Week Thirty-One: Holiday Tunes - Band Aid - "Do They Know It's Christmas?" - Single

Since I just had New Romantic week and mentioned Ultravox, it would be apropos to also mention that Midge Ure from that same band helped to write and produce this song, along with Bob Geldof from The Boomtown Rats, who found fame with the fabulous tune, "I Don't Like Mondays" - I'm putting the youtube video for that one under the lyrics because I doubt I'll ever get around to talking about it again... plus it's Monday, and I have to agree that I'm not too fond of 'em either!!!

Wow! The all-star artist line-up on this one is just amazing... it's every New Romantic fan's dream line-up. I did a copy & paste directly from Wikipedia:


Adam Clayton (U2)
Phil Collins (Genesis)
Bob Geldof (The Boomtown Rats)
Steve Norman (Spandau Ballet)
Chris Cross (Ultravox)
John Taylor (Duran Duran)
Paul Young
Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet)
Glenn Gregory (Heaven 17)
Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran)
Simon Crowe (The Boomtown Rats)
Marilyn
Keren Woodward (Bananarama)
Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
Jody Watley (Shalamar)
Bono (U2)
Paul Weller (The Style Council)
James "J.T." Taylor (Kool & the Gang)
George Michael (Wham!)
Midge Ure (Ultravox)
Martyn Ware (Heaven 17)
John Keeble (Spandau Ballet)
Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
Roger Taylor (Duran Duran)
Sara Dallin (Bananarama)
Siobhan Fahey (Bananarama)
Pete Briquette (The Boomtown Rats)
Francis Rossi (Status Quo)
Robert 'Kool' Bell (Kool & the Gang)
Dennis J. T. Thomas (Kool & the Gang)
Andy Taylor (Duran Duran)
Jon Moss (Culture Club)
Sting (The Police)
Rick Parfitt (Status Quo)
Nick Rhodes (Duran Duran)
Johnny Fingers (The Boomtown Rats)
David Bowie
Boy George (Culture Club)
Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood)
Paul McCartney
Stuart Adamson (Big Country)
Bruce Watson (Big Country)
Tony Butler (Big Country)
Mark Brzezicki (Big Country)

This song is another one that I look forward to hearing while I'm out & about during the holiday season, especially since its origin was in regards to such a worthy cause - helping to alleviate the famine plaguing Ethiopia... I've heard it hundreds of times, but I still get choked up a bit when they all start singing, "Feed the world, Let them know it's Christmas time..."

It's Christmas time
There's no need to be afraid
At Christmas time
We let in light and we banish shade

And in our world of plenty
We can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world
At Christmas time

But say a prayer
Pray for the other ones
At Christmas time, it's hard
But when you're having fun

There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dreaded fear
Where the only water flowing
Is a bitter sting of tears

And the Christmas bells that ring there
Are the clanging chimes of doom
Well, tonight, thank God, it's them
Instead of you

And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life
Where nothing ever grows, no rain or rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?

Here's to you
Raise your glass for everyone
Here's to them
Underneath that burning sun
Do they know it's Christmas time at all?

Feed the world
Feed the world

Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again
Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmas time again
...

Week Thirty-One: Holiday Tunes - Sunglasses & Sugar - "Tinsel Tree" - Maxi-Single

Sunglasses & Sugar has quickly become one of my favorite new bands from 2012, and luckily, they released this track, "Tinsel Tree", just in time for the holiday season (and just in time to make it into Holiday Tunes week). I really dig their throwback sound but feel that they still generate their own unique twist to easily appeal to modern listeners.

Although I love the rocking nature of the tune itself, I'd have to say that the spoken aside is what really makes the song. It is very reminiscent of Martin Fry's spoken aside in the ABC hit, "The Look of Love". Interestingly enough, it was David Bowie who suggested to Martin Fry that he do that. Apparently, Bowie stopped by the studio on the day of the recording and told Fry that what the song was missing was the equivalent of an answer phone message... and voila! - Martin did just that - remember that whole --- "And though my friends just might ask me... They say: 'Martin, maybe one day you'll find true love...'" bit???

Okay, so back to Sunglasses & Sugar... If I am not mistaken, they treated us to a preview of the other two songs on the maxi-single, "Totally Ridic" & "Storytime", at their November show at The Barley House. Wow! So that means that they gave out candy, covered Costello, Morrissey, The Smiths, and The Beach Boys, and let us have a sneak peek at these two new tunes --- that's setting the bar awfully high for one of their first shows... I'd be interested to see how they plan to top that in the future --- petit fours and wrapped gifts, maybe?!?!? ;-D

If you get a chance, you should also check out their other Winter-inspired tune, "(It's A) Snow Day", from VuVuZuelas. Any teacher who values the virtue of honesty will tell you that we appreciate a Snow Day just as much as (well, actually, probably more than) the students. I'm totally hoping for a Snow Day this year! Technically, four or five Snow Days would be preferred like that one year not too long ago --- as long as we don't have to make them up in June!!!

