The Pogues & Kristy MacColl - Fairytale Of New York

EXCERPTS from NME Blog by Guest Blogger, Spider Stacy.

Stacy is a founding member of The Pogues, and played the tin whistle on the band's classic Christmas song, 'Fairytale Of New York'.

"About 12 years ago, me and my wife were in Saks Fifth Avenue in Manhattan and ['Fairytale Of New York'] came on the PA in the shop. It was about December 16 and it was just perfect – it just made me realise why it is actually such a good song. It’s got a real power to it and a kind of grandeur, definitely."

click HERE to read rest of the original post

The MixTapes 005 [Xmas 2009]

Barenaked Ladies - Footprints

"Footprints", an original composition by Canada's Barenaked Ladies remains as one of my favorite festive songs. the track is from the band's 9th full-length album "Barenaked For The Holidays" in 2004

audio sampler :
Footprints [BUY CD HERE]

lyrics :
I followed footprints in the snow,
Never knowing if I was right behind you,
Looking down no one would know,
I wasn't walking hand in hand beside you.

For your footprints lead the way,
To a hearth where hearts we made surround you,
You're awash in all its glow,
And I'm still standing in the snow.

I stood and watched the lights go out,
While the snowflakes settled all around me,
And though it filled my heart with doubt,
Couldn't move and this is where you found me.

As our footprints disappear,
Snow erasing how I came to be here,
I've got nowhere else to go,
Now you're standing in the snow.

Look for understanding in the snow,
You look just outstanding in the snow,
Standing in the snow.

[Interlude]

Now it's almost Christmas Eve,
And I'm surrounded with the sound of laughter,
To give is better than to deceive,
For I received a happy ever after.

You might have left me in the cold,
A fitting ending for the fool that I was,
But you'd be cuddled up alone,
And I'd still be standing in the snow.

Collective Soul - Blue Christmas

alrighty, next up on the Xmas featured song is Blue Christmas
possibly the most well known version belongs to Elvis Presley, it has has since been recorded by a host of rock and country artists alike, as well as those of other genres.

Collective Soul's version first appeared (i think) on a 1995 Various Artist release titled "You Sleigh Me: Alternative Christmas Hits" ... and has since re-appeared on another Xmas compilation CD "Now Christmas 4" (as i've seen somewhere on the web)

audio sampler :
Collective Soul - Blue Christmas [BUY CD HERE]

Alan O’Day — Have a Very Mellowmas (Theme From Mellowmas)

PopDose ... my favorite music blog site first introduced this song "Have A Vey Mellowmas" last year ... and now they are back at it again !

in their own words : "If you’d like to brush up on your Mellowmas history, part of 2006’s holiday (6 of the 12 tracks) and 2007’s holiday (all 25!) are available at Jason’s site — and all of 2008 is available here."

DOWNLOAD : Alan O'Day - Have A Very Mellowmas (link is from the PopDose original related post)

the song was written by Alan O'Day ... yes, the same man with the #1 hit "Undercover Angel" from (way) back in '77.

hmmm, on hindsight (of this post) ... perhaps someone (even the PopDose guys) might wanna include this tune into Alan's wikipedia page LOL

related post : http://popdose.com/the-first-day-of-mellowmas-the-gates-of-mell/

Daryl Hall & John Oates - Christmas Must Be Tonight

my 2nd installment of this year's Xmas is a cover version of The Band's Christmas classic, "Christmas Must Be Tonight".
It was released as part of an 11-track Christmas release by the dynamic duo back in 2006.
"Home For Christmas" consisted of 9 cover versions, and 2 original Hall & Oates compositions.


























audio samplers :
Hall & Oates - Christmas Must Be Tonight

Buy "Home For Christmas" CD : HERE

*recorded volume of this youtube video is kinda low*

Elton John - Levon

i'll be posting some personal festive season favorites from now till Christmas ...

we kick off with Elton John's 1971 minor hit Levon which only peaked at #24 on The Hot 100.
I am aware that it was never intended as a Xmas song (or holiday song for that matter) ... but Jesus (in no way was it used in reference to Christ himself in this song) is a main character in the song ...
now (readers) please this do not take offence in the usage of His name, nor use this post for religious propaganda or whatever ...

The track, from Elton's 4th album "Madman Across The Water" was apparently written by Bernie Taupin inspired by the co-founder of The Band, Levon Helm.
Since this runs 5:37, Elton's record company wanted to cut this down for the single so that more US radio stations would play it. Elton refused, insisting it be released full-length.

Elton says of "Levon": "It"s about a guy who just gets bored doing the same thing. It's just somebody who gets bored with blowing up balloons and he just wants to get away from it but he can't because it's the family ritual."

read more trivia HERE

audio sampler :
Elton John - Levon

Dan Fogelberg - Same Old Lang Syne

title : Same Old Lang Syne
artist : Dan Fogelberg
year : 1981
chart : #9 Billboard Hot 100
album : The Innocent Age
personal note/s : truly one of my all time favorite songs !!!
related wikipedia article : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same_Old_Lang_Syne



"Met my old lover in the grocery store
The snow was falling Christmas Eve
I stole behind her in the frozen foods
And I touched her on the sleeve

She didn't recognize the face at first
But then her eyes flew open wide
She went to hug me and she spilled her purse
And we laughed until we cried.

We took her groceries to the checkout stand
The food was totalled up and bagged
We stood there lost in our embarrassment
As the conversation dragged.

We went to have ourselves a drink or two
But couldn't find an open bar
We bought a six-pack at the liquor store
And we drank it in her car.

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness
But neither one knew how.

She said she'd married her an architect
Who kept her warm and safe and dry
She would have liked to say she loved the man
But she didn't like to lie.

I said the years had been a friend to her
And that her eyes were still as blue
But in those eyes I wasn't sure if I saw
Doubt or gratitude.

She said she saw me in the record stores
And that I must be doing well
I said the audience was heavenly
But the traveling was hell.

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to now
And tried to reach beyond the emptiness
But neither one knew how.

We drank a toast to innocence
We drank a toast to time
Reliving in our eloquence
Another 'auld lang syne'...

The beer was empty and our tongues were tired
And running out of things to say
She gave a kiss to me as I got out
And I watched her drive away.

Just for a moment I was back at school
And felt that old familiar pain
And as I turned to make my way back home
The snow turned into rain"

Christmas Music ...

well since Xmas is just around the corner, here's some personal favourites (in no particular order of preference) :

Newsong - Christmas Shoes
Seal - Make Some Happy
Barenaked Ladies - Footprints
Smashing Pumpkins - Christmastime
The Band - Christmas Must Be Tonight
John Lennon / Yoko Ono - Happy Xmas (War Is Over)
The Pretenders - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Rufus Wainwright - Spotlight On Christmas
The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale Of New York
Jona Lewis - Stop The Calvary

parody :
Alan O'Day - Have A Very Mellowmas