The Friday Five: December 16, 2011
Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.
The Five:
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas (If Only in My Dreams)” by Frank Sinatra (from Christmas With the Rat Pack, 2002)
This is a perennial favorite. The (somewhat) ironic thing is: this was not part of the music that I grew up with. Sinatra was, in the words of my parents, “old people music.”
“Winter Wonderland” by The Andrews Sisters (from The Time-Life Treasury of Christmas, Volume 2, 1987)
Without Bing, I don’t know that I care much for The Andrews Sisters.
“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” by Michael Bublé (from Christmas, 2011)
Damn you, Michael Bublé. Damn you straight to hell.
“Baby, It’s Cold Outside” by Leon Redbone & Zooey Deschanel (from Elf, 2003)
Wait up, Bublé; make room for Ms. Deschanel. Okay, to be fair, I love this version. Despite a deep, burning—not unlike the time Dave Lifton’s mom gave me the clap—dislike for Will Farrell, I love the film it comes from. For more unbridled scorn of Zooey head over to Popdose for today’s installment of Jeff Giles’ & Jason Hare’s Mellowmas.
“The Little Drummer Boy” by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band (from A Very Special Christmas, 1990)
I take no issue with Bob Seger’s overwrought, overproduced version of the holiday classic. Listen to those swelling synth pads and gospel choir vocals! This is what Christmas is about, y’all.
What’s on your shuffle today?
Ickmusic’s Friday Five: December 26, 2008
Welcome to the final week of our “Holiday Edition” of the Friday Five!
As we wind down to the New Year the last four editions of the Friday Five will be shuffled from my vast collection of Holiday music. I encourage everyone to play along and spin up some holiday cheer. With the holiday season being short and the duress of the current economic climate being ever present we could all use a little lift in spirits.
For those who have not joined in the Five, here’s how it works: … I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes and share my five with a bit of insight for each track.
Then it’s your turn! Just share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments and see what your fellow readers are listening to as well.
Here are this week’s tracks:
1. The Pogues – Fairytale of New York (feat. Kirsty MacColl) (from The Best Christmas Album in the World… Ever!)
As I mentioned in last weeks post, this stands as my favorite modern era non-traditional Chirstmas song period. The gritty tale of two junkies sleeping it off in the drunk tank on Christmas Eve somehow manages to be uplifting and is in all regards timeless.
2. Hall & Oates – Jingle Bell Rock (mp3) (from Classic Soft Rock Christmas)
This kitschy reading of the Bobby Helms classic is on the verge of crossing over into Mellowmas territory but manages to stay the course just enough to be a true holiday classic.
3. Leon Redbone & Zooey Deschannel – Baby It’s Cold Outside (mp3) (from Elf)
From the best Christmas movie since Miracle on 34th Street, this was (for me) the first time I heard the lovely voice of Zooey Deschannel. Paired here with the enigmatic Leon Redbone, the pair put a jazz-ed up spin on the Frank Loesser classic. It’s not a holiday season until I sit and watch this movie with my family.
4. Jimmy Eat World – Last Christmas (from Last Christmas)
A bright and breezy take on the 80’s classic.
5. Dean Martin – Winter Wonderland (from Christmas With Dino)
And to play us out of the holiday season in the last Friday Five of the year it’s out favorite Rat Pack member here to croon us out into 2009.
Thanks to all the Fivers out there for playing along this year. For the last time this year, what’s coming up on your shuffle?