3 A.M., Saturday morning, it’s after Halloween, November is falling, leaves are down, 

Christmas is coming, browns and golds, I’ve been told that Rudolph’s nose is glowing red and

 Rachael Ray’s cooking on my telly, I’m browsing Skymall to get shopping done early, a string of multicoloured lights from Walgreen’s, stocking hung by my fridge and there’s petit fours on my counter

Tinsel Tree, Tinsel Tree, Tinsel Tree, with a string of lights glowing on thee

Tinsel Tree, Tinsel Tree, Tinsel Tree, may God bless us all this Christmas day and eve

Tinsel Tree, Tinsel Tree, Tinsel Tree, exchanging all the presents piled beneath thee

Tinsel Tree, Tinsel Tree, Tinsel Tree, may God’s grace shine on you and me this eve

A time to forgive, of hope and caring, couples shopping, and families laughing

cheery silver bells to ring in your heartstrings

white elephant gift exchange, secret santa, secret names and

Hazy shade of winter great Bangles cover, I’m strumming my Gretsch Chet Atkins for my lover

gorgeous snowflakes are falling upon us

snowmen and fun snowball fights, snow angels, sleigh ride tonight and

[spoken part]

“It’s Christmas, my favourite time of the year. Seeing old friends and family near. Holiday greetings all of us share. Raise your glass to hopes and dreams this coming year.”

Week Thirty-One: Holiday Tunes - The Waitresses - "Christmas Wrapping" - The Best of The Waitresses

And so today officially commences my holiday celebration, which means I will decorate my tree; I will hang my stocking; I will decide what kind of holiday baking I would like to tackle this year, and I will reload all of my holiday songs back onto my trusty little iPod, which makes it the perfect opportunity for me to share some of my favorite Xmas/Winter/Holiday tunes.

To be completely honest with you, I feel like such a rebel using the term Xmas. We were forbidden by the nuns to take Christ out of Christmas for all of my younger life; therefore, using Xmas would have been definite grounds for a lashing. However, I will resort to my philosophy that, in The Bible, Christ forgave others for far greater transgressions than using a term like Xmas; so I feel that my soul will be spared in this case.

This fabulous little tune is one of the very reasons that I look forward to this time of year. I absolutely relish hearing it while out and about on my daily errands during the holiday season.

The Waitresses have such a unique sound, and I love it when songs, like this one, include a tale of some sort, as opposed to repeating select words and phrases over and over again. I am also including my other favorite by them, "I Know What Boys Like", below the lyrics...

"Bah, humbug!" No, that's too strong 
'Cause it is my favorite holiday 
But all this year's been a busy blur 
Don't think I have the energy 

To add to my already mad rush 
Just 'cause it's 'tis the season. 
The perfect gift for me would be 
Completions and connections left from 

Last year, ski shop, 
Encounter, most interesting. 
Had his number but never the time 
Most of '81 passed along those lines. 

So deck those halls, trim those trees 
Raise up cups of Christmas cheer, 
I just need to catch my breath, 
Christmas by myself this year. 

Calendar picture, frozen landscape, 
Chilled this room for twenty-four days, 
Evergreens, sparkling snow 
Get this winter over with! 

Flashback to springtime, saw him again, 
Would've been good to go for lunch, 
Couldn't agree when we were both free, 
We tried, we said we'd keep in touch. 

Didn't, of course, 'til summertime, 
Out to the beach to his boat could I join him? 
No, this time it was me, 
Sunburn in the third degree. 

Now the calendar's just one page 
And, of course, I am excited 
Tonight's the night, but I've set my mind 
Not to do too much about it. 

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! 
But I think I'll miss this one this year. 
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! 
But I think I'll miss this one this year.
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! 
But I think I'll miss this one this year. 
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! 
But I think I'll miss this one this year. 

Hardly dashing through the snow
Cause I bundled up too tight
Last minute have-to-do's
A few cards a few calls
'Cause it's r-s-v-p
No thanks, no party lights
It's Christmas Eve, gonna relax
Turned down all of my invites.

Last fall I had a night to myself, 
Same guy called, Halloween party, 
Waited all night for him to show, 
This time his car wouldn't go, 

Forget it, it's cold, it's getting late, 
Trudge on home to celebrate 
In a quiet way, unwind 
Doing Christmas right this time. 

A&P has provided me 
With the world's smallest turkey 
Already in the oven, nice and hot 
Oh damn! Guess what I forgot? 

So on with the boots, back out in the snow 
To the only all-night grocery, 
When what to my wondering eyes should appear 
In the line is that guy I've been chasing all year! 

"I'm spending this one alone," he said. 
"Need a break; this year's been crazy." 
I said, "Me too, but why are you? 
You mean you forgot cranberries too?" 

Then suddenly we laughed and laughed 
Caught on to what was happening 
That Christmas magic's brought this tale 
To a very happy ending! " 

Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! 
Couldn't miss this one this year! 
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! 
Couldn't miss this one this year!