Christmas music (49)

We went out for Japanese this evening, and when we arrived the restaurant was almost empty—which made the Christmas music difficult to ignore. I was glad as people kept coming, until by the time we left, the place was full and bustling with noise. I am not a big fan of insipid Christmas songs, which tend to be what gets played in public places. 

Which is not to say there aren't musical Christmas treats out there. Here are a few that come immediately to mind:

Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds with Dave's "Christmas Song"

Béla Fleck and the Flecktones, a Christmas medley

Duke Ellington and His Orchestra, the Nutcracker Suite (also the Peer Gynt Suite, if you want to keep listening)

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"

Although in her assessment of 100 (yes, 100!) Christmas songs, Alexandra Petri of the Washington Post singled out the following version of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" as the "treatment the song needed. Forget it, Bruce." As one commenter said, "This is the only version of this song that makes me sincerely believe I better watch out! He absolutely delivers the MENACE. It's brilliant." See what you think.

There's always the Bing Crosby/David Bowie chestnut of "Peace on Earth" and "Little Drummer Boy." Which, yeah, maybe sort of insipid (Petri ranks "LDB" "the worst holiday song of all")—except... Bowie. He was a magician. Even when "LDB" was involved. (And here is the backstory behind this classically weird collaboration.)

When David and I were discussing Christmas songs on our drive home from the restaurant, he jokingly, and completely randomly, mentioned Def Leppard. Well, yes: Def Leppard did record a Christmas song: "We All Need Christmas" (which I won't post, but if you do want to hear it, you can find it here; it's surprisingly lovely, if rather repetitious).  

The following is what I like to listen to at Christmastime. It's not the sort of thing you'll hear in a sushi spot. It's called "On Yoolis Night," medieval carols and motets by Anonymous 4.

And of course, there is good old Handel's Messiah. We will be playing that tomorrow while we prepare our festive feast. It is one reason I look forward to Christmas every year. The recording I offer here is (I believe: the YouTube post has no liner notes, so I gleaned this information from the comments) by Collegium 1704, a Czech ensemble conducted by Václav Luks. It's spectacular.

No doubt there are tons more uninsipid Christmas tunes out there. Maybe I'll fetch up a few more next year.

Happy Christmas Eve!