Tag: Christmas Music

BGS Wraps: Carolina Story, “New Year’s Eve”

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Artist: Carolina Story
Song: “New Year’s Eve”
Release Date: October 23, 2020

In Their Words: “All of our favorite Christmas songs are those of Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Sinatra and Judy Garland lamenting the mistakes, hardships and trials of that given year and looking ahead to a fresh start. ‘New Year’s Eve’ has always been one of our favorite holidays, and I would say that we consider it an extension of Christmas. We came at it from that angle and wanted to write more of a broader ‘holiday’ song that people could grasp onto and find some hope and joy in during these uncertain times. We’ve all been through a lot with a global pandemic, social and racial justice issues and all of the uncertainty being confronted. We imagined the countdown from ten just before the stroke of midnight on this upcoming New Year’s Eve as 2020 fades away and all of the thoughts that will be running wildly through the minds of people all over the world. We wanted to write the song envisioning all of us standing by the fire in one big living room at that moment, choosing to move forward together.” — Ben Roberts, Carolina Story

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BGS Wraps: Tom Mason, “Little Elvis, King of the Elves”

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Artist: Tom Mason
Album: Under a Mistletoe Sky
Song: “Little Elvis, King of the Elves”
Release Date: November 6, 2020

In Their Words: “The holidays are all about nostalgia, and what could be [more] nostalgic than Elvis? As a kid I’d stare longingly at the guitars in catalogues. When I got older, my first traveling gig was with an Elvis impersonator, so I suppose I have a soft spot for the King. I imagined ‘Little Elvis’ as an elfin Elvis impersonator on a cartoon Christmas special we’d see as kids, watching in our pajamas just before going off to bed to dream of the arrival of Christmas. In these crazy, splintered times I wanted to make a holiday CD that was fun and inclusive, focusing on the joyful aspects of the season. I set out to write new songs that would tap into the nostalgia of the holidays. If ever I doubted a song wasn’t Christmas-y enough, there was a simple solution: more sleigh bells!” — Tom Mason

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BGS Wraps: Jesse Lynn Madera Featuring Matt Rollings, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”

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Artist: Jesse Lynn Madera Featuring Matt Rollings
Song: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
Release Date: October 22, 2020

In Their Words: “What an honor, master class, and joy it was to sing with the legendary Matt Rollings as he produced and played on ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.’ It was important to incorporate the weight of this transformative year into our interpretation, and I think Matt and I were feeling similarly about the events unfolding around us. For that reason, the emotions in our performances danced with ease that isn’t always so readily available in the studio. To have all the players on the same page in their heads, that’s unusual and nothing short of electric. Kristin Wilkinson added a phenomenal string arrangement to the mix. The stars really aligned for this track to happen, and I couldn’t be more proud or grateful to have my name on this.” — Jesse Lynn Madera

“Jesse Lynn Madera is an amazing artist and person. In the years we’ve known each other, I’ve seen her kindness, generosity and fierce spirit, and these traits all come out in her music. All I had to do was press record, sit at the piano, and start playing, and out came this incredible music. She told the story of this classic song in a way I’ve never heard before. Intimate, nostalgic, sad and beautiful…” — Matt Rollings

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BGS Wraps: Uncle Billy, “Together Again”

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Artist: Uncle Billy
Song: “Together Again”
Release Date: December 4, 2020

In Their Words: “When we started Uncle Billy in 2016, we were motivated to write Christmas songs that felt classic, yet explored themes and stories not commonly expressed. Every year we write and record one new original Christmas song with the goal of one day releasing them as a full length album. While most years we follow whatever amusing idea comes to us, this year was different. We wanted to speak to the moment and flood a little love and hope into people’s lives after what’s been, and continues to be, a pummeling year, made worse by having to be apart from the ones we love. ‘Together Again’ is a song for everyone and a reminder that one day, we’ll be together again at Christmastime.” — Kevin Andrew Prchal and Nate Erickson, Uncle Billy

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BGS Wraps: Nicki Bluhm, “Everyone’s Getting Love for Christmas”

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Artist: Nicki Bluhm
Song: “Everyone’s Getting Love for Christmas”
Album: Buon Natale EP

In Their Words: “This song felt very fitting for Christmas 2020. With so many out of work, spending money on gifts just isn’t in the cards for some. The silver lining is gratitude — gratitude for the things and people in our lives that money cannot buy. With the help of my Nashville friends and neighbors AJ Croce and Scot Sax, director/producer Jesse Noah Wilson and Todd Sherwood (owner of The 5 Spot in East Nashville who warmly opened his venue doors), we were able to shoot this all-too-real seasonal video.” — Nicki Bluhm

