Tag: holiday music

BGS Wraps: Ron Pope, “Christmas Where I Come From”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Ron Pope
Song: “Christmas Where I Come From”
Release Date: December 3, 2020

In Their Words: “This pandemic has taken all sorts of things from us. I know that in the grand scheme of things, not getting to see my extended family this Christmas isn’t as big of a deal as so many of the things that people are dealing with, but it’s something that I’m sad about nonetheless. A big family Christmas is just another thing that this year has taken from us. I want to be able to sneak off with my cousins and drink too much on December 23rd, until a teenaged waitress at Chili’s has to ask us to quiet down. I’m grateful that we’re all still alive and I recognize that it could be much worse, of course; I just wish I could go sit at Grandma’s table and laugh until my jaw hurts from smiling. I miss my family. I was sitting around singing Christmas songs one day and once I started thinking about Christmas this year, this song is what came out.” — Ron Pope

Enjoy more BGS Wraps here.

BGS WRAPS: Phoebe Hunt & The Gatherers, “December Again”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Phoebe Hunt & The Gatherers
Song: “December Again” (single)

In Their Words: “When we made the video for ‘December Again’, all I wanted to do was send it out the very next day. It’s so odd to know a piece of art exists and to not be able to share it. Alas, it was already almost January at that point and I figured it would come around again.

“To be completely honest, I never even thought this song would leave my journal. I love writing and have tons of nameless songs that just pop out and then never see the light of day. But, then something happens that sparks enough creative spirit to write out a chord chart and teach it to the band… Sometimes that part is the hardest because it takes a lot of vulnerability to open up your diary and share it.

“Felt like if we were gonna add to the shuffle of what is played in the airwaves at this time of year, it was important to include everyone, but still honor the profound spiritual connection that is brought out this time of year. Music is that thread. It’s what holds us all together.” — Phoebe Hunt

BGS WRAPS: The McCrary Sisters, “Joy to the World”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: The McCrary Sisters
Song: “Joy to the World”
Album: A Very McCrary Christmas

In Their Words:

“It brings us joy to realize that Jesus was born to bring peace, hope, and joy to this world.” — Ann McCrary

“He is our joy, and his birth was amazing and remarkable! His the true King!” — Alfreda McCrary

“’Joy to the World’ is a song that I think should be sung all year round, ‘cause if the world had more love and joy there would be peace towards all men and we would get along much better than we do. My prayer and my gift is that we try to have more joy in the world. That’s it.” — Regina McCrary

“’Joy to the World,’ bring much needed joy to this world!” — Deborah McCrary

BGS WRAPS: Ian Foster and Nancy Hynes, “A Week in December”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Ian Foster and Nancy Hynes
Song: “A Week in December”
Album: Ian Foster and Nancy Hynes: A Week in December

In Their Words: “I actually wrote this one in the height of summer (maybe that means I’ve levelled up as a songwriter? It’s a challenge to write a Christmas song in your shorts…haha). But I really started thinking about it last winter visiting a friend in Calgary, and talking about that trip home for that ‘week in December’ that most can manage when they live away.

I think most people who make that visit are confronted with quite a mix of emotions: obviously all the happy ones with family and friends, but also the more difficult ones of seeing your old home with different eyes, and seeing how things have changed. I found that balance interesting to write about, trying to capture that back and forth: beautiful lights…in bad weather, going to a Christmas bar show…that’s cacophonous. It falls into that introspective side of ‘end of the year’ songs, but for my friend – and for me – it ultimately reminds us why we go home that same time every year.

I’m singing with Nancy Hynes, who is my partner in ‘real life,’ and has sung harmony on my records since 2011. This album is called Ian Foster and Nancy Hynes: A Week in December, and is our first true duo record, featuring 10 Christmas classics and 2 originals. Nancy’s love of Christmas music was a driving force from the start, and I knew it would be a duo record right from pre-production.

Director Andrew Winter had a good idea when it came to the overlays using some clever tools in After Effects, and we found some treasure troves of footage — both his and ours — that brought things together. I think he did a great job of adding a different dimension to the song while still keeping true to it — an under-appreciated challenge in making music videos.” – Ian Foster

Enjoy more BGS Wraps.

BGS WRAPS: Dailey & Vincent, “Let It Snow”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Dailey & Vincent
Song: “Let It Snow”
Album: The Sounds of Christmas

In Their Words: “We wanted to include “Let It Snow” on The Sounds of Christmas because when you hear the song’s familiar lyrics and cheerful melody, you can’t help but get into the Christmas spirit.” — Dailey & Vincent

Enjoy more BGS Wraps music.

BGS WRAPS: The McCrary Sisters, “Go Tell It on the Mountain”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: The McCrary Sisters
Song: “Go Tell It on the Mountain”
Album: Go Tell It on the Mountain/No Room at the Inn

In Their Words: “I have always loved the Staple Singers, so when our producer Scott Billington at Rounder Records shared his idea of using the song ‘Respect Yourself’ for the groove of this song and put ‘Go Tell It On the Mountain’ to that feel, we jumped all over that opportunity. I love it, I pray — and yet I know — you will love it too. So join us on the highest mountain and lowest street corner to proclaim the message of love, joy, peace, and happiness!” – Regina McCrary

Enjoy more BGS Wraps music.

BGS WRAPS: The Mavericks, “Santa Does”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: The Mavericks
Song: “Santa Does”
Album: Hey! Merry Christmas!

In Their Words: “‘Santa Does’ came to me in a dream. I woke and scribbled it down. Dreamed the whole thing from top to bottom. It became the genesis for the whole album and spawned a whole batch of new Christmas songs. In the spirit of giving, I let my friends Raul Malo and Allan Miller have writing credit, because you know…that’s what Santa Does!” — Jerry Dale McFadden, The Mavericks

 

Enjoy more BGS Wraps music.

BGS WRAPS: Dale Ann Bradley & Tina Adair, “An Old Christmas Card”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Dale Ann Bradley & Tina Adair
Song: “An Old Christmas Card”
Album: A Very Acoustic Christmas

In Their Words: “This is a song I learned from my Renfro Valley days. Always stayed with me through the years. I’ve learned the old Christmas cards can be one of the sweetest memories in my life.” –Dale Ann Bradley

“This song helps bring back a ton of memories from past Christmases I’ve have shared with many loved ones … a bit of Christmas nostalgia! Dale Ann and I wanted to keep it pure and simple with the arrangement – just her guitar and my mandolin and our voices. This is the type of song that doesn’t really need anything else.” –Tina Adair

Enjoy more BGS Wraps music.

BGS WRAPS: Rodney Crowell, “Christmas for the Blues”

Posted on by Editor

Artist: Rodney Crowell
Song: “Christmas for the Blues”
Album: Christmas Everywhere

In Their Words: “‘Christmas for the Blues’ is an idea I carried around in my notebook for years. Once I got serious about writing an entire album of original Christmas songs, this one came fast. I was looking for the tone and arranging style that I associate with record production in late ‘50s Nashville. It is a straightforward performance with Opry-style backing vocals. No muss, no fuss.” — Rodney Crowell

Enjoy more BGS Wraps 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

Enjoy more BGS Wraps music.