O Holy Night

"I think my search for the perfect O Holy Night just ended..."

Words I never thought I'd say left my lips this weekend

I whispered them to my mother during a benefit concert on last weekend. It was one of those rare moments when you're listening to a live performance and think, "Please, can you repeat the chorus one more time?" or "I hope he tacks on another 12 bars to this solo!"

I know you're just dying to find out which version this was and listen to it yourself. The unfortunate truth is that you can't listen to it, well unless you start coming to my church. It was a guitar/ukulele duet sung in Hawaiian by two men from my church and was absolutely beautiful.

The truth is that the search isn't over, I am beginning to realize that it will never over. I think perhaps I am not searching for the perfect O, Holy Night performance but rather the perfect O, Holy Night moment.

You can watch a (short) video of a different song here to see (p.s. yes I know that's a mandolin, they played that too).

What I'm listening to/O Holy Night

Two more to add to the list!

Shawn McDonald

Chris Tomlin

I have to give some serious love to Becca at She Becomes for turning my onto the first one. I don't know what hole in my brain made me overlook Shawn McDonald's version of O Holy Night as it was released at least four years ago, but it would have been really tragic if I never heard it.

This recording has everything that I love about Shawn, that easy, mellow coffee-house sound with plenty of guitar picking and enough effects ad libs to still sound "cool" but not detract from the song. Honestly, this kind of music is not where his voice carries the most impact. O Holy Night belongs on a two story stage with pyrotechnics and Shawn's voice belongs in a smoky basement on a squishy chair with a beanie on its head. His music makes me think while O Holy Night completely empties my head. Still, he makes the song his own. I wouldn't have guessed that anyone could make O Holy Night sound chill and still be powerful, but he nails it. Guy's seriously the coolest Christian musician on the scene, I will go to the wall on that.

Thanks again, Becca!

The second was an accident. I bought Chris Tomlin's Christmas album without knowing O Holy Night was on it, it was a like a surprise truffle center in an already great album. But, had I known it was on there, I still would have had absolute confidence that he'd do it justice, he's just like that.

I'm not sure if this version really qualifies for the race as there is a choir behind him, though it is a simple choir, often in unison. But, as I was listening to it (admittedly a little teary), I realized that the reason I've never found the "perfect" solo performance of this song just may be that this song requires a crowd. It's not only that the power needed to build up to that last "O night divine," often exceeds a single voice (Celine Dion excepted), but it just is fitting somehow.

However, Chris deserves solid praise for knocking it out of the park. He doesn't screw around with weird grandstanding ad libs, but he still gets into it and doesn't shy away from the high notes. I was pleasantly surprised, props dude!

Anyone else wanna share?

What I'm listening to: Christmas

This has been a Christmassy week, so I thought I'd share a few of my favorite Christmas songs that I've been listening to this week.

In addition to various versions of O Holy Night, I've been listening to a lot of David Crowder*Band's Christmas album, Oh for Joy. I have an interesting relationship with David Crowder I tend to fall madly in love with certain songs and not care for others. That said, I am really enjoying the album so far and have added it to my "recommended listens."

Even if you don't care for a hoe-down-esque dance party (Angels We Have Heard on High) or long vampy sections (Silent Night) you can't deny that DC*B can bring the worship. I mean they have a way of building an average song up to a holy spirit explosion (The First Noel).

While there are a few interesting additions that I haven't decided on yet, like the Hallelujah refrain they added to O Holy Night or the outtro to Silent Night, I absolutely loved The First Noel  and even enjoyed Joy to the World, one of my least favorite Christmas songs. I'm a huge TSO fan so the rocking Carol of the Bells/Chrsitmas Eve (Sarajevo) medley kicked me in the pants; it was a nice way to end the album.

Aside from David Crowder*Band, I've been listening to some favorite discoveries from last year: The Hotel Cafe Presents...Winter Songs and Phil Wickham's Songs for Christmas, and one of my all time favorite Christmas albums: A Charlie Brown Christmas.

I just bought A Very She & Him Christmas ($5 on Amazon.com!) and am very excited to crack it open!

Figuratively, it was an mp3 download...

What are you listening to??

P.S. Here's a little present to happy up your day!

It Begins...

