Little Drummer Boy

 Day 3/4 of 20 Days of Christmas

Every year around this time Ryan and I get really excited about listening to our Christmas lps and watching all the Christmas shows (of quality) produced over the years. We also like to indulge in the best of the worst Christmas specials like "A Very Brady Christmas" (I'll admit that's even a little bit too much for me, but Ryan LOVES it) and laugh at the horrible writing, terrible acting, and often disturbing innuendo.

I was going to wait longer to share the following songs, but I decided I needed a laugh. The following are two versions of the same song/script; one is played for seriousness, the other reinterpreted for the modern, irreverent comedy appreciating crowd.

The Sweet & Sentimental

David Bowie and Bing Crosby get together to sing a generation-spanning Christmas song under the pretense of being neighbors (and not knowing who the other is despite their fame). It's lovely!

The Ridiculous & Irreverent 

The following take on Bing and David's song is performed by Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly. Embedding was disabled, but believe me you've got to see this video to believe it. Keep in mind, Ferrell and Reilly are following the same script as the original for much of the sketch!

 http://youtu.be/EJBFD-Wvc7U

I'll Be Home for Christmas

Welcome to 20 days of Christmas! 

The window to appreciate truly excellent Christmas music is short (prepare to be muzak'd while Christmas shopping!), so TSMM is bringing you 20 days of song, mistletoe, and an endless mug of hot cocoa.

"I"ll Be Home for Christmas," sung by the inimitable Bing Crosby, was released in 1943 in the midst of war and uncertainty. It's easy to imagine soldiers standing in the snow in Germany, or lying in their bunks on a battleship, humming the wistful, simple melody, the twist last line of the second stanza echoing the longing they felt for home.

I'll be home for Christmas
You can plan on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents on the tree

Christmas Eve will find me
Where the lovelight gleams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams

The longing women at home felt, imagining their men in the voice of Bing, was just as fierce.

Nearly sixty years later, the song still feels personal and relevant.

This entry is dedicated to my dear Grandma and Grandpa "Howdy", together again.