Poldo's Music Trivia II

A sacred piece about the night Jesus was born, "O Holy Night" has been ranked as the world's most popular Christmas carol. Originally titled "Cantique de Noel" in 1847 with lyrics by Placide Cappeau and melody by Adolphe Adam. English translation by John Sullivan Dwight. Covered by, among many others, Johnny Mathis, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli and Josh Groban. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsWUWzai8P8&list=RDRsWUWzai8P8&start_radio=1

Written by Billy Hayes and Jay W. Johnson, this poignant ballad of unrequited love during the Christmas holidays was first recorded by Doye O'Dell in 1948. Elvis recorded the definitive version in 1957 and it has since become a Christmas classic. Thank you, thank you very much! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6WnnZRSKYs&list=RDB6WnnZRSKYs&start_radio=1

This iconic singer/songwriter from Peoria, IL penned and recorded a poignant autobiographical ballad in 1980 about a chance encounter with an old flame at a convenience store while visiting his hometown for the Holidays. It peaked at #9 on Billboard's Hot 100. The melody is loosely based on Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" and the final notes, which invoke the title, are played on solo sax. Over the years, it has received extensive air play during the December festivities. After Fogelberg's death the dedicatee, Jill Anderson Grenlich, revealed herself in an article in a Peoria newspaper. They had dated in high school. He took two poetic licenses - her eyes were green instead of blue and her husband was a teacher, not an architect (they had since divorced). Dan Fogelberg left us on December 16, 2007. That same night we had an open mic at the Eagles' Club here in town. We had all just heard the news of his passing and everyone was quite affected. I played both ...

Although credited to the British pop duo Wham!, George Michael composed, produced, sang all the vocals and played all the instruments on this 1984 modern seasonal synth-pop classic about a Christmas time breakup. The upbeat tempo belies the sadness of unrequited love. Even though he had no formal musical training, George Michael played bass, synthesizer, drum machine and sleigh bells on the recording. It peaked at #2 in the U.S. and the UK, 9X Platinum. Wham! donated all the royalties to the relief efforts for the Ethiopian famine of the day. Sadly, George Michael left us on Christmas Day, 2016 at age 53. What a voice he had! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8gmARGvPlI&list=RDE8gmARGvPlI&start_radio=1

Mariah Carey co-wrote and co-produced this 1994 uptempo Christmas love song, which has become a seasonal standard. It peaked at #6. Best-selling Christmas song of all time in the U.S. Some years ago, we had the privilege of seeing Mariah Carey on stage in Las Vegas as guests of our dear friends Shelly and Cynthia Freedman. What a voice and what command of the stage! Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXQViqx6GMY&list=RDyXQViqx6GMY&start_radio=1

Chris Eaton wrote this beautiful 1992 Christmas song, but Amy Grant rewrote the lyrics from a woman's perspective. It captures the feeling of a young woman called upon to carry and nurture The Son of God. Amy's voice is angelic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWo3qlqyW1c&list=RDFWo3qlqyW1c&start_radio=1

This Brian Wilson/Mike Love "modern" Christmas classic was released in December 1963 - a bit of cheer for a nation mourning President Kennedy's recent assassination. #3 on Billboard's Christmas chart and #69 on Cashbox. Very similar in structure and rhythm to "Little Deuce Coupe", released earlier that year - also uses car analogies, "candy apple red", "...with a 4-speed stick". Covered by John Denver and The Muppets in '79 and by Hanson in '97. Featured on a Coke commercial with polar bears and penguins. The B-side was "The Lord's Prayer", a Beach Boys "rarity". Sometimes referred to as "Run Run Reindeer". Even though I'm a Diet Dew guy (not proud to admit it), I loved the Coke commercial! Sadly, Brian left us in June of this year at age 82. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T2WU2yykXM&list=RD4T2WU2yykXM&start_radio=1