Monday, December 20, 2010

The Ghosts of Christmas Eve

Yet another fantastic track from The Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Just love these guys.

But with Christmas Eve fast approaching, guess the ghosts will once again be visiting. But as we all know it's easy to believe on a night like this be you a small child... or slightly older. The magic remains with the Ghosts of Christmas Eve.

In this room where shadows live
And ghosts that failed learn time forgives
Welcome, friends, please stay awhile
Our story starts with one small child

Who spends this night in attics dark
Where dreams are stored like sleeping hearts
And so it's here that they must wait
Till someone wishes them awake

For somewhere on this night of nights
She's looking to believe
Here among the ghosts on Christmas Eve

And there near an old looking glass
There was a trunk from Christmas past
That she had somehow missed before
But now decides she will explore

'Twas filled with toys and one old wreath
And several letters underneath
So as the evening hours leave
The child sat down and started to read

For somewhere on this night of nights
She's looking to believe
Here among the ghosts on Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve


The Ghosts of Christmas Eve... I know them well.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Let It Snow

Because I have a little frog that sings this one... Written by Jule Syne and Sammy Cahn and originally performed by Vaughn Monroe "Let it Snow" is best known for being on the Die Hard soundtrack.

"Let It Snow" is one of those specials ones, because of that frog. I could write pages about it, but instead I'll just wish for a little more snow, in KZN in December... not likely. But, we can hope.

Oh the weather outside is frightful
But the fire is so delightful
And since we've no place to go
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

It doesn't show signs of stopping
And I've brought some corn for popping
The lights are turned way down low
Let is snow, let it snow, let it snow

When we finally kiss goodnight
How I hate going out in the storm
But if you really hold me tight
All the way home I'll be warm

The fire is slowly dying
And my dear we're still goodbye-ing
As long as you love me so
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

All the way home I'll be warm
All the way home I'll be warm

The fire is slowly dying
And my dear I'm still goodbye-ing
As long you love me so

Let it snow, Let it Snow, Let it snow
Let it snow, Let is snow, Let is snow
Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow


What I would give for a White Christmas. Oh well... perhaps next year?

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Christmas Time In Hell

Just 8 more sleeps... and everyone is getting into the Christmas spirit. Today's tune is from the South Park Christmas special. "Christmas Time In Hell" because even Adolf wants a Christmas tree!

Well I'll tell you what..
Maybe we'll have ourselves
a little Christmas, right here..
C'mon everybody, gather 'round!

String up the lights and light up the tree
We're gonna make some revelry..
Spirits are high, so I can tell
It's Christmas time in Hell!
Demons are nicer as you pass them by
There's lots of demon toys to buy
The snow is falling, and all is well
It's Christmas time in Hell!

There goes Jeffrey Dahmer
With a festive Christmas ham..
After he has sex with it
He'll eat up all he can..
And there goes John F Kennedy
Carolling with his son..
Reunited for the holidays
God bless us, everyone!
Everybody has a happy glow
Let's dance in blood, and pretend it's snow..
Even Mao Tse Tung is under the spell
It's Christmas time in Hell!

Satan: Adolf, here's a present for you!
Adolf: Oh? Ein Tannenbaum!
Satan: Yes, Ein Tannenbaum!

God cast me down from heaven's door
To rule in Hell forever-more
But now i'm kinda glad that I fell
'Cos it's Christmas time in Hell!
Here's a rack to hang the stockings on
We still have to shop for Genghis Khan
Michael Landon's hair looks swell
It's Christmas time in Hell!

There's Princess Diana
holding burning mistletoe
Over Poor Gene Siskel's head
Just watch his weenie grow!
For one day we all stop burning
and the flames are not so thick
All the screaming and the torture stops
As we wait for Old St Nick!

So, String up the lights and light up the tree
We're damned for all eternity..
But for just one day, all is well
It's Christmas time in Hell!
Get a toast together and make it quick
We've gotta make room for Andy Dick..
Wake his mother and ring the bell..
It's Christmas time.. [Christmas time x3]
Christmas time.. [Christmas time x3]
It's Christmas time in Hell!
..Merry Christmas, Movie house!


I've strung up the lights...

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Jingle Bell Rock

Today's tune takes me right back to high school where a mate and I used to sit and sing this particular song all science class... all year round. No real reason other than it seemed pretty silly. Best reason I guess.

This version is done by 78Violet (Formerly known as Aly & AJ Michalka or just Aly & AJ). These girls can rock... and rock it out for Christmas!

Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock
Jingle Bells swing and Jingle Bells ring
Snowing, and blowing up bushels of fun
Now the Jingle hop has begun

Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock
Jingle Bells chime in Jingle Bell time
Dancing and prancing in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air

What a bright time, it's the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle Bell time is a swell time
To go riding in a one-horse sleigh

Giddy up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a mingle to a jinglin' beat
That's the Jingle Bell rock

(Jing rock, jing rock, yeah, jing rock, jing rock, jing rock, jing rock, jing rock, jing rock)

Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell Rock
Jingle Bells chime in Jingle Bell time
Dancing and prancing in Jingle Bell Square
In the frosty air

What a bright time, it's the right time
To rock the night away
Jingle Bell time is a swell time
To go riding in a one-horse sleigh

Giddy up jingle horse, pick up your feet
Jingle around the clock
Mix and a mingle to a jinglin' beat
That's the Jingle Bell, That's the Jingle Bell, That's the Jingle Bell, That's the Jingle Bell rock

The jingle bell rock
That's the jingle bell rock (Yeah)
Jingle Bell, Jingle Bell.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays

How's that for a Christmas song?


Lets rock this party!!

Monday, December 13, 2010

Christmas in the Air

Just 11 sleeps away. So close, so very close I can just about taste it (my turkey and cranberry sauce that is).

With so many Christmas songs out there, I'm constantly drawn back to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Can't go wrong with these guys! Another one from "The Christmas Attic" today's tune is "Christmas in the Air". Because, quite simply it is. There's finally some cheer... almost excitement. People finally seem to be a little happier than they were a few weeks ago. While I have no doubt it's partly due to my outlook on things, perhaps rubbing off a little, or perhaps Christmas has found those that seem to need it most?

While Christmas can quite happily make use of these wary hands, I think somehow it's put a hand in here and there.

Christmas time in the middle of a city
Seeking its salvation
With every string of lights
That suddenly appears

Children stare with new found wonder
No one dares to break the trance
Every wish is carefully numbered
And God has granted all a second chance
This day

And all at once
The dream's begun
And as we mark the old year's passing
Strangers greet
On every street
And suddenly there's goodwill everywhere
There's Christmas in the air

On this night
To this light
We see it all again
On this night
To this light
We see it all again

On this night
To this light
We see it all again
On this night
To this light
We see it all again
All again

On this winter night
We still wait for you

And now the time has come
When all the world is one
And as we mark the old year's passing
Strangers greet
On every street
And suddenly there's goodwill everywhere
There's Christmas in the air

There comes a time when we're on our own
Some times in life such a thing must be
But such a thing should not be known
This night
This night
This night

And now the time has come
And now the time has come
And now the time has come
And now the time has come
And now the time has come

And all the world is one
And as we mark the old year's passing
Strangers greet
On every street
And suddenly there's goodwill everywhere
There's Christmas in the air


The power of Christmas: "Strangers greet on every street". Something that's simply missing the rest of the year.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

The spirit seems to be spreading. I've made it my mission this year to spread as much cheer and as much of the Christmas Spirit as humanly possible. I think it might be working.

Another link sent to me today by my brother was the inspiration for todays tune. "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" while a classic Christmas carol doesn't get much coverage (these days as a song) but has managed to spawn a good few stories, movies and various other spin-offs.

After all, it was "Hooves of Fire" where Robbie, son of Rudolph, has to save Christmas and lead the sleigh. Ever since he made use of that nose jump I've been using my "Reindeer" signature.

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
had a very shiny nose.
And if you ever saw him,
you would even say it glows.

All of the other reindeer
used to laugh and call him names.
They never let poor Rudolph
join in any reindeer games.

Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say:
"Rudolph with your nose so bright,
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

Then all the reindeer loved him
as they shouted out with glee,
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,
you'll go down in history!


Rudolph is an icon... Robbie will be a legend.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Christmas Has Its Promises To Keep

Well Here's another song that always help renew any hope that may be fading. Yet another fantastic track from The Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

"Christmas Eve & Other Stories" does a fantastic job of describing just how I see Christmas:

And so it's good that we remember
Just as soon as we've discovered
That the things we do in life
Will always end up touching others


Because we all have the opportunity to make an impact. We all have the ability to make a change, and if we just pretend long enough, who knows? But oh so very true, that todays song's title is a statement and a plea, because "Christmas Has Its Promises To Keep".

Christmas time
On a cold December morning
All is calm
And the world is still asleep
Christmas lights
That have been caught without warning
Gently glitter on
Stars to wish upon
All the world is at peace

Christmas time and the year will soon be leaving
Cloaked in time till it's just a memory
Christmas stays if we don't forget its meaning
Days go quickly by
Years they multiply
And we go searching for thee

And the dream is still alive
From that first December morning
And it always will survive
As long as we can see
That the dreams we find in life
Are the dreams we tend to seek
And Christmas has its promises to keep

Christmas time
And the moments just beginning
From last night
When we'd wished upon a star

If our kindness
This day is just pretending
If we pretend long enough
Never giving up
It just might be who we are


So far Christmas has kept all it's promises, even in the darkest of days.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

An Angel's Share

Feeling as sick as a dog, but came across a gem from my brother. "Santa is Metal". Couldn't help but chuckle at that one and see my spirits lifted.

