Armonk, NY. You want Christmas to be inclusive of Jews and Muslims. Here's a new flash for you. No one has ever said that Jews and Muslims couldn't be included, and by the way Jews and Muslims have been celebrating Christmas alongside the Christians hundreds of years before you decided to stick your pointy nose into it and ruin Christmas.
frost| 12.15.08 @ 8:06AM
Methinks thou protests too much, even though there's some tongue-in-cheek (makes it hard to sing...). Besides, driving home from a dinner last night, found myself singing along with McCartney that (admittedly) dippy song of his. Relax, enjoy!
Joe Strader| 12.15.08 @ 8:46AM
You forgot to mention the great "Please Daddy (Don't Get Drunk this Christmas)" 1964 by the late John Denver. I used to hang out in a small town pool hall frequented by the local drunks and such and this was indeed the most popular song on the jukebox during the holidays. Alan Jackson has a pretty good cover but it is hard to beat the original.
Roger| 12.15.08 @ 9:32AM
Well, at least in some places there is a huge "Sing-a-long" version of Handel's Messiah performed. This will take you from prophecy, to birth, to death, to resurrection, to the gathering together. You can't get much more complete than that.
Laurey Boyd| 12.15.08 @ 9:33AM
It can be much worse. While listening to Prairie Home Companion on Saturday night, we heard Garrison Keillor opine repeatedly that the dweebs in Lake Woebegone made too much of Christmas. Then a musical guest sang "In the Bleak Midwinter" with no reference to Christ or the circumstances of his birth at all. No, it was about families traveling to Washington, D.C. to see you know who inaugurated. Also, the holiday tradition of "drinking coffee". What lyrics! They didn't just leave Christ out. They replaced him with someone more regal. Without the humble mystery of the incarnation to elevate, the song was stripped of its power. The overt omission was the theme. It left a pall on us that reminded us why we had stopped listening to NPR.
Vern Crisler| 12.15.08 @ 9:48AM
Come on on Robert! Complaining about Christmas songs that don't mention Christ makes about as much sense as complaining about Santa. The only song I don't want to hear, mainly because I've heard it so many times, is Feliz Navidad. Whenever I hear the music start, I run screaming out of the department store. Other than that, I welcome all, or at least most, Christmas songs. Bring on the elves, Rudolph, Santa, and White Christmas! “The Evangelium,” said Tolkien, “has not abrogated legends; it has hallowed them.”
J David| 12.15.08 @ 9:52AM
Bah, Humbug!
John M.| 12.15.08 @ 9:55AM
My wife and I were talking about this just this past weekend, and we both thought "The Little Drummer Boy" was a nice Christmas carol that not only mentions the "reason for the season" but can get to you emotionally if you really listen to the lyrics.
Michael Dooley| 12.15.08 @ 9:56AM
I love Christmas and nearly everything about it. I don't see any purpose in getting all superior about it. Oh, I could do without the guilt trips with hands outstreached for my money. I could do without the self-righteous, secular scolds telling me what the REAL meaning of Christmas is. (guess what it isn't) I could also do without the bozos on the evening new all telling me that the economy will tank if I don't buy more doo-dads for Christmas.
Still, I love Christmas. Just realize that the day has no meaning if it is anything less that Chistocentric. All else about Christmas are just minor tangents. They may be good tangents; but they are just shadows.
Oh, don't fall for that "put Christ back in Xmas" nonsense. As if you could! You wouldn't and didn't do it then; you can't do it now. Let God be God.
Gordon R. Durand| 12.15.08 @ 10:18AM
"I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," based on the poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, is my current favorite. It's probably never been popular among Southerners, but the last verse ought now to reassure all conservatives:
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."
david Mills| 12.15.08 @ 10:22AM
There is one song--one song only that sounds like fingernails on a chalkboard and its' play is forbidden in my home. It's that "partridge in a pear tree" travesty. Man, I hate that song!
