Christmas is nearly upon us. I’m sure you, like me, are getting inundated with songs of the season. I love Christmas music, although there are a few tracks I can happily hear once or twice a season, and I’m good. Mariah Carey, I’m looking in your direction.
For this week’s newsletter, I thought I’d drop in a couple of holiday favorites you can watch on YouTube by the fire as you drink your hot chocolate and bask in the glow of the Christmas tree. While doing my quick search, I decided to narrow it to live performances. It just sounded fun.
I hope you enjoy these songs. You might even hear one or two that you’ve never heard before. Wouldn’t that be a nice present from me to you?
Jerry Granelli Trio - Linus and Lucy
Jerry Granelli, at the time of this recording, was the only surviving member of the Vince Guaraldi Trio who performed the original for the Peanuts Christmas special. He is, I think, in his 80s here and jamming like he was 60 years younger.
The Monkees - Riu Chiu
The four members of the Monkees only did this song once, live for their Christmas special. You may think the Monkees weren’t a real band, but they absolutely nail the harmonies here and turn a 16th‑century Spanish Christmas song about the Nativity into something amazing.
Yo-Yo Ma, Alison Krauss - The Wexford Carol
This is one of the most beautiful, most haunting arrangements of any Christmas song I’ve ever heard. It is magnificent. I love the mysticism and the Irish feel to the arrangement. Alison Krauss’s voice is perfect for this song. I can think of no singer who could have sung it more exquisitely than she does.
Bing Crosby, David Bowie - Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy
If you’ve never seen this, it comes from the last Bing Crosby Christmas special. Bowie is smoothly cool here. I’ve seen this clip so many times, I think I have a “memory” of seeing it live in 1977, but I doubt that’s true. Doug Helvering has a deep dive into the creation of this track.
Tim Minchin - White Wine In The Sun
This might be my favorite Christmas song of all time. I don’t remember when I stumbled upon this video, but I fell in love with the sentiment and the performance. I also love that proceeds from the single go to charity each year at Christmas. For me, it captures what Christmas means to people who are not religious in a way that is eloquent and beautiful. I listen every year, and I still cry. Every. Single. Time.
Be seeing you.