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BGS Wraps: Tommy Emmanuel, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (Live)

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Artist: Tommy Emmanuel
Album: Live! Christmas Time
Song: “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
Release Date: December 4, 2020

In Their Words: “This live Christmas album was recorded at The Big Room at the Sierra Nevada Brewery in Chico, California, which is the same place I filmed and recorded my album, Center Stage. That room just has some mojo for me. When I listen to this recording, I hear the joy, soul, and fun we had at that show. Christmas music is so joyous to me and I feel we rose to the occasion that night. I’ve always felt a connection to the song ‘I’ll Be Home For Christmas.’ It just speaks to the heart, especially to anyone who travels for a living. Annie Sellick’s singing is just beautiful on that song. ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘Guitar Boogie’ are also standout tracks for me. Pat Bergeson’s harmonica playing seems to push me to another level.” — Tommy Emmanuel, CGP

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BGS Wraps: Liz Longley, “Feels Like Christmas”

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Artist: Liz Longley
Album: A Little Magic EP
Song: “Feels Like Christmas”
Release Date: December 4, 2020

In Their Words: “‘Feels Like Christmas’ is about embracing the beauty in the messiness of the holidays. Kids might be extra rowdy, the presents might not be wrapped, there may not be any sign of snow, but time with the ones you love is all that really matters. With a year like we’ve had, togetherness is what we’re all craving right now. When we can safely gather again, I believe it will be all the more special. Until then, I hope this song reminds people of the best parts of the holidays.” — Liz Longley

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BGS Wraps: Grant-Lee Phillips, “Winterglow”

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Artist: Grant-Lee Phillips
Song: “Winterglow”
Album: Yuletide EP
Release Date: November 13, 2020

In Their Words: “‘Winterglow’ might not have been written if it weren’t for the coaxing of my late father. He urged me to write it some years ago. It’s a song about this season of reflection, family and peace. I tend to turn inward when the nights get long, recalling the passing years — the good memories. That’s the spirit of ‘Winterglow.’ I wrote it around Christmas of 2008, months after our daughter was born, so it’s almost like a treasured ornament that we pull out of the attic each year. The song was recorded in Paul Bryan’s bedroom studio with Paul producing and playing bass. Jay Bellerose played drums and Patrick Warren added some keyboards to my vocal and guitars. A year or so later, I performed ‘Winterglow’ with Aimee Mann on her Christmas tour. The song was featured on the Gilmore Girls in 2016 when I performed it, in my role of the Town Troubadour, for the reunion special.” — Grant-Lee Phillips

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BGS Wraps: Victoria Bailey, “Christmas Must Be Tonight”

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Artist: Victoria Bailey
Song: “Christmas Must Be Tonight”

In Their Words: “I love Christmas so much, and it’s been a dream come true to track a holiday song. The Band is one of my all-time favorites, and this song is so special to me. I wanted to put a ‘Victoria’ twist on it. My band and I recorded it live around one mic, acoustic, in the studio. There was so much beautiful energy in the room with the back-up vocals and string instruments, and it truly did feel like Christmas! It turned out exactly how I wanted — raw and live — and it just really represents who we are as a band and who I am as an artist.” — Victoria Bailey

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BGS Wraps: Chandler Holt & Lauren Stovall, “Winter’s Night Waltz”

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Artists: Chandler Holt & Lauren Stovall
Single: “Winter’s Night Waltz”
Release Date: November 20, 2020

In Their Words: “‘Winter’s Night Waltz’ was written in the spring of 2019 while Chatham County Line was preparing to cut a record with our longtime Norwegian buddy Jonas Fjeld and the one-and-only Judy Collins. Tracked at Echo Mountain recording studio in Asheville, North Carolina, featuring Greg Readling, Dave Wilson, John Teer, Russell Waldon (Judy’s musical director and fabulous piano player), as well as the masterful drummer Bill Berg (Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks as well many other classics). This recording you hear was done with all of us (except for Bill) in one room and in one complete take. At the time it seemed unfortunate that ‘Winter’s Night Waltz’ didn’t make it onto this album, but it gave me the chance to add my own voice to the duet and work with an amazing vocalist, Lauren Stovall of The Railsplitters and By the Lee. Lauren and I headed to Vermillion Road studios to cut the vocal tracks and I’m sure you’ll agree that Lauren absolutely nailed her part and that I didn’t muck things too much on my end. ;)” — Chandler Holt

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