10 Ways Music Can Help You During The Holidays
This might be a time of year where you’re looking for, oh, some different ways to soothe, level, motivate, energize yourself and otherwise get on top of your cascading emotions. May we suggest?
1. Try anything with a big solid bass, up loud, but make sure the
lyrics don’t interfere. The right-brain will dominate and you’ll hear
the music first, but your left-brain will still be getting the lyrics.
Therefore avoid, for instance, "Oh Elizabeth" with it's solid beat but sad
lyrics.
OUR SUGGESTION: “I Loved ‘Em Everyone,” by T. G.
Sheppard
2. Need to deal with something heavy, such as last year your father
died on Christmas Eve and here comes the first anniversary.
OUR
SUGGESTION: Only classical music will work for this and that’s why we call
it classical. For such a deep need, to maintain your grip when something’s
rocked the foundation of your world, we recommend, Beethoven’s
“Eroica”. "Eroica" means "heroic" and that you will need to be.
Beethoven lived through the worst thing that can happen to a person. It’s
there, in his music. For you.
3. To get lightly level
OUR SUGGESTION: Nothing will
probably ever compare to Pachelbel’s "Canon". After that we give 5 stars
to George Winston, particularly “December.” There are no ups and
downs and that may be just what you're aiming at.
4. To rip the heart out of Christmas, like when you want to just sit
down in front of the tree and cry at the beauty and the splendor of it all and
get it over with and then eat a pint of Haagen Daz and go to sleep.
OUR
SUGGESTION: Pavorotti's Christmas video (www.youtube.com), Panis Angelicus duet
with the little boy, especially if you had a little boy who now has whiskers on
his cheeks. Or Placido Domingo with the Vienna Boys Choir. Then you can pull
out your heart and put it on the table beside you, right there beside the dish
of peppermints, and the cinnamon-scented candle, and you'll know you had
Christmas.
5. Want something Christmassy but light
OUR SUGGESTION: Harp
music is good for this, like for baking cookies to. It doesn’t pull the
emotions. It’s close to the lyre, the instrument the Greek god Orpheus
played to soothe the savage beasts, and to win a favor from Hades, the god to
whom there is no altar (death), the god with whom there is no bargaining.
Completely upbeat, light and fun is "A Reggae Christmas," by Various Artists, and yes, my
friend, "sensei" does rhyme with "pear tree." Listen to it on the way in to
work. That's girl's laughter will carry you through your day. (The Ras Family,
"We Wish You a Merry Christmas") And June Lodge's "Joy to the World" will bring
joy to YOUR world.
6. Need to get some work done, sick of Christmas, got the kids
around, underfoot and bored?
OUR RECOMMENDATION: (1) "Great Balls of
Fire," Jerry Lee Lewis. How could you possibly be “mindful” with that
going on? It’s great fun. It will clear the air. (2) "Don't Worry Be
Happy," by Marley.
NC-17 RATED VERSION: The Pogues with Kristy MacColl,
"Fairytale of New York". "It was Christmas Eve in the drunk tank ... The boys
of the NYPD Choir were singing 'Gallway Bay' and the bells were ringing out on
Christmas Day," and C.D.'s favorite line, a wry and melancholic Irish lad
himself, God rest his soul in peace, "You scum bag, you maggot you cheap lousy
..., Happy Christmas your ass, I thank God it's our last." Ah, the Irish, they
would've conquered the world were it not for .... No cards and letters, please.
Sometimes ya gotta vent. That's what art is for, catharsis. (P. S. Use your EQ;
don't take "it" out on your partner.)
7. The out-laws are coming, I mean the IN-laws, and you, exhausted,
crabby and high on sugar as you are, must clean the house and you aren’t
exactly in the MOOD for a Christmas Carol, if you know what I mean
OUR
G SUGGESTION: If you haven’t cleaned house with your two preschoolers
marching along behind you to a John Philip Sousa march, you haven’t lived.
Give the little one a paper hat and get out his toy drum. Ok, now quit laughing
and taking pictures and get back to work, you!
OUR PG SUGGESTION: Got
older kids you need to get working with you? Call it "the main event," and put
on the Jock Jams, "Let's Get Ready to Rumble."
OUR X RATED SUGGESTION:
You and your partner put "Cotton Eyed Joe" on -- I mean the Texas version
– and invent your own lyrics appropos to the, um, challenges of the
moment. (This is popular at office holiday parties with adjusted lyrics as
well!) And DO the Cotton Eye Joe as you push that vacuum around.
Here's how.
8. Need to be inspired and also to get in touch with the spiritual
side of Christmas
OUR SUGGESTION: Handel's “Messiah, Hallelujah
Chorus,” of course. Just the chorus, unless you're an aficionado and can
afford to tire yourself out. Remember, if you will, that when you hear "The
Hallelujah Chorus," you are to stand up. Do this. Right there at home in your
living room. It will do something for you.
9. Now, or any time you’re beginning to feel just slightly
resentful of all your “blessings”
OUR SUGGESTION: “Lord,
What Did I Ever Do,” by the Oak Ridge Boys is great for attitude
adjustment.
10. For the peace that passeth understanding
OUR SUGGESTION:
Stille Naq, Noite de Paz, Noche de Paz, Sainte Nuit, Cicha Noc, Glade Jul,
Stille Nacht, Po La`i E, or, as many of us know it, Silent Night, the lullaby
that's been translated into every language on earth, composed by the greatest
unsung duo in musical history, Mohr (lyrics) and Gruber (melody). We also
recommend "Ave Maria." Especially the Caccini, arranged by Brinums,
sung by Inessa Galante. For
more, see www.susandunn.cc/vivoperlei.htm.
Let them still
your heart and bring you peace.
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Explore more about Christmas Music
Funny Christmas Song
If your family
enjoys singing Christmas carols, perhaps you would like to add some new songs
to the more traditional ones.
Mondegreens for You for
Christmas
"Mondegreen" means a mishearing of a statement or song lyric.
Kinda like the old game of "Gossip" where you whisper something to the first
person as fast as you can, they whisper it to the person next to them, and
after 9 people, the last person recites what they heard and you laugh!
Top Songs for the Holiday
Are you
dreaming of a white Christmas? Do you roast chestnuts over an open fire as part
of your familys Christmas tradition? Does caroling and gift giving go hand in
hand come December?
Christmas Carol
The tradition of caroling
and Christmas carols is believed to have originated in England when wandering
musicians would go from town to town and visit castles and other homes of the
rich to give impromptu performances.
CHRISTMAS-CAROLS.NET
A collection of lyrics to
many of the best loved Christmas Carols in the world. Spread a little joy by
singing this Xmas!
New Christmas Music!
New Christmas Music:
publication of original Christmas music, songs, carols and plays by various
Christian songwriters. Also include many public domain Christmas songs. MP3,
wma, midi files, and music scores are available. Featuring jazz recordings of
traditional Christmas songs by Rhesa Siregar.
Sheet Music Plus
If
you’re looking for Christmas sheet music, we recommend Sheet Music Plus.
They have the world’s largest selection, guaranteed low prices, and great
customer service.
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