Tag: Christmas Music

BGS WRAPS: Sultans of String, “The Little Swallow (Carol of the Bells)/Al Vuelo”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Sultans of String
Song: “The Little Swallow (Carol of the Bells)/ Al Vuelo”
Album: Christmas Caravan

In Their Words: “This song ‘Shchedryk,’ known in English as ‘The Little Swallow,’ is a Ukrainian New Year’s carol. Many people know it by its later adaption to another song, ‘Carol of the Bells.’ Here we created a mashup with our original song ‘Al Vuelo,’ arranged in a Spanish bulerias style. We took this song full-circle, back to Europe, to record with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. The most exciting part of the process was travelling to Prague. I knew that the musicians there would do an incredible job with this song, which we got to record in a Soviet-era studio. And I was praying for snow, so we could create a Christmas feel in the middle of their iconic square in the old town. Finally the snow came and we rushed down to the square to capture the moment!” –Chris McKhool, Sultans of String

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BGS WRAPS: Twin Kennedy, “Cold Weather”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Twin Kennedy
Song: “Colder Weather”
Album: A Twin Kennedy Christmas

In Their Words: “We wrote ‘Cold Weather’ on a cold winter night in Nashville, jamming in our living room by the Christmas tree. As Canadian girls, we appreciate the beauty of winter, and we love a white Christmas! However, a chilly night is much better when you’re cozied up inside with your sweetheart. ‘Cold Weather’ is about just that – all of the things that warm your heart at winter time – candlelight, homemade pie, flannel pajamas and your loved one by your side.” –Carli and Julie Kennedy

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BGS WRAPS: JD McPherson, “All the Gifts I Need”

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Artist: JD McPherson
Song: “All the Gifts I Need”
Album: Socks

In Their Words: “’All The Gifts I Need’” was written with my pal Trent Dabbs. We were writing a song that I assumed was ‘for pitch’ (to be pitched to country artists) and I dubbed the song’s vibe ‘AC/DC for NASCAR fans,’ and we were both digging it a lot… the trouble was, Trent thought we were writing it for ME, and he was visibly bummed when I revealed that I had no intention of ever, ever recording it.

“I pivoted and suggest that we try writing a song for my upcoming Christmas album. Turns out Trent loves Christmas as much as I do… and that’s how ‘All the Gifts’ was born. We just had a little conversation about being dads during Christmas time, and how the ‘prelude’ is our favorite part… the pulling lights out of storage, playing Darlene Love records, seeing the kiddos get excited, and definitely smelling the baked goods!” –JD McPherson

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BGS WRAPS: Rhyan Sinclair, “Let the Light In (In the Name of Christmas)”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Rhyan Sinclair
Song: “Let the Light In (In the Name of Christmas)”
Album: Marshmallow World

In Their Words: “I wrote ‘Let the Light In (In the Name of Christmas)’ about the divisive times we’re living in now. I think the song kind of pleads with everyone to show empathy and find peace, amongst turmoil and disagreement. To let the time of year heal and center us, bring us closer and let us re-evaluate. I think it could also apply to the family conflict that is sometimes associated with the season and maybe serve as a reminder to try to set aside judgment and just love each other. On a lighter note, I wrote this song in the kitchen with my dogs. Maybe I should’ve given them a co-writing credit?” – Rhyan Sinclair

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BGS WRAPS: Whitehorse, “Merry Christmas, Baby”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Whitehorse
Song: “Merry Christmas, Baby”
Album: A Whitehorse Winter Classic

In Their Words: “‘Merry Christmas, Baby’ is the closest I’ll get to spelling out my reservations about Christmas and the process I go through almost every year, which ultimately has me capitulate/participate. The consumerism and religiosity will always be a challenge for me, but at the end of the day I know how special the magic and make-believe are for children and my own childhood was made very special by parents who put on a pretty great show once a year. They made us feel like the wonder and awe of Santa Claus was worth suspending our disbelief. We see the world through the eyes our kids and their joy is worth investing in.” – Luke Doucet, Whitehorse

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BGS WRAPS: Chely Wright, “Happy New Year Old Friend”

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Artist: Chely Wright
Song: “Happy New Year Old Friend”
Album: Santa Will Find You

In Their Words: “For starters, it’s my favorite one on the record, for a couple of reasons:

1. I wrote it with a dear friend of 20 years, Richard Marx. That’s always nice.
2. Richard and I wanted it to be a song that lovers might share, but also a song that best friends could identify with, too.
3. The musicianship on this particular track is astonishingly masterful. Dustin Ransom, Kevin Whitsett and Vinnie Ciesielski sort of blew our minds. We wanted a torchy and classic sounding record and boy, did they ever deliver.
4. And perhaps, most importantly… there just aren’t enough songs out there that celebrate– specifically–New Year’s Eve. 😉

I had the idea and a few lines of a chorus. I knew almost immediately that I wanted to write it with my friend Richard Marx. I sent him what I had and asked him if he was “in” and he replied with, “Duh” or something like that. I was scheduled to be in LA in January so we booked a couple of days to write. We somehow got our wires crossed and our first day had to be cancelled because he “needed a haircut,” which is so on-brand for him. I wasn’t bothered at all by having our writing time cut in half because I knew that we had a solid idea and we’d be in good shape. We sat down for an afternoon and in the first hour or so, we had the song pretty much finished. We tweaked a few words here and there in the following days, but it was all there.” –-Chely Wright

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BGS WRAPS: Bob Dylan, ‘Christmas in the Heart’

Posted on by Amy Reitnouer

Every year, the winter season is filled with countless new Christmas albums from the latest cavalcade of pop artists. Meanwhile, some legacy acts recycle the holiday classics for an easy paycheck. Of course, there are those timeless records we revisit again and again, with songs so deeply ingrained in our brains they can take us back in just a few short notes — Kenny & Dolly’s Once Upon A Christmas, anyone??

