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message 1: by Shannon, the founder of fun (back from sabbatical) (last edited Aug 25, 2016 02:17PM) (new)

Shannon | 254 comments Mod
I've been listening to this station to get me in the holiday spirit. Plus I can stream from work.
http://woxy.lala.com/holiday.php

Here's a description from the site:
From now through Christmas, we're pleased to offer up the WOXY HOLIDAY MIXER! This unique 24/7 collection of seasonal tunes is filled with vintage renditions of your holiday favorites by modern rockers from around the globe. We have a little bit of something for everyone with new music this year from the likes of Sufjan Stevens, Aimee Mann, Over The Rhine, and The Teenage Prayers. If you stick around long enough, you'll probably hear some irreverent selections from "A John Waters Christmas" and Spinal Tap but we've balanced them out with some classic tracks from Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and James Brown among others. To round things out a little more, we've also included some tunes about winter, snow falling, and the month of December because we know you can only hear "Jingle Bells" so many times...


message 2: by whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass (last edited Aug 25, 2016 02:17PM) (new)

whichwaydidshego | 1996 comments Mod
I just found this thread... I'll check it out! Yea for the holidays!


message 3: by Beth (last edited Aug 25, 2016 02:18PM) (new)

Beth | 173 comments So, what are some of everybody's favorite Christmas songs? Here are some I love:

1. "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by Leon Redbone and Zooey Deschanel, from the "Elf" soundtrack. I love her as an actress, and the fact that she has a great voice, too, is just awesome.

2. "The Christmas Song" by Nat King Cole - total no-brainer there.

3. "This Christmas" by Donny Hathaway. A great
R-n-B holiday song from a great singer who died way too soon.

4. "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" by the Jackson Five. I don't care how weird Michael is now, when he was young, he could put pure joy into a song better than anyone in the history of pop music.

5. "Jingle Bells" by those singing dogs (you know, they bark out the tune? can't resist that one.)

And, don't forget, the Cheech and Chong Christmas song ("Santa Claus and His Old Lady") and Bob and Doug McKenzie's Twelve Days of Christmas (and a beer....in a tree).


message 4: by whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass (last edited Aug 25, 2016 02:18PM) (new)

whichwaydidshego | 1996 comments Mod
I just really love "Oh Holy Night." It's a beautiful song.

"The 12 Days of Christmas" I have hysterical family memories of. The memories are favorites, though, not the song. Although I wouldn't mind having a true love.

Um, my brother & I always have a go with "The Chanukah Song" & all it's versions every year. We like to laugh a lot, and always do!

Also, "Mary, Did You Know?" is a wonderful song.

Otherwise, I like it when the songs are sung but the old crooners, played by Celtic groups, or are done jazz-style. That's good holiday music!


message 5: by Robbie (last edited Aug 25, 2016 02:18PM) (new)

Robbie Bashore | 592 comments I like "Away in a Manger" (cradle song tune), because I use that as a lullaby for my children.

"Silent Night," because that's always sung with lights off and candles lit at the Christmas Eve services.

Even though I'm not a big Rod Stewart fan, I like the Dolly Parton/Rod Stewart version of "Baby, It's Cold Outside."

Bob and Doug MacKenzie's "Twelve Days of Christmas" is hilarious, and I can't hear the original 12DOC without singing in my head, "FIVE GOLDEN TUQUES! Four pounds of back-bacon, three French toast, two turtle-necks, and a beer...i-in a tree."

Bing Crosby's "White Christmas." Love the whistling part.

Just about any version of "Sleigh Bells."

I love Christmas music!


message 6: by Arielle (last edited Aug 25, 2016 02:18PM) (new)

Arielle | 120 comments I have the Bing Crosby Christmas cd, so anything on that is fabulous! Also, I love the old Christmas carols (Oh Holy Night, O Come...Emmanuel, and more) and there's a new song by Joy Williams called "Here With Us" that is amazing. Yay Christmas music!!! From Thanksgiving on, that's all we listen to. And...We have tickets to see the Trans-Siberian orchestra when they come to town later this month. They are AWESOME!!


message 7: by Sarah (last edited Aug 25, 2016 02:18PM) (new)

Sarah (songgirl7) I'm sure this doesn't come as a surprise to anyone who's paid the least bit attention :) but:

I love Harry Connick Jr.'s two Christmas CDs.


message 8: by Shannon, the founder of fun (back from sabbatical) (last edited Aug 25, 2016 02:18PM) (new)

Shannon | 254 comments Mod
I have to agree with Beth - I think my favorite Christmas song is "This Christmas" by Donny Hathaway. I love some good R&B. It always puts me in the Christmas mood.


message 9: by Arctic (last edited Aug 25, 2016 02:19PM) (new)

Arctic | 571 comments great radio station - thanks for the link!

