INTERIORITY
Christmas songs picks for 2015
‘Silver & Gold’ (2012)
Every year I have a tradition of finding some new Christmas songs for my growing collection. During December, it practically runs non-stop in the background at our home. But finding fresh or different stuff is getting harder. New Christmas songs are very hard to ‘accept’ because you are so entangled in your childhood memories of what a good Christmas song is. Also, a lot of the classics are from the 50-60’s America and those tunes kind of define the ‘atmosphere’ of what you are expecting from a new song. So mostly I tend to find interpretations of older songs.
This year is no exception. I haven’t found a ‘new’ song (please mail me if you think you know a good one), but the #1 this year is an excellent interpretation. It’s not new (2012) but the arrangement, technical achievement and attention to detail is baffling. Plus it’s highly original. It’s Sufjan Stevens’s version of ‘Sleigh Ride’ from the album ‘Silver & Gold’ (2012):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cegoD2T-n44
Just great. The neatly arranged choir, the littlest of details in the soundscape and the musical arrangement is top notch. And in the end, a dose of goofball – just right for the Christmas spirit. Love it. The whole album oozes of a total devotion to and almost an obsession with Christmas.
Second place
‘That’s Christmas to Me’ (2015)
Coming in at a close second place is the version of ‘Silent Night’ from the same album.
Pentatonix’s album ‘That’s Christmas to Me’ is also worth a listen to – and this album is from this year. Their voices sound astoundingly great, to the point of being almost too perfect. Yet there is kind of an edge to the arrangements. Listen to ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town’, ‘Silent Night’ and ‘Joy to the World’.Album pick of the year
‘Christmas Songs With the Ray Brown Trio’ (1999)
For the Danish audience
Mostly for the kids, these albums contain great interpretations of well-known songs. Pick any one from the albums ‘Ramasjang Julehits’ (2011) and ‘Nissekys & Stjernedrys’ (1998).
‘Ramasjang Julehits’ (2011)
‘Nissekys & Stjernedrys’ (1998)
Listen to (’Ramasjang Julehits’):
Listen to (’Nissekys & Stjernedrys’):
