I try to have some sort of tradition for some of the months of the years, and every Christmas I share something each day of the 25 days, or 24 days of December. Last year it was 24 Christmas film, and this year it will be Christmas songs. The song for today is "The Christmas Song" sung by Nat King Cole, one of the greats of American music. Below is some info about the song:
"The Christmas Song" (commonly subtitled "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire" or, as it was originally subtitled, "Merry Christmas to You") is a classic Christmas song written in 1944 by musician, composer, and vocalist Mel Tormé (aka The Velvet Fog), and Bob Wells. According to Tormé, the song was written during a blistering hot summer. In an effort to "stay cool by thinking cool", the most-performed (according to BMI) Christmas song was born.[1]"I saw a spiral pad on his piano with four lines written in pencil", Tormé recalled. "They started, "Chestnuts roasting..., Jack Frost nipping..., Yuletide carols..., Folks dressed up like Eskimos.' Bob (Wells, co-writer) didn't think he was writing a song lyric. He said he thought if he could immerse himself in winter he could cool off. Forty minutes later that song was written. "I wrote all the music and some of the lyrics."
The Nat King Cole Trio first recorded the song early in 1946. At Cole's behest – and over the objections of his label, Capitol Records – a second recording was made the same year utilizing a small string section, this version becoming a massive hit on both the pop and R&B charts. Cole again recorded the song in 1953, using the same arrangement with a full orchestra arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle, and once more in 1961, in a stereophonic version with orchestra conducted by Ralph Carmichael. Nat King Cole's 1961 version is generally regarded as definitive, and in 2004 was the most loved seasonal song with women aged 30–49,[2] while Cole's original 1946 recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1974.So November has come and gone, and now only one, lone month of 2013 remains, or rather 30 days remain. I spent some time day with my brother in-law, sister and nephew as they went Christmas tree shopping, which was a lot of fun. It has been a very busy week, and I am physically and mentally exhausted, and wouldn't you know it, the week is about to begin all over again. Joseph Stalin was a butcher of humanity and I do not like him whatsoever, but he did make a statement that I have always found interesting. "One death is a tragedy; one million is a statistic." I think that says enough, as it seems to be usually the case unfortunately. Not necessarily a very festive end run for the day, but life is what it is. Work this month is going to be very....interesting. God help me. Good night everyone, and good luck.
"The Christmas Song" sung by Nat King Cole