WendyG| 12.15.08 @ 10:38AM
I like "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" - but I'm Jewish, so what do I know? :)
I can tell you this. Last week I was a "Secret Santa" for a family in need that I will never meet. A friend (Jewish!) recruited me to by an outfit for a 12-year-old boy. Though I don't celebrate Christmas, it gave me great pleasure to know that some kid's Christmas might be a little happper and more fun because of my gift. It's important to give a little to others. No matter how bad things might seem, it ALWAYS feels good to give to others.
By the way, re: my comment about Jews and Christmas songs - it's astounding how many Christmas songs were written by Jews. Here is a partial list.
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Do They Know It's Christmas? (Feed the World)
Santa Baby
Holly Jolly Christmas
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
I'll Be Home for Christmas
Silver Bells
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Sleigh Ride
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
White Christmas
Tom Kelley| 12.15.08 @ 12:50PM
I would prefer "Mary's Boy Child", it has all the lessons of "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" ,
yet is much more upbeat. I was belting out a chorus or two this morning on my way to work.
Don't think I could do that with God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.
ddc| 12.15.08 @ 1:29PM
This is typical christianist elitism. If you celebrate christmas your not doing right, if you don't your un-american because this is a christian country. Either way they want your tax money to fund their religious decorations.
Now I need to pack my bags so that "I'll be home for Christmas."
trurl| 12.15.08 @ 2:31PM
Let's not forget the deeply ironic Anti-carol. There was Jethro Tull's "Christmas Song" which was basically a continuation of the anti-organised religion/hypocrisy kick Ian Anderson was on at the time of the Aqualung album, and more famously Greg Lake's "I Believe In Father Christmas" which still gets airplay around the holidays just proving that no one actually listens to lyrics like
"They sold me a dream of Christmas
They sold me a silent night
And they told me a fairy story
till I believed in the Israelite"
and concludes with
"Hallelujah, Noel, be it heaven or hell
The Christmas you get, you deserve" as Prokofiev's Sleigh Ride plays in the background.
kcb| 12.15.08 @ 2:36PM
To argue the author's point that no new truly Christmas song has been penned in the last three decades, I suggest he listen the Clint Black's "The Birth of the King" -- beautiful! There is also "Mary Did You Know" sung by countless artists over the past years -- my favorite is Kenny Rogers and Winona Judd. There are many others, especially in the Contemporary Christian Music Genre. They're out there, but they're just not "poplular." But, my all-time favorite is "O Holy Night."
CoolCzech| 12.15.08 @ 7:28PM
What, no "Little Drummer Boy"??? It DOES mention Jesus, AND is hauntingly beautiful yet merry all at once.
Eica Brigid| 12.15.08 @ 8:20PM
I listen to National Public Radio. It is the only place where you can hear the GENUINE Christmas Carols.
mj| 12.15.08 @ 8:50PM
One other non-Christmas carol comes to mind, Martin Mull's "Santa Doesn't Cop Out on Dope."
Gary| 12.16.08 @ 12:55PM
What? No "Merry Christmas Darling" by the Carpenters. It's from a nice Christmas album they recorded which includes both religious & secular tunes. And Karen's voice!
Astro| 12.16.08 @ 1:17PM
WendyG -- interesting list. So many Christmas songs written by Jews, you'd think the guy they were celebrating was Jewish himself.
Oh, wait a sec...
JAZZ| 12.16.08 @ 4:15PM
ddc.
First of all, there is nothing Christian about Americans. They are about the most blood thirsty nation on earth.
They spend more money on massacres around the world than on their own people's education health care, and housing.
There is more dope dealers, drug addicts, prostitutes, pimps, murders, child molesters, homosexuals. Than any where else on the PLANET. So don't confuse Christianity with devil worshipers.
Jessica| 12.25.08 @ 2:02AM
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is my favorite Christmas Carol too!
It has it all. It's religious, yet jolly, it's English, I love it!
I highly, highly recommend the Bare Naked Ladies and Sarah McLaughlin medley of God Rest Ye and Star of Wonder, just excellent "new" Christmas music.