Tag: Christmas

Mahalia Jackson: “Silent Night”

One of the great and most influential American gospel singers, Mahalia Jackson recorded one of the definitive versions of “Silent Night.”

One of the reasons I still expand and maintain my own personal CD/MP3 collection is the holiday season, where I want to hear a mix of my favorite Christmas songs I have collected over the years, many that are not on streaming services. Another benefit is that when I put my holiday songs on random play it is more likely one of my favorite recordings will pop up. Of course, a streaming service might make it more likely I would discover something new. But for Christmas, there is a lot to be said for things that are old.

Amidst my collection on some old gospel Christmas collection CD that you can’t even find referenced on the Internet, I have a beautiful version of Mahalia Jackson singing “Silent Night.” There are many lovely versions of the Christmas classic, but hers has become one of my favorites.

Jackson, who was born on October 26, 1911 and passed away on January 27, 1972, is one of the most influential American singers. Her gospel recordings are powerful, both because of her voice and because of her genuine faith. So when she sings about the night Jesus was born, you feel you are there with her, capturing the joy and anguish of the world-shaking birth.

Below, Mahalia Jackson sings “Silent Night,” which was written in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr in Austria.

Wishing everyone happy holidays and an inspiring new year.

Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    • ‘Fairytale of New York’ at Shane MacGowan’s funeral

    At singer-songwriter Shane MacGowan’s funeral, a group of musicians led by Glen Hansard and Lisa O’Neill performed “Fairytale of New York.”

    I love the Irish saying about “may you be in heaven a full half-hour before the devil knows you’re dead.” Maybe it is the part of me that has Irish blood, but I similarly love the traditions of the Irish wake in the way they treats death as something besides a solemn occasion. A funeral is also an opportunity to celebrate the deceased’s life. So with that background, it gave me great joy to see clips from the funeral of singer-songwriter-musician Shane MacGowan, including the performance of what may be his most famous song, “Fairytale of New York.”

    After helping create the Pogues, MacGowan co-wrote “Fairytale of New York” with Jem Finer. We’ve called it “one of the greatest Christmas songs of all-time” while also including it in our list of depressing Christmas songs. One of my favorite versions now is this new one from MacGowan’s funeral.

    MacGowan passed away on November 30, 2023, dying from pneumonia at home in Dublin with his wife Victoria Mary Clarke next to him. He was 65. Since his death, many have praised his talents, and of course many bring up his classic “Fairytale of New York,” including a rendition on the streets of Dublin.

    And then at his funeral at a church in Nenagh, Ireland on Friday, December 8, 2023, a group of musicians led by Glen Hansard and Lisa O’Neill on vocals, performed “Fairytale of New York.” It was beautiful and uplifting, even leading to some dancing in the aisles.

    As the song says, “can’t make it all alone.” We all should have such a send off.

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    With Glowing Hearts: “O Holy Night” By John Denver

    John Denver’s “Christmas in Concert” features joyous renditions of many Christmas classics and a touching “O Holy Night.”

    Denver Christmas Concert

    I have a pretty broad collection of Christmas music that expands every year. One of the albums I’ve been listening to this year is John Denver’s Christmas in Concert (2001). And one of the highlights of the album is Denver’s rendition of “O Holy Night.”

    The live album was recorded in Washington, D.C. in December 1996, so the Christmas spirit throughout is real, unlike Christmas albums recorded in July. Denver sticks to a holiday theme throughout the performance, with the exception of giving the audience a handful of Denver classics at the end. For listening purposes, it is refreshing that the non-holiday songs are at the end rather than mixed with the holiday songs.

    The album’s holiday songs range from several classics like a fun version of “Jingle Bells” to the odd “Please Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas).” The latter’s awkward happy chorus, accompanied by a children’s choir, would unlikely make the cut today. And even in 1996, Denver introduces the song that had appeared on his 1975 album Rocky Mountain Christmas in a way that recognizes he was reassessing the song he recorded as a younger man (Denver did not write the song). Finally, unlike on many Christmas performances, Denver also embraces more religious-based classics like “Away in a Manger.”

    On Christmas in Concert, Denver is backed on various songs by the World Children’s Choir and the National Symphony Orchestra. But it is often Denver’s voice that is the star, an that is most true on his performance of “O Holy Night.” When we think of Denver, I often overlook what a wonderful tenor voice came out of the man. And when he gets to the high notes of “O Holy Night,” it can make believers out of the most cynical.

