For those of you who know me you would know that I am a closeted Christmas music lover. I love Christmas music in the sense that I have even played it (only once) BEFORE Halloween! Usually I can wait until November 1st, but then I think it's fair game! It might have been a different story if I'd grown up in the US where the American Thanksgiving is in November... but meh, it is what it is! SO, all of you would find it incredibly strange that until November 30th I had not played one SINGLE Christmas song! It was on my road trip back from Mount Gambier (my first out-of-town locum) that I decided I had to start getting in the Christmas mood.
This has not been easy though, getting in the Christmas mood. There are very contradictory ideas here about Christmas and tv ads or decorations... for one example, I JUST saw an ad on tv for a clothing store. It was selling beachwear: bikinis, board shorts, thongs (flip flops for us North Americans), and in the background was a fully decorated Christmas tree. They were saying, "It's not Christmas without a trip to the beach!" Pfffffffffft, what kind of Christmas is that? Maybe if you decided to go to a tropical beach for a holiday, okay, then I can see going to the beach. But I'm having a hard time getting used to a regular HOT Christmas! On top of that, I've been told that many still have a full on hot Christmas meal complete with turkey, stuffing, steamed veggies, etc. No pumpkin pie though... pumpkin is not ever used in a sweet way, just savory (these people have much to learn! No pumpkin pie??? An outrage!) Anyways, back to my Christmas song experience.
First up on my CD in the car, was a classic: Bing Crosby's 'Do you hear what I hear'. Wonderful song! However, it started with sleighbells, and choral background music... and the first line, "Said the night wind to the little lamb.... do you hear what I hear?" My response: "Baaaah?" Awwwwwwwww, Heather.... I needed you there in the car with me!!! Ah well, I had to skip it... it was going to make me homesick :( I may have even had a tear on the verge of rolling down my cheek!!! NOOOOOOOOOOO!!! On to the next song!
Next up was Silent Night, acapella by Boyz II Men. AMAZING version of this song! Sadly, made me think of home again, and cold weather... this wasn't working!!! Skip!
I skipped a few other songs until I finally got to one I could manage: Manheim Steamroller's 'Deck the Halls' This was perfect!!! No lyrics talking about snow or family... no sleighbells trying to pass the song off as Christmassy... just pure awesomeness! It's funny though, it always seems to remind me of Beethoven's 9th symphony, last movement, but done by Wendy Carlos, as heard in Clockwork Orange. I've added a link to both songs here... can you see why I always seem to relate them? Must be the synth :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEHzYjuf5NA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4iWC0BKCmk
After that I was on to another terrific lyric-less song: 'Carol of the Bells' by the Transiberian Orchestra and Metallica! Another fabulous song! This one was more Christmassy, however without the lyrics I was doing well! AND it helped that there were awesome guitar solos in it ;)
After those two songs I was slowly able to listen to some of my other funny or less serious Christmas songs. Another of these notable classics was 'O Holy Night' sung by Eric Cartman, and improved by Kyle, from Southpark! Spectacular song :D Another link for those of you who haven't seen it before!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wofsgfQ2VSc
I have since listened to both of my car Christmas CDs, I have played through some of my awesome iPod Christmas list, and I am slowly getting more into the spirit. This is usually taken down a notch though when the temperature goes over 30C, and I'm walking around in shorts and a tank top. Even seeing people over-decorate their houses only bumps up my Christmas spirit a little bit... but I'm determined to get there! I wonder if I can buy corn syrup down here... I'll bet making some poppycock would help me feel more Christmassy ;)
I will keep everyone updated with how the holiday season goes. I should be pretty busy doing a Christmas locum north of the city as well as working at Lululemon in the city on my off days, but I think this will be a good thing as I'm going to be living all alone since I'm house-sitting over the holidays. At least Christmas Eve and Christmas Day I will be spending with Kim and Brian :) Well, I'll be going to their place after a Christmas Even service at a Uniting church near the airport (looks like a nice church!) They have a night-time carol service at 11:15pm, so it'll likely be Christmas day by the time I actually GET to Kim and Brian's, but at least I won't be alone ;)
Love you all, and miss you all... stay tuned for another blog right after this one... teehee, had some fun with it!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo Denise
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