Here's one of my favorite versions of "Silent Night". From Mannheim Steamroller's first Christmas album released 40 years ago.

A classic from Kay Starr

I would love to see that show at some point. I just can't travel during the holidays due to work (I work in a warehouse and mid November through the end of December is our busy season so we can't take any time off then)

Our images of Christmas are unique to each of us and for me snow is not what I would like to see - for me Christmas is morning coffee on either the Front Porch or Back Patio with at best a shawl or throw blanket across the shoulders - as to the remains of winter if we have to have snow then February is good - most kids don't see snow till they are at least 5 years old and then only every 4 or 5 years after that...

In Austin my house was on the very edge of the Mesa - across the street was the schoolyard of about 8 acres with a hill that started at the edge of the Mesa, across from my home and went clear to the bottom where the track field was located then about 500 yards from the track was the school building - when there was snow that fell after dark it had a chance to pile up before the sun came out and all the kids in the area were out on the hill yipping and whooping starting at 2: in the morning as they slid down on flattened cardboard boxes or garbage can lids or Mom's roasting pan or her laundry basket - Everyone knew there would be no school the next day and so after hours on that hill home they went to sleep - a few stragglers came when they woke at 6: or 7: but by 9: or 10: most often the snow was all melted. A very few times, living there for 55 years was it cold enough for the snow to be on the ground for a full day or two.

I'm here in Magnolia 2 years now - this will be my third winter - no sign of snow up till now - it is some warmer here then Austin so that the majority do not own a winter coat plus, there are no hills where as Austin was located at the edge of what is called the Hill country where deer, fox, coons, owls and other wild life abound all over town.

My favorite rendition of this song. From 1967.

Here's a Sinatra song that's been running through my head all day long, so I finally looked it up and decided to post it.    It has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas, but I decided to post it anyway, just because I like it.  (How Little it Matters) How Little We Know  The Lyrics are posted at the bottom of the Franks picture.

A fun version of "Jingle Bells" from one of my favorite Christmas albums.

Oldiesman, there is a commercial running on TV just recently, and the song is
"Are You Having Any Fun?"  It has, I think, a ukelele background, along with the guy singing.  Do you have a copy of that you could post?  Warning, it will give you an earworm andyou will be singing it all day long!

Not Oldie, and not Banjo, --- but-
What is the Comercial for?

Volkswagon MiniBus.  Lady singing/

The one in the commercial sounds like Ukelele. Thanks but this is not it.

Quote from: Tomereader1 on December 05, 2024, 04:50:52 PMOldiesman, there is a commercial running on TV just recently, and the song is
"Are You Having Any Fun?"  It has, I think, a ukelele background, along with the guy singing.  Do you have a copy of that you could post?  Warning, it will give you an earworm andyou will be singing it all day long!

This one? This was used in a Google TV ad last year and apparently is now being used in an ad for the Volkswagen ID.Buzz (the new all-electric version of their iconic bus)

For at least five years now there seems to be a resurgent effort to bring back, albeit updated to current regs, etc., some of the old discarded car models.  Recently I discovered a neighbor test drove a brand new Jeep Wagoneer. Motortrends article on the new VW minibus. https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/2025-volkswagen-id-buzz-rwd-first-test-review/ Most of the articles I saw made note that updated "retro" car models generally don't sell well and are discontinued after a few years. The last one I remember was the VW Beetle. Dubbed "the car that wouldn't die", the last year of production, as far as I know, was 2022. This is so cute! No music fancy music though...

 

The last "new Beetle" was made in mid-2011. The last of the original version rolled off the assembly line in 2003, though I don't think they had been sold in the US in a long time. You are right though that new versions of retro vehicles don't last long. The retro-styled Thunderbird only lasted four years due to declining sales.

Back to the holiday music, here's something I just stumbled across on YouTube. Apparently this version of "Holly Jolly Christmas" beat Burl Ives' famous version to record stores by a few weeks, though Ives' was supposedly recorded several months before this one (depending on the source - some say this version was recorded first but secondhandsongs.com says Burl's was in February of 64 and this was in June and they're typically a reliable source of information). I can't find any info on these girls at all though. This was the only album they recorded, but they released a handful of additional singles before disappearing into obscurity.

A holiday tune from 1948 with a local connection. The composer of this song was a staple on local TV here for decades.

here is a performance that will play on your heart strings

André Rieu - Always a good show.

This is still my favorite version of that song.

Also, Fathom Events is going to be showing Andre's Christmas concert in theaters on Wednesday and Saturday. Go to https://www.fathomevents.com/events/andre-rieu/ and click on "Get Tickets" to find showtimes near you if you're interested.

Not a Christmas song, but something everyone here should enjoy. British band Coldplay just released a new music video, featuring Dick Van Dyke. In addition, they released a "director's cut" version which includes an interview with Dick Van Dyke as well as appearances by his family. He'll be 99 next week.

Michael, Dick Van Dyke is not turning 89 on Friday, he's turning 99!   I love the video, and hope that others watch it as well.   It brought tears to my eyes, but they were happy tears!

I keep forgetting that it's 2024. Doesn't seem like 1925 was nearly 100 years ago

Back to the holiday music, here's a fun take on Eartha Kitt's famous "Santa Baby". Apparently mambo was big in 54

Oh my Eartha Kit and her deep sexy voice - of all things she always reminded me of a spider - her arms and way of moving were as if attached in a way they would have the most unusual bends and askew uses.

Might as well post this today - tomorrow is the Feast Day for Our Lady of Quadalupe Big deal especially in our very large Mexican American Community. Up to 25,000 people are expected to take part in the two days of celebration that starts with a Midnight Mass tonight and includes a huge parade in downtown Houston.

A local boy - a talented Mariachi soloist has hit the nation by storm - Eduardo Antonio Trevino - he lives just north of Houston in Humble (said by dropping the H)

Here he is singing to honor Our Lady of Quadalupe

That is lovely, Barb. What a voice.

A fun twist on "Jingle Bells", with verses in English, Pig Latin, German, what sounds like Italian and possibly others.

Barb, Thanks for posting a different style of Christmas music. I think we'll be hearing more from Eduardo Antonio Trevino, in the future.

Two  of my favorite singers from the past, have birthdays today.  Connie Francis, turns 87, and Dionne Warwick is 84.  Lots of hit songs by both of them.  Here's a big hit by Connie, from the soundtrack of the movie by the same name.  Where The Boys Are.  This is a very entertaining  movie, released in 1960, about Spring Break/Easter Vacation, and what it was like back then.  Things have certainly changed since those days. 
The girl featured at the end of this video, is Dolores Hart, who became a nun, and is now Mother Superior in a convent on the East coast. 

Speaking of Connie, here's a great holiday tune from her from late 1961. This hit 26 on the chart here in the US in early January of 62.