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Ricochet Christmas Music Fight Club: The Amazing Third Fight!
Like the Ricochet Movie Fight Club of happy memory and the Ricochet Dueling Book Club, the Ricochet Christmas Music Fight Club is a place for fighting to the death over who has the best answer to a selected question of the week. I plan to post the RCMFC around Friday or Saturday each week until Christmas. Whoever’s answer gets the most likes wins! The winner of the first four fights selects the question for the next week.
In addition to the joys of verbal combat, let’s remember that the RCMFC is meant to be a place for sharing beautiful Christmas music. Let’s have fun!
Last week’s battle saw Clavius triumph with Tom Lehrer’s “A Christmas Carol.” This week, Clavius asks us:
What Christmas song do you most like to sing wherever you are comfortable? Shower, forest, choir, or wherever you sing!
You know what to do now: Answer the question, and fight about it!
(Reminders: Fight, but don’t be a jerk. And share some Christmas joy even if we are pretending to be fighting!)
Published in General
I’m not French, and I don’t sing, but to play along, I’ll nominate the French version of “White Christmas” sung here by indie pop duo Brigitte:
I prefer the Steeleye Span prog folk rock version:
This actually hit the UK charts in 1973. Pretty good for an a cappella piece entirely in Latin.
Also check out Wikipedia’s Gaudete entry.
I don’t sing, and this is not exactly a Christmas song. But here’s A Marshmallow World
Sure, the guys are having fun, while the sopranos are wondering where they can catch a breath. The other song in the turn-blue category is “What Child is This?” Pretty, but I’m not eager to sing it.
My favorites vary, but this one is always in the rotation. Sang it in church this morning. (We do a service of Advent Lessons & Carols.)
Finally an excuse for singing off key:
Nobody can get down there…
I heard Greensleeves first and I’ve never wholly been able to accept the change.
You’re a mean one Mr. Grinch (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKWZ8p3pDQg) is the winner of the day, with Father Christmas by The Kinks (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8355kIB5x14) coming up second.
Its the classic:
The text is drawn from the Matins of Christmas in the Roman Breviary, and has been set many times over at least the last 500 years. There is of course a plainchant tune associated with it, as well.
O great mystery,
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the newborn Lord,
lying in a manger!
O blessed virgin, whose womb
was worthy to bear
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Alleluia!
I always struggle to find a good recording of Poulenc’s version. This one is decent – not enough rubato, though.
Another great King Singer’s song is Veni Veni Emmanuel:
I also like The Priests Noel album – I wasn’t aware of the Sussex Carol and it was very enjoyable:
addenndum-I have been fortunate to see both groups in concert- highly recommended. The “warm up” act for The Priests was Gregory Harrington- his With or Without You on violin is fantastic
9 likes
9 likes
8 likes
You all gonna let this be a tie?
Clavius has 10
I’m also dropping a like on Good King Wenceslas to keep the race close.
What’s book on win, place, and show? I might want to take a flyer.
Thurl Ravenscroft. Great singer.
Or someone can suggest “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” and campaign for 15 likes before I have to call this in 15 or 18 hours or so.
16 likes. I’ll hold off on the last-minute campaign for “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” Even these Dominion machines won’t be able to get past that kind of a lead.
Clavius wins!
Ricochet Christmas Music Fight Club: The EPIC Fourth Fight!
Just noting that I also had 10 likes! I like Clavius’ choice, but it’s a lesser-known song.
Christmas, Jesus, the meaning of life, and how they do Christmas songs back home.
Here’s a sermon from the late Dr. James Boice, pastor of 10th Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, on Isaac Watts and the Scriptural basis for Joy To The World.