    Below is a 1996 performance of Denver playing “O Holy Night.” While it is not the same one from the album, this tribute clip appears to be from a Today Show appearance he mentions on the album.

    “O Holy Night” comes from an 1843 poem by Placide Cappeau, set to music in 1847 by Adolphe Adam (with the English version is by John Sullivan Dwight). It remains one of the most religious of the Christmas classics, and one that carolers may avoid due to being more difficult to sing than other Christmas songs. 

    Denver on October 12, 1997, so the album captures Denver during his last Christmas, reminding us we can never know which will be our last. So, check out the John Denver Christmas in Concert album this holiday season, during a time when we all could use some faith in something or someone who knows our needs and is not a stranger to our weaknesses.

    Or at least we can settle for a short respite. Wishing love, faith, hope, comfort, and good health to you and yours.

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    There Will Be Another Christmas

    Science fiction author John Scalzi and singer-songwriter Matthew Ryan release a new Christmas song for 2020 and beyond.

    Days before Christmas, singer-songwriter Matthew Ryan and science fiction author John Scalzi have released a holiday gift with a free download of their new Christmas song entitled “Another Christmas (Until I Am There With You).” It is a special holiday song for this difficult year, offering hope and a reminder we need to keep looking ahead.

    Scalzi explained that while dealing with an illness that was likely Covid-19, he found it difficult to work on his current novel. So, he decided to try something different in writing a Christmas song.

    He continued, “I wrote words that reflected where I was in this winter season, missing family and friends and looking toward when we could all be together again. And when I was done I looked at what I wrote, and I thought ‘This kind of feels like a Matthew Ryan song.’ So I got in touch with Matthew. He took a jumble of words and made them beautiful. He didn’t have to, but he did, and I’m grateful.”

    So, Scalzi concluded, “This is from both of us to all of you. It has love and hope in it. May it help you through the end of a long year, and into a better year for all.”

    The song fits perfectly for this year (“I know this year is hard for you /
    It feels like it’s meant to break us”), and you may find it bringing a tear or two. But it is also timeless, as we all have encountered our own individual bad years, longing for something in the past or the future.

    Yet, this year, for our collective grief, “Another Christmas (Until I Am There With You)” is a wonderful holiday gift. “So have some faith it won’t be long / Until we’re once again together.”

    “Another Christmas (Until I Am There With You)” is available for free download on Bandcamp until New Year’s Day 2021. I’ve already added it to my Christmas music collection, looking forward to hearing it years from now and thinking of how we made it through this year.

    Happy holidays everyone.

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    We sang, “Silent Night” All Day Long

    Listen to John Prine’s “Silent Night, All Day Long” as we reflect back on a difficult year with guarded hope for the coming year.

    John Prine Christmas

    The world faced numerous losses this year. Although it is part of the human condition that we lose loved ones every year, this year was collectively difficult as we were struck by a pandemic that was not even on many of our minds one year ago today. As we watched the numbers climb on our television screens, we could lose track of the incalculable individual personal tragedies, largely because taking it all in would be too much to bear. The affected people we knew brought the impact home. And people in the spotlight killed by Covid, like Charley Pride, might bring together a divided country in unified grieving, if only for a moment.

    One of the earlier deaths of a national figure occurred in April, when singer-songwriter John Prine passed away from complications related to Covid-19. From his lyrics and his warmth, many of us felt a special personal connection to Prine, even if we had only heard his music and seen him on stage.

    And so it seems appropriate that for this Christmas, we remember those we lost and reflect on the coming year with one of Prine’s perfect Christmas songs from his 1993 album A John Prine Christmas, “Silent Night All Day Long.”

    We held hands and stared at the lights on the tree,
    As if Christmas was invented for you and for me;
    When the angel on the treetop requested a song,
    We sang, “Silent Night” all day long.

    Even as we are reminded, through memories of a year ago, that we can never know what tragedies and joys await us in the new year, we look forward to this coming year with guarded hope. As we persist through this winter, we pray for the changes from the new vaccines, new leadership, and the coming seasons.

    And most of all we keep our faith that, as in the images of love in John Prine’s song, somehow we will get through it all together.

    Peace to you this holiday season.

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

  • There Will Be Another Christmas
  • Mahalia Jackson: “Silent Night”
  • The Pines at Night (Matthew Ryan) Releases Full Album,”A Year of Novembers”
  • A “Song for a Hard Year” from The Pines at Night
  • I’ll See You In My Dreams: Goodbye 2020, Hello 2021
  • Everyone Needs a Little Extra “Love And Mercy” Now
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