Chistmas Morning - Top 3 Classic Christmas songs

Season's Greetings readers,

From my lovely home in Toronto I wish each and everyone of you a Merry Christmas. I was hoping it would snow this morning but unfortunately that was not the case this year. It is still quite a lovely morning as the field across from my apartment remains quite white from the last time we had some snow. 

The neighborhood is awfully quiet (quite surprising, actually) but it makes for a great first-day off, after having worked for seven days in a row. Sometimes complete calmness is a great way to rest (hence why I'm blogging).

As many of us take the day to rest and recover from the agitated holiday season, let us remember some classic Christmas tunes that have accompanied us throughout time. I want to highlight fond holiday memories through the next few songs:

1. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - John Lennon

This single was written in 1971 by the one of Rock's greatest legends, Mr. John Lennon, who later joined forces with his loyal companion Yoko Ono and the Plastic Ono Band in an effort to take a stand against the War of Vietnam. The song came to life in the Shaved Fish compilation during the Christmas of '75. 

The lyrics are based on a campaign done by both Lennon and Ono in late 1969 when they rented billboards and posters in eleven cities around the world (New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Rome, Athens, Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Helsinki), which read: "WAR IS OVER! (If You Want It) Happy Christmas from John and Yoko".

At the time of the song's release, the United States was deeply entrenched in the unpopular Vietnam War. The line "War is over, if you want it, war is over, now!" as sung by the background vocals, was taken directly from the billboards.


I personally have a tremendous appreciation for this song as it evokes an enormous feeling of nostalgia, which isn't necessarily bad. Every year I look forward to hearing this song during the Christmas season, since the first time I came across this song in 2003.

2. Jingle Bell Rocks - Bobby Helms


This song is older than my mother, as it came into existence in 1957! How can you NOT love this single? It is probably one of the most "modified" Christmas tunes of all times, as it has been played in rockabilly, country, modern Rock and Roll and who knows what else.


This song has also been featured in various movies, such as  Home Alone 2: Lost in NY, Cookie (1989), and Lethal Weapon among others.


To me this tune kind of makes me want to do the Macarena around the Christmas tree or dance like a little Japanese cartoon. I feel that unless I magically turn into a reindeer and wear green and red, I will never be cool enough to enjoy this song at its maximum.

3. Baby,  It's Cold Outside -  Dianne Reeves and Lou Rawls
Even though this song's first intention was not to refer to a particular time of the year, it is usually associated with the winter and thus with Christmas. There is an interesting story behind this one, which I think you will find amusing.Sometime in 1944 Mr. Frank Henry Loesser had a great idea and wrote this duet to debut it, along with his wife Lynn Garland, at the house warming party of their Navarro Hotel in they city of  New York. It was such a marvelous evening and everyone (hosts included) was so mesmerized by the song to the point that it became their signature tune; even the couple denominated it as "theirs" (well, it was more like Ms. Garland considered it as "theirs").  

Like many men out there, Mr. Loesser was probably thinking of more interesting things (not caring so much about the whole our-song situation) so he sold the rights of the single to MGM. Now, imagine the reaction of Ms. Garland... Not a pretty scene, right?  Anyway, damage done. Who knows how Frank got out of that one. Either way thanks to his aloofness towards his lady's feelings, we get to hear this song throughout the year, particularly during Christmas time.
There are countless versions of this songs interpreted by many of the masters of Jazz, such as Mr. Louis Armstrong, Mrs. Ella Fitzgerald, Mr. Dean Martin, Ms. Dinah Shore, Mr. Buddy Clark, and Ms. Norah Jones, among many others.This time I have chosen the version of Dianne Reeves and Lou Rawls because I find that this one truly evokes a warm feeling associated with the holiday season. I honestly prefer the version interpreted by Louis Armstrong and Velma Middleton, however when I hear it, the first thing that comes to mind it not quite "Tis the season to be jolly, falah lah lah lah lah lah lah lah"  
Merry Christmas to youDre - dnklschwrz, 2010