I pulled out my Christmas Playlist on my Amazon Cloud Player today. This bodes well for me as I had kind of a grinchy Christmas last year.

Long story.

So, the fact that I'm getting the Christmas itch already, despite the joke of a summer we had here in Eastern WA, is encouraging.

As I was shuffling through Josh Groban and A Charlie Brown Christmas, David Crowder*Band's version of Oh Holy Night rose to the surface. This recording was recommended to me by my good friend Whitney, who appreciates my neurotic obsession with finding the perfect recording of Oh Holy Night, a topic which I will not get into here (you're welcome). You can read last year's post if you're interested.


I'm not sure why I'm getting the itch so early but I'm going to go with it and start the 2011 hunt and I'm looking for suggestions!


To review:
My stand-by recording for the years has been Celine Dion; she rocks vocally, but, if we're being honest, her style kinda bugs me. The biggest surprise of 2010 was Phil Wickham and I'm going to call David Crowder*Band my first kill of 2011.

I know there are hundreds out there, so hit me up with your favorite recordings of this holiday favorite or record one of your own!!

Here are a few I've already heard

Hit: Mormon Tabernacle Choir*


Near Hits:
Celine Dion
Phil Wickham
Pavarotti
David Phelps


On the Fence
David Crowder*Band
Josh Groban
Carrie Underwood
GLEE
Charlotte Church
Mariah Carey
Mario Lanza
Celtic Women


Misses
Kelly Clarkson :'(
Avril Lavigne
Martina McBride
Clay Aiken
David Archuleta
N Sync
Christina Aguillera
Jessica Simpson
BarlowGirl


*Choral and instrumental recordings don't really count, I'm looking for a solo or small ensemble recording

What's Your Favorite Christmas Song?

Another Christmas, another fruitless search for the perfect version of Oh, Holy Night.

I don't know if anyone else is as neurotic as I am about such things, but I have a thing about this song.

If you ask anyone what their favorite Christmas song is, there is a pretty good chance that Oh, Holy Night makes the top 5. It's just a beautiful song, both musically and lyrically. But, as you may have noticed, the most beautiful things also have the potential to be the most disastrous. Hearing an inept or insensitive musician perform Oh, Holy Night is like giving a toddler a chainsaw; mayhem will ensue (and someone is probably losing a leg). For this reason, I really do not like it when musicians, even musicians I like, choose to perform this song. I've been hurt too many times. Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson (Kelly, Kelly, I had such high hopes for you), Carrie Underwood, GLEE, Mario Lanza, Charlotte Church, freakin' Pavarotti! Even the incomparable Josh Groban has disappointed me.

I think the problem is most people don't realize how incredibly difficult this song is to perform well. Like a soap bubble, if you handle it without the utmost delicacy, you will destroy it. It is both a complex and subtle song with a deceptively difficult melodic line. Singing it takes legitimate chops and, like that creepy sand-tiger in Aladdin, it has devoured many an unworthy vocalist (Avril Lavigne, Martina McBride, Clay Aiken, David Archuleta, N Sync, Christina Aguillera and, truly horrifying, Jessica Simpson).

First of all, you can't do a pop version of this song, it ain't happenin'. This song MUST be sung classically or by someone with classical training. Sorry, Jess. Secondly, I just will never be able to buy someone singing "Fall on your knees" or "Christ is the Lord" when I know dang well they don't buy it themselves. That's why David Phelps comes so close to the mark, even though I think other performers beat him out musically. The lyrics to this carol are powerful and you can't do a song about Christ justice if you aren't in love with Him. Or at least I haven't seen someone do it yet.

I happen to have heard a few of my personal friends sing this song who I think rock the vocal socks off of many of the joksters who have made a mess of it. Lucky me!

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir did a fairly awesome job and I've heard some beautiful orchestral versions, but a satisfactory solo artist or small group rendition still evades me. I don't know if I'll ever find it, maybe I should check out that Susan Boyle chick?

So, now that I've share my pain with you...my favorite Christmas Song is Oh, Holy Night with honorable mentiones to The First Noel, Christmas Time is Here,  and Satchmo's 'Zat You, Santa Claus. My favorite album is probably either the Charlie Brown Christmas or Home Alone soundtrack although Bebo Norman's Christmas... From the Realms of Glory is fairly awesome as well.

What's your favorite Christmas song?