All posts tagged Christmas

Songs from a Colbert Christmas

Speaking of Christmas music, OMG, how hilarious was Colbert’s Christmas special? (Link goes to Google Video results.) I saw the tail end back when it came out, but only saw the rest of it today.

In case anyone else missed it too, IMHO here are the musical highlights (first two are PG-13, FYI) –

Willie Nelson spoofing the three kings:

I don’t have anything against singing traditional Christmas carols – I did it twice already this month, at a Quaker potluck and at a solstice party – but I do approve of post-religious alternatives emerging through the folk process.

And I suspect that funny songs like these are more likely to catch on than anything self-consciously written as a “humanist carol.” (Like how some people would rather praise the Flying Spaghetti Monster than explicitly identify as humanist.)

John Legend, “Nutmeg”:

I can imagine caroling that next year, can’t you?

If not that, perhaps Elvis Costello’s “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace Love & Understanding”:

(Supposedly this version includes the video, but my Firefox crashes when I click it)

Björk’s Christmas album

bjork-gling-glo-bjorkishcom

(Photo from bjorkish.com.net)

…doesn’t exist, but I’ve always thought of Gling-Gló that way. And turns out it was actually released on Christmas in 1990.

Here are three tracks, with English translations of the (Icelandic) lyrics:

Brestir Og Brak

Crackle and Bang

The commitees are bad, heavy is their load
we will however beat their asses
because we can delay the christmas to march
if only we want to

It is like I hear crackles and bangs
from the awesome power
when you, down in congress, whip their asses
with your thunderous mouth
yes, the ruralparty I break back
like a leaky wreck
yes, maybe I should
lift the house and blow off the green copper roof

Yes, it will make him happy
lighten his dark days
as the small children buy a ki-li-li-lo
of fruits for their belly
yes, merrily I will sing he-le-le-lo
also ding-ding-dong
It will all be sold out
though I seldomly find that we ever have sold enough!

No, it will make him happy
lighten his dark days
as the small children buy a ki-li-li-lo
of fruits for their belly, yes
merrily I will sing he-le-le-lo
and also ding-ding-dong

It will all be sold out
though I seldomly find that we ever have sold enough!
though I seldomly find that we ever have sold enough!
though I seldomly find that we ever have sold enough!


Bella Símamær

Bella the Operator

She’s Bella, Bella, Bella, Bella the operator
not quite born yesterday
she’s Bella, Bella, Bella, Bella the operator
knows something about everyone,
and tells you how long you’ve been on

In lovecalls right of precedence always applies
I ought to know best about that
in humor and beauty she eliminates all others
that Bella, Bella, Bella the operator

Hello hello
yes what is your name?
what do you want with me?
I don’t know you!

Hello hello
oh is that you!
I know you now!
let’s have a truce!
there, you win!

And her eyes are blue and deep and bright
she smiles heartily and laughs

She’s Bella, Bella, Bella, Bella the operator
Not quite born yesterday
More fun and beautiful than any other
Bella, Bella, Bella the operator

Hello hello
yes what is your name?
what do you want with me?
I don’t know you!

Hello hello
oh is that you!
I know you now!
let’s have a truce!
there, you win!

And her eyes are blue and deep and bright
she smiles heartily and laughs

She’s Bella, Bella, Bella, Bella the operator
not quite born yesterday
in humor and beauty she eliminates all others
that Bella, Bella, Bella the operator

She’s Bella, Bella, Bella, Bella the operator
Not quite born yesterday
in humor and beauty she eliminates all others
that Bella, Bella, Bella, Bella
Bella, Bella Bella, Bella
Bella, Bella, Bella the operator


Luktar-Gvendur

Lantern-Gvendur

He brought light in both his hands
around the town each night
lamplighter-Gvendur from long long ago

By his grey hair he was known
gleaming by the lanterns light
lamplighter-Gvendur from long long ago

He could be heard walking calmly and quietly
down every street during the night
his heart would smile with joy

If a young boy and girl
he saw, he would not light his lamp
leaving them in the shade of darkness

And he reminisced about his youth
and he looked back on his sweet love
when he hugged tight his sweet young girl

He brought light in both his hands
around the town each night
lamplighter-Gvendur from long long ago

Caroling for peace this Friday

From the Facebook eventThere’s going to be “caroling for peace” this Friday in Downtown Crossing, from 3:30 to 5:30, and apparently Raging Grannies will make an appearance. Sadly I have to work until 5. It’s hosted by the Boston Students Iraq Moratorium, but all are welcome. (continue reading…)

Christmas & indie winter holidays

Santa, age 30Apparently Dawkins doesn’t mind singing Christmas carols, and I can sympathize. Christmas isn’t the enemy. Which is why I find it amusing (rather than upsetting) that the Harvard Secular Society is using this image (right) for the Facebook page of a party this weekend.

Still, I’d like to move away from religious holidays, bit by bit. The two alternatives I like the most are:

  1. Solstice. It’s commemorating an actual, meaningful, astronomical event, so it wins the “Least Arbitrary Winter Holiday” award. (December 22nd this year, 1:08 am EST. Which is also, by the way, the time chosen for Global Orgasm Day.)
  2. Festivus, the Seinfeld holiday. (December 23rd.)

I’ll probably just go out with some friends for drinks for Solstice, unless I suddenly get inspired to plan a party. But I’ll probably host a low-key Festivus this year, unless I’m in NH, hitting the mean streets of Keene for Obama…

Update: Daniel Robinson has an interesting piece on atheists celebrating Christmas in the Harvard Independent.