Oh, the joy of Christmas!

Todays tune is yet again from The Trans-Siberian Orchestra the greatest Christmas song writers. This from "The Christmas Attic" where it takes the last believing child to change Christmas for others. But it begs the question, where does a child stop believing? When it becomes an adult... or do you become an adult because you stop believing?

Deep inside this Christmas Eve
Watching as the hours leave
Gently drifting in the air
Shadows of an angel's share

Christmas lights
On Christmas nights
With peace for every nation
Stable scenes
And evergreens
With snow still glistening

Angels grace
This humble place
With hopes of our salvation
Christmas cards
And snow filled yards
And children wondering

Rejoice
All awaken
Rejoice
Quickly hasten
Rejoice
For the newborn king

Rejoice
For the vision
Rejoice
He has given
Hear the choirs as they sing

Scrooge returns
To once more learn
That Christmas ghosts conspire

To redeem
His soul it seems
But still he hesitates

To believe
He's not deceived
Until this night inspires
Him to find
That at this time
It never is too late

Rejoice
All awaken
Rejoice
Quickly hasten
Rejoice
For the newborn king

Rejoice
For the vision
Rejoice
He has given
Hear the choirs as they sing
And sing
And sing
And sing and sing and sing

Winter dreams
Her endless scenes
In endless combinations
To embrace
This world of faith
This world that we now see

Every year
It returns here
With all its variations
And as the day

It fades away
And we once more find that...

Once again the promise kept
One by one the angels slept
So we leave this night in peace
And the world in gentle sleep


Sometimes Christmas uses its own hands, sometime is uses ours.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Old City Bar

Put all the cheesy (just as cheesy as they need to be and not a gram of cheese more) Christmas songs onto disk last night to start bombarding the poor buggers at work. There's all the classic stuff, from Dean Martin (Any body reading this, I would really like this ;) to Martina McBride (yes Jodene, I even have some that), Britney Spears and what would Christmas be without Boney M?

But todays track is my fave Christmas song of all time (I think), "Old City Bar" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I guess you can find help or salvation in the strangest of places. Often the one you help most is yourself.

In an old city bar
That is never too far
From the places that gather
The dreams that have been

In the safety of night
With its old neon light
It beckons to strangers
And they always come in

And the snow it was falling
The neon was calling
The music was low
And the night
Christmas Eve

And here was the danger
That even with strangers
Inside of this night
It's easier to believe

Then the door opened wide
And a child came inside
That no one in the bar
Had seen there before

And he asked did we know
That outside in the snow
That someone was lost
Standing outside our door

Then the bartender gazed
Through the smoke and the haze
Through the window and ice
To a corner streetlight

Where standing alone
By a broken pay phone
Was a girl the child said
Could no longer get home

And the snow it was falling
The neon was calling
The bartender turned
And said, not that I care
But how would you know this?
The child said I've noticed
If one could be home
They'd be all ready there

Then the bartender came out from behind the bar
And in all of his life he was never that far
And he did something else that he thought no one saw
When he took all the cash from the register draw

Then he followed the child to the girl cross the street
And we watched from the bar as they started to speak
Then he called for a cab and he said J.F.K.
Put the girl in the cab and the cab drove away
And we saw in his hand
That the cash was all gone
From the light that she had wished upon

If you want to arrange it
This world you can change it
If we could somehow make this
Christmas thing last

By helping a neighbor
Or even a stranger
And to know who needs help
You need only just ask

Then he looked for the child
But the child wasn't there
Just the wind and the snow
Waltzing dreams through the air

So he walked back inside
Somehow different I think
For the rest of the night
No one paid for a drink

And the cynics will say
That some neighborhood kid
Wandered in on some bums
In the world where they hid

But they weren't there
So they couldn't see
By an old neon star
On that night, Christmas Eve

When the snow it was falling
The neon was calling
And in case you should wonder
In case you should care

Why we're on our own
Never went home
On that night of all nights
We were already there


The tick is just to somehow make this Christmas thing last.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

My Only Wish (This Year)

Well it's that little bit closer (just 19 sleeps) and I've just put up my Christmas tree. I've generally waited a later than most to put up the tree. Something about 12 days before and 12 after. Not to mention I've always believed that putting up the tree in November to just be unlucky.

I've decided that I'll pretty much set the 5th aside each year to put up the tree. Somehow that just makes me happy.

