Christmas Carol Pet Peeve...

valanhb

TCS Member
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Mar 2, 2002
Messages
32,530
Purraise
100
Location
Lakewood (Denver suburb), Colorado
I have my radio at work tuned to the all-Christmas-all-the-time station for this month, and O Holy Night as recorded by Mariah Carey was just on. Why do some singers think that there just weren't enough notes in the song as originally written? I understand some, but every single one that's held longer than an eighth note? Oh, it just drives me nuts!
Maybe it's just because I'm a suburban white girl, trained vocally to sing with a choir. Maybe it's because my mother railed on me for sliding up to or down to notes when I would sing as a child. Maybe it's because I know how to read the actual music the way it was written. But I just HATE hearing a song like O Holy Night massacred because she can't possibly hold any one note longer than 1/8 beat!

OK, that's all. Thanks for listening to my rant.
 

KittenKrazy

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jul 24, 2003
Messages
4,465
Purraise
13
Location
Double Springs, Alabama
Just glad to know that I'm not the only one who feels that way! Not naming names, 'cause there are too many out there to mention as far as I'm concerned! I think a lot of it has to do with the musical training here too.
 

rapunzel47

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jul 20, 2003
Messages
30,725
Purraise
8
Location
Lotus Land
Another trained long-time choral singer weighing in here -- yup, it really burns me up!
I guess we're just spoiled for the "spontaneity"
, aren't we?
 

pinkdaisy226

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 5, 2004
Messages
6,808
Purraise
13
Location
Oregon
I'll agree with ya - but I don't just limit it to Christmas carols... there are those singers out there that feel the need to "embelish" a song by holding a note for ages, etc... ugh! We know you can hold it that long, it doesn't mean you have to do it constantly!
 

turtlecat

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jun 1, 2004
Messages
2,288
Purraise
1
Location
Morrisville, NC
Beh.. I generally hate it when people try to have what I call a "vocal solo" .. There's a reason people don't listen to opera.. Also.. have you noticed about mariah Carey, that about half the sounds she makes are so high that dogs start barking, and you can't hear her?
 

pinkdaisy226

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 5, 2004
Messages
6,808
Purraise
13
Location
Oregon
She DOES make dogs start barking, doesn't she? I'm not a big fan of Christina Aguilera for the same reason... plus the fact that she started calling herself X-Tina, which doesn't even make sense!
 

jcat

Mo(w)gli's can opener
Veteran
Joined
Feb 13, 2003
Messages
73,213
Purraise
9,851
Location
Mo(w)gli Monster's Lair
I have yet to find a "modern" collection of Christmas carols that I like. My parents used to have some great collections on vinyl, with Andy Williams, Robert Goulet, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, and the like. They must have been from the 50s or 60s. I've downloaded some new stuff, but don't particularly like it.
 

ali012281

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 5, 2004
Messages
2,798
Purraise
1
Location
Alabama
I like the older christmas songs as well... I adore the covers that Harry Conic JR. does... oh he is to die for.

Christmas songs were written they way they were for a reason. I hate all these new bubble gum pop chicks who are changing them to show their vocal ranges. It really ruins the song and my christmas spirit.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #9

valanhb

TCS Member
Thread starter
Veteran
Joined
Mar 2, 2002
Messages
32,530
Purraise
100
Location
Lakewood (Denver suburb), Colorado
I think the most recent Christmas CD that I really like is from my childhood - John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together. I LOVE that CD!


