It’s Christmas Eve! Truth be told, I like Christmas Eve even better than Christmas Day. Today’s entry on the calendar was first performed on Christmas Eve in 1818 in a parish church in a village in Germany. I love the simplicity and beauty of this carol, and so I wanted to share a version that reflected that beauty and simplicity. This is “Silent Night,” released on the 1999 album Christmas by Low.
Tag Archives: Advent Calendar
Musical Advent Calendar: December 23
Christmas Eve Eve today! Today’s entry on the Calendar is “Driving Home for Christmas” by Chris Rea from 1987. I wish you all safe travels as you get to wherever you are going over the next few days 🙂
Musical Advent Calendar: December 22
Today’s entry on the advent calendar is probably my favorite from the 1970s. This is Greg Lake, of Emerson Lake & Palmer fame, performing his song from 1975, “I Believe in Father Christmas:”
Musical Advent Calendar: December 21
Today’s entry on the Musical Advent Calendar is a lovely 1983 holiday song from The Pretenders, “2000 Miles.” I found a live 1995 version for your viewing pleasure:
Musical Advent Calendar: December 20
Today’s entry on the Musical Advent Calendar was on the first “A Very Special Christmas” album from 1986 and it’s one of my most favorite songs of the season. This is Sting, with “Gabriel’s Message”
Musical Advent Calendar: December 19
Today’s track is from Tori Amos and it’s from her 2009 Christmas album, Midwinter Graces. I chose “Holly Ivy and Rose/Snow Angel,” a live performance from her tour with Dutch Metropole Orchestra.
While I’m not as obsessed as some, believe me, I have seen Tori live about a dozen times; she can pretty much be counted on to deliver a solid show. She’s been known to engage with the audience throughout her career; and one of the nice surprises of a live Tori Amos show is hearing her do an improv on the spot about whatever’s on her mind that day.
At the beginning of this video from the Amsterdam show, she sings a brief improv in support of her tour mates, the Metropole Orchestra, who were at risk of losing their funding from the Dutch government. They were subsequently provided funding until 2017, so, happily, the music played on.
Anyway, let’s get on with it – here’s “Holly Ivy and Rose/Snow Angel.”
Musical Advent Calendar: December 18
This is another oldie but goodie – Andy Williams with his 1960s hipster groove, singing “Happy Holidays/The Holiday Season.” – Here’s a version (with his brothers) that was on his Christmas special in 1964. Andy Williams recorded 44 albums and sold over 100 million records during his career.
Musical Advent Calendar: December 17
Today’s entry on the Musical Advent Calendar comes from Mike Oldfield of Tubular Bells fame. This is the very happymaking “In Dulci Jubilo” from 1975.
Musical Advent Calendar: December 16
Today’s entry originates in the Pacific Northwest; it’s a 1965 track from a garage band called The (Fabulous) Wailers. This track, “She’s Coming Home,” was on a Christmas compilation LP that also included contributions from The Sonics and The Galaxies.
Here’s a little jangle for your day:
Musical Advent Calendar: December 15
Today’s entry on the calendar is “Christmas Song” by Dave Matthews Band. I haven’t followed Dave Matthews Band in years, but I really liked their first few albums & always appreciated this track.
The studio version as found on Remember Two Things (1993) has a nice little bonus song tacked onto the end after about 8 minutes of silence. The version below is a live acoustic version with Tim Reynolds from 2009.
mostly music 