Holiday Music

Just two thoughts rise to the surface amidst the endless stream of holiday music. 

First, kudos to Barenaked Ladies for writing a Hanukkah song that's not that incredibly annoying Adam Sandler thing. Better still, Hanukkah Blessings is actually about the holiday . (Lyrics at http://www.mattsmusicpage.com/barenakedladies/lhanukkahblessings.htm). I'm not Jewish myself, but I did some research on the holiday for a Pyramid article a while back and was taken by its origins and depth. It's nice to see it get a respectful treatment. (And BNL also has a toe tapping version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen /We Thrree Kings with Sarah MacLaughlin on the same album.)

Next, there's a song that I think has the title Years by a woman who I think has the last name "Chadwick" (I know, helpful. Anyone who can better ID this throw me a bone here) - she sings about the drive back through her hometown for Christmas, her voice dripping with nostalgia, and sings of the porch where her grandmother used to rock in the rocking chair and so on. Every time I hear this I think the song would be improved if she got her parents old house and it had been sold to the immigrant family that opened the new Chinese resteraunt in town. 

"You no live here no more! Go Home! you come back here every year!"

"But I'm so nostalgic... can't I just celebrate Christmas with you? Curl up in front of the fireplace my grandfather built?"

"We Buddhists! Go Home!"

Maybe that's just me...

In any event, Merry Christmas to all of you who celebrate it. Sorry for the relative silence of late, but the playtest is demanding.