While I was decorating for Christmas and making some Christmas gifts I was listening to Christmas music. I was listening to Pandora. I have a few Christmas CDs, but I thought I would listen to something else to see if there was any new stuff out there. To me it seems as if anyone sings they’ve done a Christmas album. Most often it is the same Christmas songs over and over. I have to admit that sometimes I like a new version of a traditional Christmas song. I can still like the old version, but it is nice to hear a new take on it. Well, this year on Pandora I was introduced to a Christmas album a couple of years old that had new-to-me songs on it. PLUS there are two versions of two songs that I didn’t even think I liked until I heard this group’s version. A couple of the songs I liked so much, I talked my hubby into an early Christmas gift of the album. The album I am talking about is Train’s Christmas in Tahoe.
First of all, last year was the first time – that I know of – that I had heard Joni Mitchell’s River (1971). And the version I heard I did not like. I think it turns out that I just don’t like any Christmas songs that particular artist sings on her album (2014). She has WAY TOO MANY dramatic pauses and they are WAAAAAAAY too long. Geez. It is to the point of annoying. So I thought I didn’t like the song. But I like Train’s version. Just now, before I typed this, I listened to their version then listened to the other artist’s version. I realized – as I FORCED myself to listen to the whole song -I had never listened to the whole song by that artist because I just don’t like it or so I thought. Turns out it is her version I don’t like. I need to listen to Joni Mitchell’s version to see how it is for me.
Then another song I have always really not liked until Train’s version is Happy Xmas (War is Over). I cannot tolerate John Lennon’s version of that song at all. That high pitched voice(s) on that track just really grates on my nerves. I am sure there are many out there that love that song . . . but I was so very relieved to hear not everyone likes it. I thought I was the only one. But I like Train’s version.
There is not one song on this album that I skip. And I was really happy to see that the album/CD has bonus tracks on it. It was purchased from Amazon so we had advanced access to it on Amazon music, but when the CD arrived it had more songs on it. Yay. Amazon music has 15 tracks, but the CD has 20! And one of them I don’t ever remember ever having heard. Have you heard of The Cherry Tree Carol?
What Christmas music are you listening to? What is your favorite Christmas song?
Terre Pruitt's Blog 