I love Christmas music but…

there is one little song out there that I just cannot bring myself to listen to.  No, it’s not “Dominic The Donkey” (although that one does leave me with a headache).  It’s the song “The Christmas Shoes”. 

As soon as that piano starts up, I turn the volume down or turn the channel.  No offense to the group New Song or the tune itself.  The song is beautiful, well written and the meaning behind it is timeless and one we should all heed.  However, as someone who lost their mother to cancer ten years ago, I cannot bear to listen to a song that features a little boy pleading for a pair of shoes for his mother as her last Christmas gift. 

I’ve tried to listen to the song.  And I have heard it in full.  Until I decided I just couldn’t hear it any longer.  I even saw the movie.  I watched it while working out on the treadmill.  Do you know how hard it is to jog at 4.0 with tears streaming down your face?

This is Christmas.  I want to be happy.  I don’t want to be crying a river as I’m speeding down the highway (which happened the first time I heard this song).  Just writing this is bringing tears to my eyes.

No offense to anyone who likes the song.  I like it too.  I just can’t bear to listen to it.

So when Christmas is over and all the Christmas songs have stopped being played on the radio, “Christmas Shoes” is not one that I will miss hearing.

Holiday music

In keeping with the pre-holiday mood, let’s talk holiday music.  Today
I saw that a new Elvis Christmas duets CD has been released by Sony.
This CD contains Christmas songs that Presley recorded during his
career.  The twist is that they have been turned into duets with many of
today’s contemporary country artists such as Martina McBride and
Carrie Underwood.

Speaking of duets, let’s talk ODD Christmas duets.  The leader:
Bowie and Bing singing “Little Drummer Boy”.  Who the hell was the
brain trust behind this combo?  Another strange duo:  Rod Stewart and
Dolly Parton crooning “Baby It’s Cold Outside”.

With all the different versions of Christmas songs available, there are
only a select few that really stand out as true classics.  In my
opinion, the following songs performed by the particular artist listed
is the best version:

“White Christmas” – who else but Bing Crosby?

“Blue Christmas” – Elvis (Porky Pig comes in second)

“Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” – Bruce Springsteen (I’m a
big Boss fan)

“Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire (The Christmas Song)” – Nat
King Cole (Mel Torme comes in second…only because he wrote it)

“Jingle Bell Rock” – Hall & Oates (with deep respect for Bobby
Helms)

“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” – Brenda Lee

“O Holy Night” – Josh Groban (that kid could sing “I’m a
Little Teacup” and make it sound beautiful)

“Sleigh Ride” – instrumental version by the Boston Pops

“Jingle Bells” – by just about anyone

“Twelve Days of Christmas” – by nobody (cannot stand the
song—although the “Twelve Pains of Christmas” is always fun to
listen to)

One song I’ll never grow tired of listening to is Band Aid’s “Do
They Know It’s Christmas”.  Where else can you hear Boy George
singing with Bono?

Some songs I’ve already grown tired of hearing:  Wham’s “Last
Christmas”, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You”,
“Get Into Christmas” Elton John, “Wonderful Christmas Time”
by Paul McCartney and Wings