Usually, when I'm adding a song on iTunes, I have something specific in mind. It could be the latest Eminem song, or a holiday song, or Leighton Meester's debut singleohcrapdidtheyhearmesaythatofcoursetheydidandyitsablognotapodcastdummy.
This time, I got a little random. Consider:
50 Cent: I Get Money; In Da Club
Explanation: I just saw "Get Rich or Die Tryin," which should be retitled "Get Bored or Die Trying to Copy 8 Mile." Terrible movie. 50 Cent enunciates with all the veracity of a 15-year-old lisper with braces. But his music is as catchy as herpes at a kissing booth.
Metric: Gold Girls Guns
Explanation: Such a memorable chorus line: "All the gold, and the girls, and the guns, in the world, couldn't get you off." It should be Viagra's next theme song.
Phoenix: Lisztomania
Explanation: Little known fact- Phoenix has a song that's better than the one currently being whored out on commercials.
Leighton Meester: Somebody to LoveExplanation: Capricorn loves this song, and we usually use my iPod. I reminded her that I do as much singing in this song as Leighton does, but Capricorn loves it anyway. It's kinda catchy. And Robin Thicke is in it, so that's a bonus.
And then I downloaded the last round of holiday tunes for the year. Every holiday season, I add a few more songs to my stable of Christmas music, always looking for new stuff.*
* New stuff can never, ever include any crappy remake of what was once a very good song. I'm looking at you, Ashley Tisdale's "Last Christmas."
Here's what made the cut this year; some of these songs I have loved for a long time but only got around to adding them now.
Bob Rivers: 12 Pains of Christmas
Explanation: I'm not big on spoof Christmas songs, but the second day of Christmas guy rigging the lights gets me every time. "Why the hell are they all blinking!?!"
Choir of King's College: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen; Coventry Carol; Away in a Manger
Harry Simeone Chorale: Little Drummer Boy
Explanation: I am a sucker for choir music, being that I miss being in a choir. In particular, I love the Vienna Boys Choir, but feel I need to mix in adult choirs to lessen the suspicion of Megan's Law watchdogs.
Ray Charles: That Spirit of Christmas
Explanation: I've heard thing song a million times in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" (one of the best Christmas movies of all time, let's just get that out of the way). Only now did I put 2 and 2 together and figure out this Ray Charles song is the one in the movie. Duh.
James Taylor: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Explanation: Although I love this version, I debated getting this, as I worried that would be an admittance that I am now closer to my 30s than my 20s, as what other reason would I have for listening to James Taylor. But screw it.
Side note: I have five versions of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." They are the defining versions and must all be adored, as it is the law in several states and the Republic of Congo.
The artists are: Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, James Taylor and Mel Torme. Case closed.
As a bonus Christmas gift, here's a list of 2o-plus songs that constitute what I call my "Holiday Soft" mix. No loud or electronically-driven music allowed (again, Ashley Tisdale, shut your mouth before I shove mistletoe down it with my Piper's Piping.) Although there's a duplication of some songs, each is done in a unique way so that it's a different experience; that's exactly the opposite effect of watching a Home Alone sequel. Please play these by the fireside while opening presents or worshiping baby Jesus or berating relatives. Even when you're drinking eggnog, using your tears to wash it down, this can be a nice mix.For those interested, many of these songs can be found in my "Holiday Slow" iMix for download (it didn't let me include all of them).
- Bing Crosby: White Christmas
- Bing Crosby: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
- Boyz II Men: Silent Night
- Charlie Brown Christmas Soundtrack: Christmas Time Is Here
- Choir of King's College: Coventry Carol
- Dan Fogelberg: Same Auld Lang Syne
- David Bowie/Bing Crosby: Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy
- Frank Sinatra: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
- Frank Sinatra: I'll Be Home for Christmas
- Harry Simeone Chorale: Little Drummer Boy
- Home Alone Soundtrack: O Holy Night
- Home Alone Soundtrack: Star of Bethlehem
- James Taylor: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
- Nat King Cole: The Christmas Song
- NSync: O Holy Night
- Judy Garland: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
- Ray Charles: That Spirit of Christmas
- Sara Bareilles: Winter Song
- Mel Torme: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
- Sarah McLachlan: Silent Night
- Trans Siberian Orchestra: Pachebel Christmas Canon
- Vienna Boys Choir: We Three Kings
- Vienna Boys Choir: What Child Is This
Posts
7 comments:
I'm totally burnt out on the litany of horrible holiday remakes I'm forced to listen to for 8 consecutive hours, five days a week so, you know, thanks for this list. Because If I hear one more rendition of Santa Baby...
Oh, LOVE. You should make an iTunes playlist of these people (me) can buy!
Karlie- The Madonna version is ridiculous.
LiLu- Already working on it; I just have to wait for iTunes to approve it. I'll list it on the post once it is ready.
"drinking eggnog, using your tears to wash it down"
Have you been taping my Christmases or something?
Just kidding, I don't even really know what eggnog is. I feel like it's brandy with eggs whisked into it but I'm not sure.
Clearly you love and adore Christmas music - me, not so much. I think it goes to back to many years of working retail, where every crappy Christmas song ever recorded is played over and over and over and over and.....
Wow, Leightn Meester and Bing Crosby in the same post, huh? You certainly have some varied taste. I like your xmas picks, though, I've always loved "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas".
Leighton Meester sings? I don't think Blair would approve.
Post a Comment