Tag: holidays

BGS Wraps: Nathaniel Rateliff with Elle King, “Xmas to Forget”

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Artists: Nathaniel Rateliff with Elle King
Single: “Xmas to Forget”
Release Date: December 23, 2020

In Their Words: “Elle and I had been talking about working on a couple of tunes and doing a version of one of the Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers Christmas songs. But as we were working on it we decided it would be fun to write our own. Joseph (of the Night Sweats) said we should write a Christmas to forget in reference to how hard this year has been for everyone so we ran with the idea.” — Nathaniel Rateliff

“Well, considering it’s been a pretty tough year and the big ‘togetherness’ theme of the holidays is less than ideal, we thought the best way to communicate that was through song. And if we’re all ending out the year in flames, let’s do it laughing. Here’s to a Christmas to forget.” — Elle King

Editor’s Note: Proceeds generated by the single will benefit The Marigold Project, Rateliff’s foundation supporting community and nonprofit organizations working for economic and social justice. The Marigold Project is proud to support Food Research & Action Center, which is the leading national nonprofit organization working to eradicate poverty-related hunger and undernutrition in the United States.

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BGS Wraps: Lydia Loveless, “Merry Christmas”

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Artist: Lydia Loveless
Single: “Merry Christmas”

In Their Words: “I wanted to try my hand at a holiday song. Every year I intend to write one and give up. This year, the only thing I feel like I have any control over is my creativity — so it seemed like now or never. One of the things I have missed most is making music with others, so I asked my bandmates George (Hondroulis) and Todd (May) to add to it. It was a little spark of joy in a super bummer season.” — Lydia Loveless

Editor’s Note: “Merry Christmas” is available exclusively via Bandcamp, with all profits benefiting Mid-Ohio Food Bank.

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BGS Wraps: The Lumineers, “Silent Night”

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Artist: The Lumineers
Single: “Silent Night”
Release Date: December 18, 2020

In Their Words: “Venues have gone silent all across the country and world because of the pandemic. Hope is on the horizon, and we believe we’ll be playing again in 2021. But independent venues need our help to survive that long. Don’t let the venues remain silent forever – SAVE OUR STAGES. When you stream our song ‘Silent Night,’ all proceeds will go towards supporting the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA).” — The Lumineers

Editor’s Note: For an entire year, all proceeds from streaming “Silent Night” will benefit NIVA, helping save some of the music industry’s most important independent stages. The video aims to raise awareness of the severe challenges that venues across the nation are facing during COVID-19. “Silent Night” highlights the fact that venues across the country have gone completely silent due to the pandemic.

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BGS Wraps: Lullanas, “Blue Christmas”

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Artist: Lullanas
Album: Christmas Together (Wherever We Are)
Song: “Blue Christmas”
Release Date: December 4, 2020

In Their Words: “The lyrics to ‘Blue Christmas’ hit a little harder this year (2020). We know many people won’t be having their typical gatherings, and chances are, a lot of us will be feeling blue missing someone. We grew up on Elvis’s version of ‘Blue Christmas’ and couldn’t help but put our own spin on it. We also perform this song every year at the Christmas Village in Philadelphia, so recording this song brought back the warm feeling of live music to us.” — Atisha and Nishita Lulla, Lullanas

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BGS Wraps: Brandy Clark, “Only Time of Year”

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Artist: Brandy Clark
Album: Happiest Season (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Song: “Only Time of Year”

In Their Words: “‘Only Time of Year’ was such a fun and challenging song to sing. I didn’t write it, but I really loved it when I heard it. However I was unsure of whether or not I could sing it, because of the pop nature of the melody and phrasing. I am so thrilled that it worked out. I love the movie and am really proud to be a part of a soundtrack that is so inclusive of so many LGBTQ+ artists.” — Brandy Clark

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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: 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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