But for me, there is one album that outpaces all of them: Bob Dylan’s Christmas in the Heart.  Maybe it’s the soft gravel of his voice that contrasts the downright cheery disposition of the songs — all supported by Bob’s super-tight backing band. Maybe it’s the fifteen tracks themselves, which range from the most traditional, like “O’ Little Town of Bethlehem” and “Silent Night,” to the absurd — you have not experienced glee until you’ve seen this video of “Must Be Santa.” More than anything, I think it’s the sheer joy that comes across in every note. It’s what Christmas should be all about: silliness and happiness and cheesiness mixed with solemnity and tradition and memory.

Naturally then, to kick off our first-ever BGS Wraps series, we present the album in its entirety. Hopefully it becomes a holiday tradition in your family too.

From BGS with Love: Non-Crappy Christmas Songs

Posted on by Editor

Cynical though it may sound, a lot of holiday music is pretty crappy. Just turn on your local soft rock radio station and try withstanding the onslaught of ratings-boosting renditions of “Rudolph” that, these days, seem to begin sometime around Halloween. Save for “Feliz Navidad,” a couple of Carpenters’ tunes, and anything by Bing Crosby, it all pretty much sucks.

To the rescue we come with our exclusive playlist of Non-Crappy Christmas Songs.

We like this list because it has a little of everything: heartbreak, humor, sentiment, and sadness — plus a performance by one of the great folk artists of all time … Kermit the Frog. So, kick back and let Joni Mitchell and Johnny Cash, Brandi Carlile and Burl Ives serenade your holidays.

For those of you who like your carols a little more on the country side of the street, the ginormous Ultimate Country Christmas Playlist we did last year rocks pretty steady.

Photo credit: ginnerobot via Foter.com / CC BY-SA

Erin Rae, ‘Merry Christmas Darling’

Posted on by Editor

It’s no secret around the Bluegrass Situation — or anywhere, for that matter — that there are two things in life that bring surefire joy to the eyes of this Jewish ex-New Yorker (well, other than music, loved ones, and the obvious answers). And that’s a decent bagel or a great Christmas song … preferably together. Of course, I realize what a holy day December 25 is to so many, and I’d never want to discount that. But songs about Santa and snowflakes and reindeers that fly have always been more about a mood to me than anything else and tapped into a sort of unabashed innocence that we’re suppose to let go as we age. For a few weeks when “Jingle Bells” or “All I Want For Christmas Is You” come back into the cultural sphere, everything just feels a notch brighter — a notch closer to my youth, instead of a step even deeper into adulthood.

Erin Rae, one of Nashville’s most talented vocalists, captures this spirit in the gorgeous folk lightness of “Merry Christmas Darling,” originally recorded by the Carpenters. With help from Coco Reilly, Kate Bernhardt, Joe Bisirri, and Dom Billett, Rae’s version trickles in slowly and majestically, with her soft vibrato warming frozen toes by the fire. And, like every good Christmas song, there’s a note of melancholy trickling through it all, too: Beneath the cheer and the presents and the joy are always reminders of the people who aren’t there sharing it with us. Adding a notch of Laurel Canyon Technicolor and a notch of Southern twang, it’s as enchanting as the holidays themselves can be.

The 6 Best New Holiday Albums of 2016

Posted on by Editor

If you're like me, you've already been listening to holiday music for a solid month now, and your annual playlist, to which you gleefully add each year, has already gained another hour or two worth of music since this year's holiday releases began rolling out in October. If you aren't obsessed with all things festive and aren't sure where to begin with this year's holiday releases, breathe easy. We've rounded up six of the best roots-related holiday releases of the year.

Kacey Musgraves, A Very Kacey Christmas

This holiday album from Kacey Musgraves is pure joy — well, mostly, but we'll get to that in a minute. With cameos from Leon Bridges, Willie Nelson, and the Quebe Sisters, there's a little something for everyone in this collection of classics and original songs, and Musgraves' trademark charm shines through in every tune. The album's high point, though, is also its lowest — the tear-jerking "Christmas Makes Me Cry," a beautiful tune Musgraves penned with Shane McAnally and Brandy Clark.

She & Him, Christmas Party

The duo of M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel returns with a second holiday release, the follow-up to 2011's A Very She & Him Christmas. The cuts get a little deeper the second time around the tree, although you'll still find standards like "Let It Snow" and "Winter Wonderland."

Loretta Lynn, White Christmas Blue

Believe it or not, it's been 50 years since Loretta Lynn last released a holiday album. (In 1966, she put out Country Christmas.) This year, she has gifted us with White Christmas Blue, and it includes re-recorded versions of Country Christmas favorites, holiday classics, and a new song, the album's title track.

Various Artists, Christmas on the Lam and Other Songs from the Season

Red House Records ventures into holiday album territory for the first time with this collection of songs, featuring artists like Charlie Parr, the Wailin' Jennys, and Larry Campbell with Teresa Williams. Look for a good mix of new songs and old favorites in this bunch.

David Bazan, Dark Sacred Night

If you didn't collect all of the holiday singles David Bazan began releasing with Suicide Squeeze Records in 2002 (or if you'd enjoy the convenience of having most of them on one disc), you're in luck, as Bazan has compiled 10 of those 14 songs for this remastered collection.

Katie Melua, In Winter

Katie Melua is better known across the pond, but this stirring collection of holiday songs, featuring the Gori Women's Choir from Melua's native Georgia, should earn her some well-deserved recognition here in the States, too.

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