Advent: December 5th – Joy To The World

Back to a historically known Christmas song today and one that I expect you will all probably know of; Joy To The World. Not to be confused with Joyful, Joyful which I ended up listening to before continuing in my search for versions of this Christmas ditty. I’m a sucker for Sister Act (and the sequel) so was glad to listen to the song, however, much to my disappointment, it is in no way connected to Christmas or Joy To The World.

Joy To The World, as a song, dates back to 1839 when music was arranged to accompany an English hymn by Isaac Watts; though the music itself is believed to have originated in part from Handel’s Messiah. It is the most published Christmas hymn in North America.

As with many Christmas songs, there are many known versions from a variety of artists. It was first recorded by Percy Faith, a conductor whose instrumental version of the song is well known. It has since been covered by Boney M (1984), The Supremes (1965), Andy Williams (1974) and Mariah Carey who, in 1994, covered the song in various styles.

Having listened to various versions of the song today I’m not really sure which ones to share. None of them really stood out in the same way other songs have, so I guess I’ll just have to share a couple chosen at random.

Joy To The World – Nat King Cole

Having given you some facts about Mariah Carey’s version I should probably share it with you.

And finally, Aly & AJ, them girls give it some style.

If you want to hear the Boney M version, here’s the link http://youtu.be/z6Q-TKzxf8k
And why not a bit of Whitney Houston http://youtu.be/BTknk-jxc2k

Advent: December 4th – Modern Songs (part one, the boys)

Over the last three days we’ve gone back to the beginning of Christmas songs that everybody knows (and many love) and I hope to continue sharing with you all interesting facts and variations on the Christmas songs we’ve grown up listening to. Today, however, I want to bring us back to now.

Whilst there are some songs which have been covered and recovered hundreds of times, there are some which have only been sung once – mostly because they’re brand new.

Whoever thought Christmas songs all had to be centuries old with amazing back stories?

Here’s a couple of Christmas songs that I know (and like) by male artists which I thought I would share with you all.

Backstreet Boys – Christmas Time

A bit of a soppy one, which isn’t exactly a Christmas song in the traditional sense of the word (and if your name is Katy S, you might want to avoid this one!): Ronan Keating – It’s Only Christmas

This one may be a little controversial, from the boy that lots of people love to hate (but I believe he does a good Christmas song and is growing into a great adult artist): Justin Bieber – Mistletoe

If you have any lesser known Christmas songs which are only sung by one MALE artist/band, please share. (I’ll be posting female artist/band and mixed group songs further down the line.)

Advent: December 3rd – Deck The Halls

Deck The Halls may be the most interesting of the songs I choose over the advent period. Unlike Jingle Bells and Do You Hear What I Hear, I haven’t been able to find an extensive list of artists who have covered the song. I have, however, discovered a history equally interesting to that of Jingle Bells.

The song isn’t simply a Christmas carol, its history dates as far back as the sixteenth century and the tune is actually Welsh. A poet, John Ceiriog Hughes wrote the first lyrics, which are in Welsh and named the song Nos Galan (which translates as New Year’s Eve). The version we all (unless maybe the Welsh?) know and love isn’t a translation of the Welsh carol and are actually considered to have been created by an American, though it’s difficult to find out exactly who wrote them.

Following the same pattern of the days before, I’d like to share with you the original Welsh version of the song (the translation is on the YouTube page for the song, if you’re interested).

I definitely wanted to share a more, I don’t want to say traditional because the Welsh version is really the traditional one, a version we are more likely to recognise. This one is by James Taylor, after a brief visit to YouTube I discovered this version and thought it sounded particularly nice.

And like yesterday, I can’t help but feel the need to share the Australian version of the traditional carol. Deck the Shed with Bits of Wattle.

If you want to listen to any other versions, this one by Aly & AJ is particularly different: http://youtu.be/BC4RDx88eZw
And of course, Bing Crosby is always a winner (and probably the most familiar too): http://youtu.be/sQNUeOOqMyU

Any suggestions for tomorrow’s song?

Advent: December 2nd – Jingle Bells

Jingle Bells is probably one of the most well known of Christmas songs. It originally dates back to 1857 when a guy named James Lord Pierpont created a song called “One Horse Open Sleigh” for Thanksgiving, yes, that’s right, it’s not even traditionally a Christmas song! (thanks, Katy)

I couldn’t find an original video of the song, as you may expect, but I did find a self-playing piano which plays the original version of the tune. Whilst it’s instantly recognisable, there are differences between the original and the more modern versions of the song.

Since the first video doesn’t have any words, I have decided to share one of the many versions created by popular culture, this is Dean Martin’s version.

I wouldn’t be me (a lover of Australian culture) if I didn’t share with you a final version of the song, with an Australian twist. It’s a firm favourite of mine.

Advent: December 1st

Every day in December I am going to post a different Christmas song, today is: Do You Hear What I Hear

The version I intend to share isn’t the original. Despite the fact that most Christmas songs are covered and re-covered, my intense dislike of songs being covered makes me feel obliged to share the original. Interestingly, I didn’t know who originally created it so it took a little bit of research.

The lyrics were written by Noel Regney and the music by Gloria Shayne Baker. This song has been covered by hundreds of artists, including: Whitney Housten, Bob Hope, Kelly Rowland, Andy Williams, The Carpenters, Galdys Knight, Celine Dion and Bob Dylan, to name just a few.

The one I most wanted to share, the version I know best, is by the Australian singer/songwriters/pianist Delta Goodrem. I hope you enjoy both versions.

Noel Regney & Gloria Shayne Baker – Do You Hear What I Hear (the original)

Delta Goodrem – Do You Hear What I Hear