*Direct .mp3 stream
Yes it's that time of year again (and almost over as well)...
Christmas music has changed a lot over the years, not much emphasis on traditional carols, though most children still know all the standards. Nowadays, you can fill days worth of radio/TV programming with songs that are holiday specific. It seems like it starts sometime before Halloween, and thankfully, they usually all disappear a day or so after Dec. 25th. I say thankfully, because after a certain amount of exposure even the nicest of things can turn you into a raving lunatic. My Mother had a small cure for that, she wouldn't allow Christmas albums (yes, I said albums) to be played until after Thanksgiving and they were once again banished to the record cabinet come Dec. 26th.
My favorite Christmas music was anything and everything by Elvis Presley. Yes I know he is considered The King of Rock-n-Roll, I am well familiar with his catalogue and accomplishments. I watched the '68 comeback concert live on TV with my Mom. I understand his importance to the evolution of music and his icon status. The problem is, when I think of Elvis Presley, I think of his Christmas songs, everything from the gospel inspired "O Come, All Ye Faithful," and the Rockdown-n-dirty "Santa Claus Is Back In Town" right down to the jazzy-blues-swing of "Merry Christmas Baby." For some reason, I don't listen to his other recordings throughout the year, and maybe that's my loss. I do religiously play The King's Christmas music every December, other than that, hardly at all. And to an extent, that's a shame.
Do you know what else is a shame?
I do the same thing with Michael Palmieri.
Who? I thought I heard you say that...
(from his Bio): MICHAEL PALMIERI is a noted composer of modern classical music with hundreds of original compositions to his credit. He is one of the most played contemporary classical composers in the world.
I own quite a bit of Michael Palmieri's music, I enjoy it, yet for some reason it's Michael's Christmas Music that finds its way into my players every December. Even though my collection only consists of 3 Christmas titles: "Holiday Moonlight Wonderland," "We Three Kings," and "Deck The Halls," it is those 3 titles that come out during the holidays and remind me of how much I enjoy Michael's masterful composing, arranging and playing. It also serves to make me wonder why it takes the holidays (and the holiday music) for me to rediscover and appreciate Michael and his wonderful, amazing music.
Just like Elvis Presley, The King of Rock-n-Roll, Michael Palmieri, The King of Modern Classical garners heavy rotation every December. And every December I am left to once again resolve to listen to more of their works throughout the year. Will I? That's once again left to be seen (or should I say heard), but at least for 1 month every year, I do get to listen to and appreciate two Kings of Music.
Merry Christmas to all.
G.Gone
