Well, it’s inescapable, unavoidable, undeniable…the holiday season is finally here. I’ve been putting it off for as long as possible…avoiding the shopping, the decorations, the singing, but I can’t do it any longer.
I have to admit that I can’t stand all the holiday hype. It comes earlier and earlier every year, and the longer it drags on, the cheaper it gets. So I push it away, I fend it off for as long as possible, but when I’m ready to accept it, I accept it with arms wide open. And since today is that day (don’t ask why, it just is), I thought, “Why not share a musical bit of holiday cheer?”
Now this isn’t folks music, it’s certainly no indie rock, but I challenge you to find me a better Christmas video. Enjoy.
The Muppets – “Carol of the Bells”
And I just couldn’t resist…these three should do an entire album.
There isn’t a whole lot about Jimmy Fallon that I would consider worthy of praise…I mean seriously, just because you laugh at all of your own jokes, it doesn’t mean that they are funny. Be that as it may, no one can deny that the man knows his music, and his show is definitely a great outlet for a lot of fantastic bands who would otherwise not get any widespread exposure. And while it pains me to say it, I can’t deny that Fallon himself even has some moments of brilliance…like this one, which recently aired on Late Night. I’m not going to spoil it by giving you any details, except to say that you absolutely HAVE to listen carefully to the lyrics…enjoy.
When the Groove and I set out to write this blog, we agreed that it should be a platform for more than just music. Whether it be through writings, videos, paintings, or songs, expression and emotion find their outlet in many media. I’ve not posted much about literature yet, but I recently started Salman Rushdie’s Satanic Verses, and one passage in particular struck me.
The story recounts the fall and “rebirth” of two Indian actors, and blurs the lines between religion, secularism, and magic to such a degree that it was banned as “blasphemous” in India, burned in the United Kingdom, and vilified in Iran. So controversial was the book in Iran that the Ayatollah Tuhollah Khomeini issued a call for Muslims to kill Rushdie because of the book’s contents. Despite the controversy, however, Rushdie writes in a style that challenges convention and excites the mind, as in this excerpt, in which he describes the “miracle” of the actors’ survival after a plane crash:
I know the truth, obviously. I watched the whole thing. As to the omnipresence and -potence, I’m making no claims at present, but I can manage this much, I hope. Chamcha willed it and Farishta did what was willed.
Which was the miracle worker?
Of what type – angelic, satanic – was Farishta’s song?
Who am I?
Let’s put it this way: who has the best tunes?
Rolling Stones – “Sympathy for the Devil”
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Dodos – “God?”
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Sleepy Jackson – “Devil was in my Yard”
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Ray Charles and Willie Nelson – “Seven Spanish Angels”
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Tom Waits – “Mr. Siegal”
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Ok, I know this is definitely “off-topic,” but when the Groove and I started this blog, we agreed that there is more out there to share than just music (though, we both rather enjoy the music). So, with that in mind, I thought I would put this video up.
Now, ever since the Stanley Cup finals wrapped up (Go Pens!), I have been desperately longing for some sports to watch. The US soccer match against Brazil was absolutely heartbreaking, but apart from that, baseball is the only sport still going strong. Nothing against baseball…well, a little against baseball…it is just so BORING to watch. I’m sorry, I love the Reds, going to games is fantastic, but without the beer and peanuts (and even the Cracker Jacks), it’s just not the same.
That is, until Conan O’Brien gets ahold of it. I recently saw this video, and while I’m not a regular watcher of Late Night, I have to admit that this is absolutely brilliant (not least because I have actually seen one of these old-time games in person). Ah, thank goodness for the great American pastime.
Billy Bragg and Wilco – “Joe Dimaggio Done It Again”
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