Chris Cornell's version of Ave Maria is a favorite of mine, love his voice. Also, when I'm in the disco mood, I can't get enough of Gladys Knight's That Special Time of Year. Always makes me smile. :)

Oh, and Beth, you're spot on with your comment on Zooey Deschanel's singing in Baby It's Cold Outside. Love that part of Elf. talented actress too. She was great in the recent Tin Man miniseries.


message 10: by Beth (new)

Beth | 173 comments I wanted to watch that Tin Man miniseries, but I was waiting to hear some comments about it. I'm sure I could still Tivo it. That's the good and bad thing about the SciFi channel; they're not afraid to show something seven million times in a row. I just love Zooey Deschanel. Her character on "Weeds" was a scream.


message 11: by whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass (last edited Dec 12, 2007 07:51PM) (new)

whichwaydidshego | 1996 comments Mod
Robbie, OMG! "12 Day of Christmas" with Bob & Doug McKenzie! Absolute CLASSIC. I have to get that now - I'd forgotten! I have the movie, though... and my brother and I call each other Hoser. We don't ever call each other by our first names... just "Hoser." It's a term of endearment for us now, but it didn't start that way! The funniest thing is that no one else - not even his fiance - is allowed to call either of us that. Just us two. So take off, eh!

I forget which version of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" I like, but it's a more recent favorite... and yes, the Elf version is the bestest ever ever.

I just love it all, but especially the classic carols like "Silent Night," "Away in a Manger," etc. Oh! I can't think who did the version right now, but there is an intoxicating version of "O Come, O Come, Emanuel" that melts me. If I remember who, I'll post it.

Also, "A Song for a Winter's Night" by Jewel & Sarah McLachlan is pretty soothing.

I also like "Good King Wencelas" because it reminds me of England... from being there in December a little, but even more from Hugh Grant singing it in Love Actually to those three girls at the door!

"Sleigh Bells" is pretty great, Robbie! I still think "Oh Holy Night" is my favorite, though.


message 12: by Liz M (last edited Dec 12, 2007 07:57PM) (new)

Liz M The best Christmas song, imo, is I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, written by John Coctoasten and performed by Gayla Peevey (11 years old at the time) in 1953. It makes me giggle every time.

For slightly more traditional fare, I love Elvis' Here Comes Santa Claus and All I Want for Christmas is You (from Love Actually) and Madonna's Santa Baby.


message 13: by Shannon, the founder of fun (back from sabbatical) (new)

Shannon | 254 comments Mod
Beth are you a Weeds fan? I love that show - it makes the illegal world of drug dealing seems so darn fun.


message 14: by alicia (new)

alicia grant (shesha556) I love almost all the Christmas songs but I really love any version of Away In A A Manger,Silent Night,Here Comes Santa Claus.Bon Jovi's version of Back Door Santa,Jingle Bells.
All I Want for Christmas is My two front teeth was a favorite from my youth.I also love I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.Have alot of my favorites on my myspace page.


message 15: by Robbie (new)

Robbie Bashore | 592 comments Liz:
I just heard the hippopotamus song on the way to work, and was thinking I needed to add it here! Seems like I remember hearing that song was originally recorded as a fund-raiser for a zoo trying to buy a hippo. Did anyone else hear that?


message 16: by Robbie (new)

Robbie Bashore | 592 comments Michele:

Coming from Michigan, I can really relate to that song--more from knowing several Canadians than from actually wearing tuques!