Clay Aiken, from what I've heard, does a nice job on the carols. But yeah, I agree with you Tricia. The "modern" interpretations just leave a lot of be desired!
 

turtlecat

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jun 1, 2004
Messages
2,288
Purraise
1
Location
Morrisville, NC
Bleh.. You see. I was right when I was little.. I only ever watched AMC and for christmas songs, the most modern I'd do is Perry Como. And Danny Kaye was my idol! (especially in white christmas and a song is born ) But I've found one good modern one with vocals. - We three kings of Orient are, with Sarah maclaughlin and bare naked ladies I think. I like it because she always sounds soo .. reedy, like a flute, I think. Also, I like Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Christmas in Sarajevo (but that's more because it was Sarajevo than anything..)
 

jcat

Mo(w)gli's can opener
Veteran
Joined
Feb 13, 2003
Messages
73,213
Purraise
9,851
Location
Mo(w)gli Monster's Lair
Perry Como! He was one of the ones I liked so much as a kid! I'll take a look at/have a "hear" of your recommendations, Denise!
 

turtlecat

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jun 1, 2004
Messages
2,288
Purraise
1
Location
Morrisville, NC
Well.. We three kings is Fairly poppy to begin with, they sped up the tempo slightly, which I liked.. She doesn't go over the top, I think. But like I said.. I like saramaclaughlan. Christmas in sarajevo is instrumental or choir, so there's no showboating.
 

coolcat

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Mar 30, 2004
Messages
36,938
Purraise
69
Location
The "Dark Side of the Moon"
Originally Posted by pinkdaisy226

She DOES make dogs start barking, doesn't she? I'm not a big fan of Christina Aguilera for the same reason... plus the fact that she started calling herself X-Tina, which doesn't even make sense!
But I Agree!...
 

emma's friend

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jun 8, 2004
Messages
1,855
Purraise
4
Originally Posted by Ali012281

I like the older christmas songs as well... I adore the covers that Harry Conic JR. does... oh he is to die for.

I can highly recommend the sound-track for the movie Elf that came out last year. It is full of classic Christmas songs by Aretha Franklin, Eartha Kitt, Lena Horne, etc.
 

yosemite

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Apr 26, 2001
Messages
23,313
Purraise
81
Location
Ingersoll, ON
Gosh, I had to get my 2 cents worth in here.

I cannot stand Mariah Carey - all she does is scream and try to prove she can reach some high notes. I say, just sing the dang notes already.

Burt Kaempfert (sp) has a beautiful christmas album (old), Perry Como - oh yes, the oldies - for sure.

I have yet to hear someone do a cover and have it sound as good as the original, i.e. Bing Crosby's White Christmas will never be bested (IMO).
 

turtlecat

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jun 1, 2004
Messages
2,288
Purraise
1
Location
Morrisville, NC
There's one song that gets my back up when I hear it, It's played frequently here and I know it's Jewel and somebody else, but I can't remember if it's rudolf or not (I think it is) ::censor::censor::censor:: is up with the yodelling christmas characters.. it makes me want to upend her and hang her ankles first off the tree at rockafeller center, and hope she has an aneurism.
 

KittenKrazy

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jul 24, 2003
Messages
4,465
Purraise
13
Location
Double Springs, Alabama
Originally Posted by turtlecat

There's one song that gets my back up when I hear it, It's played frequently here and I know it's Jewel and somebody else, but I can't remember if it's rudolf or not (I think it is) ::censor::censor::censor:: is up with the yodelling christmas characters.. it makes me want to upend her and hang her ankles first off the tree at rockafeller center, and hope she has an aneurism.
Love it!
 

hissy

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 19, 2001
Messages
34,872
Purraise
76
I finally broke down and found my King Family Christmas album! I played it the other night, now that is true Christmas singing!
 

tulip2454

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 16, 2003
Messages
1,208
Purraise
1
Location
still practising the Dharma
Cant say I have actually 'listened' to Christmas Carols for a long time. I dont like being bombarded with poppy stuff that blares out of shops (oh wow now I KNOW i'm gettin old)

I rarely tune to music stations on my radio. On Christmas Eve on Radio 4 in the UK they do Nine Lessons and Carols every year. It starts with Once in Royal Davids City sung by a solo boy - it sends shivers up my spine every time I hear it. I really try not to miss it. The great thing is the choir can actually be heard and I have a great time singing along to stuff that is sung properly without any added 'highlights'. sung as it was written - great.
 
Top