“The lights on my tree, I wish you could see, I wish it everyday.”
I grew up with very traditional Christmas music. The 1960’s were when you could purchase an LP for $1.98 at the supermarket full of all the classic songs like “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…” and “A Few of My Favorite Things” by various artists including Johnny Mathis or The Ray Conniff Singers. Occasionally you’d buy an album by a stand-out like Bing Crosby. I still treasure the 2 Christmas records I have by him.
“Merry Christmas, Darling,” by the Carpenters was my first sort of non-traditional Christmas pop-song. I’d hold my dad’s little transistor radio (which I’d snuck from his second dresser drawer) to my ear, and, at barely 11, sing along with Karen, trying with all my heart to understand her longing.
Through the years more and more Christmas music has been added to the songs I love. Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers have produced some great stuff. Lee Greenwood sings a couple that always pierce my heart. The Partridge Family album still makes me laugh and I even enjoy a Motown Christmas. Harry Connick Jr. is great for seasonal cheery tunes as well as some sacred and I do love the 90’s Mariah Carey album. And let’s not forget that Amy Grant, is a Christmas-music genius.
Looking Back
But this year, I am feeling very traditional again. I am reaching back to music I grew up with, the songs my mom played on the Hi-Fi during my early days. I am less about the pop side of Christmas and anything that has been produced since 1970 and on, and sort of loving melodies that have been recorded so many times no one even remembers who did them first (like “Winter Wonderland”) and some that have been recorded a lot but the first recording is all that matters (like “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby).
The cool thing now is, of course, that “Merry Christmas, Darling” is a classic. It IS one of the old tried and true songs of the season. And now I understand the deep sentimentality. For I wish, if I might “have the wish that I wish for tonight,” to gather everyone I love from near and far together during these long, dark winter nights to laugh and remember, to sing and make merry, to be close and bask in the 6-7000 lights on my tree. And we could play Karen and sing…
That I wish you a Merry Christmas
Happy New Year, too
I’ve just one wish on this Christmas Eve
I wish I were with you, I wish I were with you.
Bed space is limited here. So if you are going to come and see me and make my wishes come true, please call in advance.
pictured: The Moslander family Christmas card, 1968. Jeanie, Joey, Timmy, Tammy and Danny (Love love love to my siblings! Please note: I was reading from The Children’s Book of Knowledge – which is why you are all so successful and smart. You may thank me with a very nice Christmas gift.)
Thanks Sis…If I could, I’d give you all the rest of us (Timmy, Tammy, Dana and me) under your tree…besides, I am sort of curious as to what 6-7000 lights looks like from underneath. If I don’t make it there this year, I may have to rely on two of my pirate friends, Gavin and Hunter, to take a look and describe it to me…even if I do make it, they may have to- I probably don’t fit under a tree anymore.
Thanks…its a great Christmas kick-off! :0) Merry Christmas!
I too, love the oldies, not this new junk. The only thing that is worse than a Beach Boys Christmas album is if they would have put out a Beach Boys Halloween album because I HATE HALLOWEEN! But I digress… Just between us, that IS NOT Christmas to me. I do enjoy some of the new songs but really they are old songs sung by new artists, like Bare Naked Ladies singing God Rest You Merry Gentlemen with Sarah McGlocklin (spell check?) But my idea of Christmas wafts from 10 speed bikes, lego that had no picture of how to put them together and G.I. Joes that looked like Rock Hudson. Traditions of snow covered hills and lights, trees and Santas smeared with the grease of nostalgia. Bing crooning on a black and white screen before everything was colorized and macaroni tree decorations made in 3rd grade. White sheet covered tables with Christmas villages set to blinking lights that were not approved by United Laboratories. Christmas presents that you could choke on if you didn’t have the sense not to put them in your mouth. Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs and Hot Wheels that looked like the Jack Rabbit Special. This is the Christmas that I still pine for and attempt to recreate every year with more lights on our tree than is humanly possible without blowing all the breakers in the house…
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night…
That sounds about right! : ) That is Christmas at the Rhoadeses!
Oh-btw, the Beach Boys are considered the “oldies,” now, too, honey.
Awww. I wish all the uncles and aunties and Grandmas and Grandpas and cousins could be here too! Merry Christmas and WE LOVE YOU ALL!!!
hi greetings from england. In 1987 a german group released a song around christmas time called keeping the dream alive. Its not about christmas in fact does not even mention it.Each year in england at christmas it gets played. it ia an awesome song inspiring, one of those happy/ sad songs.i always thought it was a paul mccartney song. you can hear it on you tube. it is magical.happy christmas not sure if it got airplay in usa.ps the group are called freiheit