I never saw the Nutcracker when I was growing up, but have seen it two times as an adult, and my daughter is going to be in a production with her dance school on Sunday. I'm going to have to be really careful not to sing along, "Smurfberry Crunch is fun to eat! A Smurfy fruity breakfast treat...dada dada dada dada..." My daughter actually said to me "absosmurfly" the other day. Hmmm...I wonder who she heard using that phrase?


message 17: by Sarah (new)

Sarah (songgirl7) I was in the Nutcracker when I was little! I was a mouse.


message 18: by Beth (new)

Beth | 173 comments Shannon, I love "Weeds"!! What a great cast! I never realized Kevin Nealon was so hilarious; I don't remember thinking he was that funny on SNL. And, the guy who plays the brother, Andy, is great - I remember he was amazing in "Angels in America". The show is wonderful - it just overflows with moral ambiguity - I love anything that highlights the gray areas of life. I also love that the show is ruthless in mocking the absurdity and lack of originality of suburban life. Agrestic looks just like the town where I live, which is sad and funny at the same time.


message 19: by Beth (new)

Beth | 173 comments So, all you fans of the McKenzie brothers, what exactly IS a tuque?

I picked up "Strange Brew" from the five-dollar DVD bin at Wal-Mart over the summer. Not quite as funny as it was when I was twelve, but still good for a few laughs. I didn't pick up on all the parallels to Hamlet when I was young, but I can appreciate that now that I'm older.


message 20: by Robbie (new)

Robbie Bashore | 592 comments I think a tuque is a wool cap, usually with ear flaps. French-Canadian.


message 21: by Erica (new)

Erica Poole | 199 comments Whoo hooo Christmas songs! I love...

Santa Baby, either the Eartha Kitt version, or Madonna's. NO others, not yet!

Baby It's Cold Outside

All I Want for Christmas Is you, I love the Mariah Carey version (not her biggest fan otherwise though) and the girl from Love Actually

And Beth, you are the only other person that I have heard of actually enjoying the Dog version of Jingle Bells! I thought I was the only one! For the past 4 years I had worked in a restaurant that had that in its rotation and everyone else despised it, but everytime it came on, I grinned! No matter how crazed we were or how many jerks I had to give food to!

Oh, and the Alvin and the Chipmunk Christmas Song....'and me, I want a HUUUUla HOOOOOp!'


message 22: by Jen Manning (new)

Jen Manning | 34 comments K, favorite Christmas songs
1) Where are you christmas- Faith Hill
2) Christmas Shoes
3) I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
4) Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker
5) Trans Siberian Orchestra


message 23: by Beth (new)

Beth | 173 comments Oh, yes, love love LOVE the barking dog Jingle Bells. And, hey, what about the upcoming live-action "Alvin and the Chipmunks" movie? I have fond memories of the cartoon, though I'm not sure what the movie will be like. It seems awfully similar to the live-action Garfield movie. Jason Lee is playing Dave Seville. He is a great actor, though movies like this aren't usually his thing.


message 24: by whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass (last edited Dec 14, 2007 05:47PM) (new)

whichwaydidshego | 1996 comments Mod
tuque /tuk, tyuk/ –noun
a heavy stocking cap worn in Canada.

Bob & Doug would not appreciate it being narrowed to only FRENCH Canadians. LOL

I just listened to the song "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas." Man that little girl could sing! And it was so funny!

I've become a huge Eartha Kitt fan, and it pretty much started with "Santa Baby!" She is sooo great! Her sexuality is always so tongue-in-cheek, but her voice and intonations are raw sex with a hint of little girl.

I have the Love Actually version of "All I Want for Christmas Is You" on my myspace page. such a good movie that I like the reminder!

I wanted to add a beautiful song called "Breath of Heaven" by Amy Grant. It always moves me.

Beth, we talk about the movie Alvin & the Chipmunks on the holiday movie thread!

I think I'm going to have to find that barking dog "Jingle Bells." Having taught music to children for a couple of years, when it was time for them to choose a song to sing together, I kid you not... EVERY SINGLE LESSON they wanted "Jingle Bells." We're talking YEAR-'ROUND. OMG. I wanted to puke that song for a while. But the barking version might just bring me back 'round! LOL


message 25: by Alison, the guru of grace (last edited Dec 15, 2007 06:56PM) (new)

Alison | 1282 comments Mod
Again, I love this group.