So back to Britney because she too makes me happy. "My Only Wish (This Year)" covers a letter to Santa, I think it's one that many of us can relate to.

Oh yeah yeah...
Last night I took a walk in the snow,
Couples holdin hands, places to go,
Seems like everyone but me is in love
Santa can you hear me?
I signed my letter that I sealed with a kiss,
I sent it off, it just said this:
"I know exactly what I want this year"
Santa can you hear me?
I want my baby, baby
I want someone to love me, someone to hold,
Maybe Maybe (Maybe, Maybe)
He'll be all my own in a big red bow

Santa can you hear me?
I have been so good this year
And all I want is one thing,
Tell me my true love is here
He's all I want, just for me
Underneath my Christmas tree
I'll be waiting here
Santa that's my only wish this year

Oh yeahh.. Yeahh Yeahh...
Christmas Eve, I just can't sleep
Would I be wrong for takin a peek
Cuz I heard that you're comin' to town
Santa can you hear me?
I really hope that you're on your way
With something special for me in your sleigh
Oh please make my wish come true,
Santa can you hear me?
I want my baby, baby
I want someone to love me, someone to hold
Maybe, Maybe (Maybe, Maybe)
We'll be all alone under the mistletoe

Santa can you hear me?
I have been so good this year,
All I want is one thing
Tell me my true love is here
He's all I want, just for me
Underneath my Christmas tree
I'll be waiting here
Santa that's my only wish this year

I hope my letter reaches you in time (oh yeah)
Bring me love I can call all mine (oh yeah)
Cuz I have been so good, so good this year, (oh oh)
Can't be alone under the mistletoe,
He's all I want in a big red bow.

Santa can you hear me?
I have been so good this year
And all I want is one thing
Tell me my true love is near
He's all I want, just for me
Underneath my Christmas tree
I'll be waiting here,
Santa that's my only wish this year

Ahh ahh ahh
Oh Santa, can you hear me...?
Oh Santa..
Well he's all I want
Just for me, underneath my Christmas tree
I'll be waiting here,
Santa that's my only wish this year
Santa that's my only wish this year.


Time to write my note to Santa, lets hope.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Christmas At Ground Zero

Some cheesy Weird Al again this morning. This classic kinda describes Christmas celebrations perfectly - No matter what! We'll have a good time.

"Christmas at Ground Zero" I play every year (often all year round) and as for the mutants on new years day? Well, think we've all seen a few of those!

It's Christmas at ground zero
There's music in the air
The sleigh bells are ringing and the carolers are singing
While the air raid sirens blare

It's Christmas at ground zero
The button has been pressed
The radio just let us know
That this is not a test

Everywhere the atom bombs are dropping
It's the end of all humanity
No more time for last-minute shopping
It's time to face your final destiny

It's Christmas at ground zero
There's panic in the crowd
We can dodge debris while we trim the tree
Underneath the mushroom cloud

Ronald Reagan:
Well, the big day is only a few hours away now.
I'm sure you're all looking forward to it
as much as we are.

You might hear some reindeer on your rooftop
Or Jack Frost on your windowsill
But if someone's climbing down your chimney
You better load your gun and shoot to kill

It's Christmas at ground zero
And if the radiation level's okay
I'll go out with you and see all the new
Mutations on New Year's Day

It's Christmas at ground zero
Just seconds left to go
I'll duck and cover with my Yuletide lover
Underneath the mistletoe

It's Christmas at ground zero
Now the missiles are on their way
What a crazy fluke, we're gonna get nuked
On this jolly holiday

What a crazy fluke, we're gonna get nuked
On this jolly holiday!


Well, we'll have a jolly holiday regardless.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

I Am Santa Claus

Well with Christmas fast approaching (just 24 sleeps!) it's time to break out the Christmas tunes. I figured I would start with a few twisted tunes.

Today's tune is a really old classic (I first heard this in the '90's) "I Am Santa Claus" a parody of the Black Sabbath track, Iron Man. What can I say, I love Bob Rivers and the folk at Twisted Tunes. Oh how the internet has allowed fantastic offerings like this make their way around the world, kinda like Santa if you think about it.

I am Santa Claus

Ho ho ho ho ho

Flying Through the snow
Can you hear him ho ho ho
He's so full of cheer
only has to work one day a year

Children in their beds
Visions of sugar plums fill their heads
So many kids out there
Santa must be a billionare

Red suit, boots of black
Big sack of toys hanging off his back
How much does he weigh
How do the reindeer pull his sleigh

Nobody sees him
as he travels the world

Leaving his presents
for the good boys and girls

Ho ho ho ho ho

Sees every move you make
Better be good for goodness sake
Leave him cookies and beer
He'll be back to your house first next year

I am Santa Claus

Ho ho ho ho ho


I've always left a beer out for Santa.