Friday, November 27, 2009

Christmastime Means Time to Blog

Once a year, my blog finds a niche.

From Thanksgiving to about January 2, my attention turns squarely to the most wonderful time of the year and all the societal, cultural, spiritual, musical (and other adjectives ending in -al) aspects of the Christmas season. This renewed focus also usually leads to a more prolific period of blogging, so hopefully my prolonged absence hasn't squandered what little audience I had.

To kick things off, I want to start by examining a new musical release for the 2009 holiday season. I don't necessarily consider myself an expert on too many subjects, but Christmas music is one arena where I really know my stuff. My family has amassed a vast and eclectic collection of Yuletide tunes over the years, and I'm always looking for new music to add to the library.

The new Christmas music train pulled out of the station a tad early this year when Bob Dylan dropped his uncharacteristic album, Christmas in the Heart, a few weeks before Thanksgiving. I haven't heard all the tracks yet, but I highly recommend this scathing review that not only hilariously pans the album but also questions the popular assumption that Dylan is a musical genius.

For your viewing pleasure, please check out the music video of his take on "Must Be Santa" (a classic kids carol that was definitively recorded by Mitch Miller & The Gang way back in the day). Dylan's interpretation is laughable, as he sings/shouts the lyrics backed by a polka-sounding melody. The "plot" of the video is off-the-wall and Dylan's appearance is more than slightly disturbing. Is that hair connected to his hat?



Maybe that's just what musical genius looks like these days.

Hopefully my next post will actually get you in the mood for the holidays without making you shake your head in disbelief at what has become of a folk music icon. Until then, peruse my Christmas content from the past two years.

2 comments:

WEB SHERIFF said...

WEB SHERIFF
Who You Gonna Call
Tel 44-(0)208-323 8013
Fax 44-(0)208 323 8080
websheriff@websheriff.com
www.websheriff.com

Hi WTWR,

On behalf of Bob Dylan, many thanks for plugging “Christmas In The Heart”, the charity album benefiting Feeding America, Crisis and the World Food Programme … .. and, if your readers want good quality, non-pirated, previews, then “Must Be Santa” is available for fans and bloggers to post / host / share etc from www.myspace.com/bobdylan and a special widget is also available from www.bobdylan.com/#/christmas-in-the-heart-donate... .. for further details of the album, on-line promotions, videos and 2009 / 2010 shows, check-out www.bobdylan.com and www.youtube.com/bobdylantv... .. and keep an eye on these official sources for details of further news and preview material.

Please do visit the official web-sites of Feeding America, Crisis and the World Food Programme for information on their charitable work and on how to make donations : help to make this Christmas special for those in need.

Thanks again for your plug.

Regards,

WEB SHERIFF

Unknown said...

i've been waiting for your first holiday-related post! i am saddened that the first comment was so lame. also still annoyed that your "read the rest" is not a real link...

i don't know the song and tried to watch it, but only got through 44 seconds before i was weirded out. please post a good one soon because i've had "little drummer boy" stuck in my head since october!

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