The holiday season is upon us and you’ve probably noticed already that MGL will be taking a little break from the blogging world to spend time with friends and family IRL. My regular posting will resume early in 2009. To tide you over until that time, I’ve compiled my selection of top songs, readings, and movies that I suggest you check out during this holiday break. These are my favourite holiday pieces, and I hope you will enjoy them as well. As always, if you think I’m totally out to lunch on my selections feel free to set me straight!
Listen
- Fairytale of New York (The Pogues with Kristy MacColl) - A bittersweet, poetic lament for Christmas; the harshness of Shane MacGowan’s booze-soaked voice is a beautiful contrast to the sweetness of Kristy MacColl. Also, one of the few Christmas songs to use the phrase “old slut on junk”.
- God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen / We Three Kings (Barenaked Ladies with Sarah McLaughlin) - A jazzy version of these two classics performed by two of Canada’s top acts. You’ll be humming this version for hours after and tapping your feet to the rhythm of the double bass.
- The Christians and the Pagans (Dar Williams) - A fun, upbeat song that’s loosely about tolerance and the holiday spirit. What’s Christmas without a pagan lesbian couple to spice things up?
- Baby, It’s Cold Outside (Dean Martin) - There have been a number of re-recordings of this song, but in each one the female lead comes across as slutty and the male lead as a creepy molester driving a white panel van. Only Dean Martin can pull off the class, sophistication and flirtatiousness needed to make this song work.
- I Believe In Father Christmas (Greg Lake) - A bitter but beautiful tune with a poignant final verse - “The Christmas we get, we deserve”. U2 also released an excellent version of this song for (RED)WIRE this year that just might give Greg Lake a run for his money.
Read
- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens - The undisputed quintessential Christmas classic. It’s short enough that you could read this aloud with your family during a single sitting, and if you haven’t done so before, you really should.
- Papa Panov’s Special Christmas by Leo Tolstoy - Short but to the point and beautiful in its simplicity, Tolstoy’s fable of Christmas is often overlooked in the English speaking world.
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Suess - Although most famous for its on screen reenactment, the original text still holds its own. It’s interesting to note that the Grinch in the book doesn’t seem nearly as dastardly as his big screen cousin, while his sidekick Max is perhaps even more heartless. If I ever decide to pursue a PhD in comparative children’s pop culture themes, this just might be my thesis.
- The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen - Unlike the other stories on my list, this somber classic doesn’t really offer any sort of redemption or happy conclusion. Nonetheless, it’s a moving read and should not be overlooked.
- Luke 2:2-20 by God - The original Christmas story. ‘Nuff said.
Watch
- Elf - Will Ferrell at his best. Elf is unique, hilariously funny, and perhaps the best Christmas movie from recent times.
- A Christmas Carol (1951) - There are too many adaptations of this classic to even count, but none can compare to the 1956 version featuring Alastair Sim.
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation - The undulating story of Clark Griswold, the modern Christmas protagonist. An absolute must watch for our family every Christmas.
- A Christmas Story - Little Ralphie’s Christmas quest for a Red Ryder BB gun. If you’re ever looking for a great Christmas gift for me, a replica of the leg lamp Ralphie’s dad receives would suit the bill nicely.
- Scrooged - Yes, I realize that my list already has one version of the Scrooge story, but Bill Murray’s version offers a uniquely 1980’s take on this tale.
I’d like to take this opportunity to wish my readers a very Merry Christmas and a successful, prosperous, and rewarding New Year.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
MGL, you’ve been drinking too much egg nog if your top xmas song list has Dar Williams on it but skips Bruce Springsteen’s “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”. Waaaaay too much egg nog. Maybe Santa will bring you some decent music
Merry Christmas!
I love Elf- it’s my favourite Christmas movie right now. The Muppet Christmas Carol is my second-favourite- Michael Caine is an excellent Scrooge, and that Miss Piggy is one sassy Mrs. Cratchit. Also, Robin is the least annoying Tiny Tim I’ve seen- I hate Tiny Tim.
But I love smiling- smiling’s my favourite.
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