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  • Fascinating Aïda

    Fascinating Aïda

    Need a laugh? I highly recommend listening to a little Fascinating Aïda today.

    There’s a video that has been passed around for awhile that is especially appropriate for people who enjoy travel and want to do it cheaply. I first became aware of it when my friend Bruce posted it to my Facebook wall. It surfaced again the other day in a military Facebook group of which I am a member.


    He’s a hilarious song about cheap flights… Anyone who has flown on Ryanair can relate. Personally, I spring for a less chintzy airline, not that it matters much.

    This song cracked me up quite a bit. Not only are the women in this video great singers, but their lyrics are hysterical. I had to find out more about them, so I visited their Web site. I learned more about the talented folks who make up Fascinating Aïda, a musical comedy cabaret group that has been around since the dark ages of 1983. Fascinating Aïda was founded by original members, Dillie Keane, Marilyn Cutts, and Lizzie Richardson. From 1983 until 1989, the three original members made people laugh with their brand of hilarious music. In 1984, Adele Anderson joined the group. Anderson and Keane are still members today, joined by Liza Pullman.


    Issy Van Randwyck sings “Song of Singapore”.

    Many other singers have been a part of this popular British group, including Issy Van Randwyck, a singer I came to know after purchasing The Glory of Gershwin, a compilation of Gershwin songs featuring work by the great harmonica player, Larry Adler. Van Randwyck sang a great version of “I’ll Build A Stairway to Paradise.”


    I have many friends who are teachers… and quite a few are English teachers. I know one in particular who will relate to this brilliantly.

    And since it’s Christmas, it’s only fitting that I include this very rude Christmas song. Be warned. It’s not safe for work.


    This is good every day advice, but it especially applies during the holidays…

    Given the way the stock market has been performing lately, this song should be required viewing for anyone who has invested… I have been watching my stocks fall with dismay.


    I probably should have listened to this song before I invested.

    Now that I live in Germany again, it may be time to take a trip to London and see these ladies perform live. For now, I may have to content myself with one of their DVDs. As funny as the music is, it’s even better to watch them.

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  • Bad Christmas music…

    Bad Christmas music…

    I’m feeling poorly today and in a negative mood. So here’s a post about bad Christmas music.

    I’m sitting here listening to Mariah Carey’s unfortunate slaughtering of her Christmas hit, “All I Want For Christmas Is You”. This song is about twenty years old and has become sort of a holiday staple over the years. But poor Mariah was having some vocal issues and sadly, it’s now become Internet news.


    To be sure, Mariah still has fabulous vocal chops, but this performance is just north of disastrous.

    Chin up, Mariah. Even divas like Aretha Franklin sometimes make bad Christmas music.


    This isn’t as bad as it could be, but I’ve heard Aretha do better… Yikes.

    To be fair, Aretha on a bad day is still better than most singers on a good day. But I still think this was an unfortunate performance.

    Then there’s Christmas music that is bad, not due to the performance, but because it’s just bad… Case in point, here’s a song called “I Farted on Santa’s Lap (Now Christmas is Gonna Stink For Me)”. Appropriately enough, this song is performed by The Little Stinkers.


    I’m sure this is a hit at parties.

    And then there’s the ever popular “Merry Fucking Christmas” by our friends on South Park. For some people, this is probably a valid sentiment.


    Mr. Garrison sings to all the “heathens” out there who aren’t Christians…

    I don’t know if I’d call this “bad” as much as I’d call it potentially offensive. I, of course, think it’s a hoot, but others might not be as generous.

    Ditto for Red Peters’ heartwarming classic, “Holy Shit, It’s Christmas!” Any time you need hamsters as singing partners, you know your song is full of gimmickry.


    I think I like the furry little critters, though…

    Red Peters followed up with another Christmas hit called “You Ain’t Getting Shit For Christmas”…


    Red takes on this song with the Alan Pinchloaf Singers.

    I’m sure everyone has a story of ungrateful friends and family members, right? I know I do.

    Speaking of bad Christmas music involving rodents, I don’t need to hear “Please Christmas Don’t Be Late” by Alvin in the Chipmunks ever again…


    This song makes me cringe.

    I’m sorry this post is more video than writing, but I think I need to go back to bed with a hot toddy. Hopefully your Christmas music is all good and hopefully no one gives you the unwanted gift of sickness.

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  • Let the holidays begin!

    Let the holidays begin!

    Thanksgiving is over! Let the holidays begin!

    Okay, I know… Thanksgiving is part of “the holidays”, but as I was stressing like a madwoman over Thanksgiving, I feel like I can relax a little now. I’m not one to get as wrapped up in Christmas music as some people do, but I will admit to having some favorite albums for this time of year. Last Christmas, I made a huge holiday music mix that had songs by everybody from Sting and James Taylor to Kathleen Battle and Eden’s Bridge. My mix has bluegrass, classical, rock, pop, soul, and everything in between. What can I say? I have very eclectic tastes.


    Bruce Springsteen’s “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” was recorded in 1975, but was pretty popular in the 80s…

    Having come of age in the 80s, a lot of my favorite music comes from that era. Christmas music is no exception. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band famously covered “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” in December 1975 and then released it as a B side to his 80s era hit, “My Hometown”. It’s now a holiday staple! But as much as I like The Boss, I find my tastes lean more toward the traditional. Must be a feature of getting old.

    In 1987, Sting made a haunting cover of “Gabriel’s Message” for the 1987 compilation, A Very Special Christmas.


    Love this contemplative Christmas song…

    Years later, Sting refurbished “Gabriel’s Message” for his 2010 album, If On A Winter’s Night.


    Updated with strings and horns, this version is also haunting in a different way.

    Last year, I discovered the wonderful holiday offering Joy- An Irish Christmas by Keith and Krystyn Getty. If you like a little Celtic flavor to your holiday music, I recommend it highly! There’s an exciting mix of exciting fast paced music countered by peaceful beautiful songs.


    “Jesus, Joy of the Highest Heaven” sung here by Krystyn Getty.


    A live version of their “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.

    And there are also a number of soulful classics available. “Do You Hear What I Hear” by Gladys Knight and the Pips immediately comes to mind… So does the Jackson 5’s Christmas album, which comes complete with Christmas greetings from the brothers. Given that they were Jehovah’s Witnesses at the time they made the album, that must have been an awkward recording session.


    “Give Love On Christmas Day” by the Jackson 5.

    Or there’s blue-eyed soul by Hall & Oates…


    I must admit, I like this song for the video…

    And “Please Come Home For Christmas” by The Eagles…


    Pat Benatar also does a fine version of this bluesy Christmas staple, but I am partial to Don Henley’s soulful vocals.

    Here’s Pat singing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”.


    Talk about a classic. This was done in 1988, when I was still a lass.

    My all time favorite Christmas album, though, has to be James Taylor’s A Christmas Album, which he made in 2004 for Hallmark. The album was produced by Dave Grusin, who wrote all the wonderful arrangements of the music. James later re-released the album with two more songs. I didn’t buy the re-released version because I already had all the songs on it.


    “Go Tell It On The Mountain” is one of my favorite JT Christmas songs!

    I’m sure as the month wears on, there will be more posts about Christmas songs… but for now, I think we’ve gotten things off to a festive start! Hope your December has gotten off famously!

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