The turkey has been stored away in various Tupperware containers and ziplock baggies. The ultimate leftovers hover in the dark corners of the freezer waiting in vain to become turkey stew, turkey sandwiches and turkey casserole only to eventually wind up in the trash can.
Dads hang countless strands of tangled Christmas lights and moms return to their domestic beginnings, busying themselves in their kitchens making tins full of tasty but high-fat baked goodies as Christmas music fills the corners of stores everywhere with its familiar flavor of chiming bells, choral classics and musical warm fuzzies.
The Christmas season has returned in full force, carolers and grinches alike reminisce of Christmases past, and it seems that all have an opinion on the music of the season. Some can’t imagine Christmas without winter wonderlands and silent nights, while the scrooge-types would rather keep their stereos playing season-neutral music.
Face it: humans are addicted to tradition and drawn to sentiment. Deep down, everyone loves the sappy, timeless carols. While not all ears long to hear Canadian Brass jazz up “Here We Come A Wassailing” or Willie Nelson’s “Pretty Paper,” music is part of the season because it’s an essential part of life just like the holidays. No music lover will argue with that.
Fear not, the often clich?-packed, sentimental ballads that make us smile from beneath our matching hat and gloves have a four-week life span beginning the day after Thanksgiving and usually ending before the new year. As with every Christmas season, artists release new festive albums, new versions of old favorites and the occasional original piece.
Here’s a list of this year’s highlights. Pick one up, grab a mug of eggnog, lay in front of the yule log and dare to get in the Christmas spirit.
Two classical greats released Christmas albums for those who crave a traditional sound. Fourteen-year-old Welsh soprano, Charlotte Church returns to amaze the opera world in her collection of classics, Dream a Dream.
The Three Tenors turn in their first Christmas album, A Christmas Album, a recording of their 1999 Christmas concert in Vienna. Carreras, Domingo and Pavarotti deliver a mix of classical lullabies and traditional Spanish holiday music.
Talk show host Rosie O’Donnell returns in her second collaborative holiday work, Another Rosie Christmas, which features artists such as Macy Gray, Dixie Chicks, Jessica Simpson, Smashmouth, Sugar Ray and Ricky Martin. Current country teenage star Billy Gilman joins Rosie in a new holiday creation “I’m gonna E-mail Santa.”
Continuing another seasonal favorite on the tails of its cinema counterpart, The Grinch Orignal Soundtrack features a collection of originals from the feature film. Among these is the collaborative work of Busta Rhymes and the Grinch himself, Jim Carrey, in “Grinch 2000,” the first track of the soundtrack.
The album also features Barenaked Ladies, Faith Hill and Titanic’s James Horner in the orchestral score from the live version of Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch Stole Christmas.
Pop queen, Christina Aguilera turns in a soprano, catchy version of favorites such as “O Holy Night,” “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “The Christmas Song” and three of her own creations.
The hit show from Fox, Ally McBeal, delivers its third television soundtrack. This time with a holiday twist. Ally McBeal: A Very Ally Christmas features a collection of the cast’s performances from past and present Christmas episodes. Vonda Shepard’s talents are featured in half of the album, and Macy Gray makes another holiday appearance in a soulful rendition of “Winter Wonderland.”
These are just a few of the musical goodies waiting amongst the packages of candy canes for the holiday listener. Check your favorite music store for other new releases and favorite Christmas classics.