Best Christmas songs...
1. River Joni Mitchell/The Indigo Girls
2. Blue Christmas Elvis (we don't use the last name down here)
3. Christmas by Blues Traveler...Best Line: I wish a one horse open sleigh, would come and carry me away
4. Guilty Pleasure: Grown up Christmas List (Amy Grant/Kelly Clarkson)
5. I love it when they play the song from The Grinch on the radio (You're a monster, Mr. Grinch.
Your heart's an empty hole.
Your brain is full of spiders,
You've got garlic in your soul.
Mr. Grinch.)
6. Yes, yes, yes...Baby it's Cold Outside (by anyone)
7. Also, a very sad song that mentions Christmas and makes me feel very cold is "Brick" by Ben Folds Five
8. Favorite hymn: Hark the Herald Angels Sing
9. All of Handel's Messiah
But most, most, mostest favorite...10. "Snow" from White Christmas...

"I'll soon be there with snow
I'll wash my hair with snow
And with a spade of snow
I'll build a man that's made of snow."

Watch the movie. Love the song. Now! Go people!


message 26: by Meghan (new)

Meghan So I just got an Andy Williams Christmas cd from Best Buy for $6.99. Growing up, he was the voice of Christmas for me. It's like a bit of nostalgia for the price of 2 gallons of gas. heh


message 27: by whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass (new)

whichwaydidshego | 1996 comments Mod
I have that Grinch song on my holiday playlist. The garlic in his soul line makes me laugh every time!


message 28: by Robbie (new)

Robbie Bashore | 592 comments Ha, Michele! I remember loving Jingle Bells as a kid, and getting very upset when I started singing it and my dad jumped in and sang Jingle Bell Rock.

And you would have loved being in the huge line--if you can still call it a line when it's 20-30 people wide--leaving Disney's Magic Kingdom (the one in Florida) at closing time when my son was two. He loved that song so much he was still singing it in March. He sang it over and over and over. His own special version, "Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, one-horse open sleigh. OHHHHHHHHH! Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, one-horse open sleigh. OHHHHHHHHH! Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells...[repeat for 30-40 minutes]."


message 29: by Robbie (new)

Robbie Bashore | 592 comments Oh, I love the Santa Baby song, too. Gotta stop listing them, though. I've been listening to Christmas music all the time since Thanksgiving, and they're all so good.

I think dictionary.com just indicated that the *word* tuque is French Canadian, so Bob and Doug can still love me :P


message 30: by whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass (new)

whichwaydidshego | 1996 comments Mod
LOL, Robbie... that's where I copied the definition from. You are the weakest link! Hahahaha!

At least I know that a tuque doesn't have to have flaps (though they are an option)! Hee!


message 31: by Arctic (new)

Arctic | 571 comments just thinking of more holiday music - any one who likes "indie" bands might like the Maybe This Christmas albums. really liking Death Cab's version of Baby Please Come Home lately.


message 32: by Arctic (new)

Arctic | 571 comments today i'm listening to Songs for Christmas by Sufjan Stevens. good stuff. low key with lots of traditional songs and some new songs in the same vein.

i think someone already mentioned Amy Grant's Home for Christmas, another really good seasonal album.

for more traditional music, ala Nat King Cole and Bing Crosby, I also really enjoy the Time-Life Christmas Music collections.


message 33: by Shannon, the founder of fun (back from sabbatical) (new)

Shannon | 254 comments Mod
Beth - yay a Weeds fan. Kevin Nealon is excellent on that show and yes I had never been blown away when he was on SNL. It's the perfect character for him. There are some many things I love about that show. Here's one more - all of the great versions of Little Boxes.

Artic - how's the Sufjan Christmas cd? I've heard a couple songs of it but haven't picked it up yet. Illinoise was one of my favorite albums in '05.


message 34: by Arctic (new)

Arctic | 571 comments Shannon, I really love the Sufjan Stevens album and highly recommend it, especially since you liked Illinoise. The only issue I have with it is that it's long, and after awhile I need a break from it.


message 35: by Alison, the guru of grace (new)

Alison | 1282 comments Mod
My cousin e-mailed me that he's sending me a mix cd with several of the Sufjan Stevens Christmas songs on it. How timely! I've heard a few from Illinoise, and they're really in a league of their own.


message 36: by Cody (last edited Dec 18, 2007 03:49AM) (new)

Cody Wilshire (codywilshire) | 85 comments I'm really...classic about Christmas songs. I like the Rat Pack Christmas album, and the Victorias Secret Christmas Eve/Christmast Morning mix is surprisingly wonderful. I love Nat King Cole, Donny Hathaway (who is my all time favorite singer btw).

