Hello, ABL land. Well, it’s that time of year again. I am not a fan of Christmas. I would not like it on FB or Digg it or Stumble it or be its BFF. For a more in-depth reason why, take a look at the blog entry I wrote last year about it.
However, I do like exactly one song from the holiday season. O Holy Night. I sang it in church once, and when that time of year rolls around, I listen to various different versions of it. I am OCD, so I can listen to them over and over and over again. This year, I’m not hating Christmas so much. In part, it’s because I pretty much chose to ignore it, but it’s also because I’m in a better place emotionally. So, I say with without snark, Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it. I hope everyone finds some joy this holiday. In honor, my favorite carol, the only one I like, all the versions I like. Fair warning: There are many.
Josh Groban:
Andrea Bocelli, Spanish:
Apocalyptica:
Martina McBride:
Dublin Gospel Choir:
Nat King Cole:
David Archuleta:
One Light Out:
Haken Hagegard:
Celtic Woman:
Andrea Bocelli, French:
And, because I am a Scrooge at heart, here is the worst version ever. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
Jessica Simpson:
May your holiday be peaceful, joyful, and filled with love and laughter.
Have I mentioned how much I love Apocalyptica? Everyone should love them.
Also, “O Holy Night” has always been one of my most favorite Christmas songs ever. Even if I completely lack the spirit this year.
Melody, Apocalyptica is amazing. I played the cello when I was younger, and I think everything is better with cellos. And Alan Rickman, but that’s another post.
I hear you on the no-spirit. I hope you have a decent holly, anyway.
They did a concert locally and I wanted to go SOOOO bad. Instead, I had to study for a stupid exam. Grad school interfered with so many things. You are so right that everything is better with cellos.
Hope you have a decent holiday too!
Holy crow you are thorough!
As you know, Oh Holy Night is this Jew’s favorite Christmas Carol, too. So I’m totally with you here, & plan to methodically listen to each version!
Melody, oh, I would love to see them in concert. That’s my idea of heaven. Maybe we both will get to hear them live some day!
ee, that’s not even the full list. But, yeah, OCD does come in handy sometimes!
This is a beautiful carol. Thank you for the many versions … I’m also partial to the Glee version put out this year – girl has pipes.
This song is up there with Amazing Grace on my own OCD list of infinitely-repeatable religious music. One thing I love about both is how explicitly inspirational / political they are. O Holy Night was commissioned and Anglicized between 1847 and 1855 by Unitarian abolitionists, so the verse about being brother to the slave is not empty rhetoric, but rather an explicit religious call to end the practice of human bondage.
Songs like this made emancipation possible. Fall down before the angel of God, indeed.
One non-Christian to another: I believe this is one of the best and truest parts of Christianity, and in that sense, Merry Christmas :-)
Darth Thulhu, I am honored to see you commenting on my post! The Glee version is amazing. I’m adding it to my list of faves. I might do a follow-up post because I forgot one of my new faves. And, I did not know that about the slave verse. You should bring that over to TNC. It’s appropriate for the Civil War discussions that occur over there.
Merry Christmas to you, too. May your holiday be peaceful and full of love.