My mom plays Celine Dions' Christmas album and the new Josh Groban one, so when I'm around her/my family we hear that.

Otherwise, home in Italy, we listen to lots of Trans Siberian Orchestra type of stuff.


message 37: by whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass (new)

whichwaydidshego | 1996 comments Mod
Dee - where in Italy? I lived there as well, and will again.


message 38: by Cody (new)

Cody Wilshire (codywilshire) | 85 comments I was born in Milan, and raised throughout Milano, Torino, Capri, Venice, Genoa...pretty much everywhere (also outside of Italy but I was being Italy specific). My family is all over that place man.

Where did you live? And where are you planning to live again?


message 39: by Shannon, the founder of fun (back from sabbatical) (new)

Shannon | 254 comments Mod
Ok I am going to have to find out the artist - but I just heard a great remake of Holiday Road. They slowed it down and it sounded great and brings back all those great Griswald memories.

A little more searching I found it and you can listen here - by Matt Pond PA

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st...



message 40: by Cody (new)

Cody Wilshire (codywilshire) | 85 comments Matt Pond PA is amazing, seriously, if anybody wants some of their stuff or the album just let me know. :)


message 41: by whichwaydidshego, the sage of sass (new)

whichwaydidshego | 1996 comments Mod
Dee, I lived in Florence. When I moved there I didn't have a clue what city I would end up in, but the one thing I did know was that it WOULDN'T be Florence because of all the students and tourists. I wanted a more... "authentic" experience. Whatever. Man when God makes something clear to you, you do it. And experiencing Florence was equally as authentic as most any good-sized city there. Most of my friends were Italians, though I did live in a multi-cultural flat!

I will say because I was hired to speak English always, I didn't get the grammar of the language down at all. Which is pathetic after living there as long as I did.

I don't know where I will return to when I do finally return. I love Firenze dearly, but want to experience beyond it as well. However, Italy is very much all about connections, and I still have them there... so who knows?

Sounds like you mostly stayed in the North, with the exception of Capri.

Okay, I'm so tired, I'm dozing as I type. Not healthy. I'll try to pick this up later... but we open gifts on Saturday and my bro and his fiance are coming in tomorrow, so we'll see! Night!


message 42: by Cody (new)

Cody Wilshire (codywilshire) | 85 comments Nope not mostly in the North, those were just the ones off the top of my head lol. I have a lot of family in Sicilia, lots of time in Calabria, and Basilicata. Pretty much all over, now when I go back I either go to Milan or Capri mostly, Napoli, more so because my family is so spread out those two points are easy/fun for everybody to meet up in lol.

HAVE FUN SATURDAY! I love giving presents to people (more so then opening them myself). I hope you have fun!

Most people who pick it up as a second language, which it sounds like you did, either get the grammar part of it first, or they barely get it at all.

And yes, connections are everything in Italy (they are in most places actually) but in Italy it's very easy to create new ones if you lost your old ones. That's one of the wonderful things about the country.


message 43: by Sarah (new)

Sarah (songgirl7) I went to Italy on my honeymoon and was able to pick up a little Italian in just 11 days. Not conversational, mind you, but enough to get around.

Capri is just beautiful, Dee! Experiencing the Blue Grotto was one of the most moving experiences of my life.


message 44: by Cody (new)

Cody Wilshire (codywilshire) | 85 comments When I was little I thought it was haunted! All my Aunts and Uncles just laughed at me!

It's scary for a little kid! I was waiting for like demons or a loch ness monster type of thing to come out from under the rocks and swallow me whole!

I had a very active imagination as a child... lol!

But it's gorgeous, breathtakingly gorgeous. My fiance and I go there every time we visit Capri, he had never seen it until I took him, and I still just get awestruck by it.


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