Conversations with Aparajita

Yay! It’s time for Christmas again. And the New Year is not far behind. This is the season for everything good and joyful- greetings and gifts, carols and cakes and celebrations, and parties and parties and even more parties; globalisation has ensured that the First World ways of celebrating Christmas are known and followed throughout the developing world as well, even by people who are not Christians by faith. In the global village, some occasions like Christmas and New Year have become global, and it doesn’t matter if previously a recognised tradition of celebrating them did not exist- we are now allowed to celebrate them anyway, and with as much fanfare as those who have a tradition of celebrating these events. So it’s hardly any wonder that I should be so looking forward to celebrating this season. Not that I’m looking forward to any party- maybe a little something with family on Christmas and with friends sometime around the New Year, but nothing extravagant or worth a mention, really. And it doesn’t matter to me- I guess I’ve not yet come of the age when I’d start gauging how popular I am in society by counting the number of parties I get invited to.
Anyway, I won’t blabber too much. The point of this Christmas Eve post is this- I’m going to share something with you about celebrating Christmas- it will help if you’re staying at home this year. I’ve been preparing for Christmas for months now, compiling a special album full of greatest Christmas hits, 1980s onwards. The full CD contains some one hundred songs, but here I’ll list ten of my favourites, which you can try listening to.
1. Enya~ Adeste Fideles- Enya’s version of this Christmas carol is the best I’ve ever heard. Only one word can properly describe it: ethereal. Slow and beautiful. When I listen to it, it gives me the feeling I’m up there floating in the sky, amidst the stars.
2. Band-Aid~ Do they know it’s Christmas- Beautiful and moving. It was originally recorded in 1984 for charity, specifically for the victims of the drought in Ethiopia at that time. Subsequently, there were versions of the song recorded in 1989 and more recently by Band Aid 20 in 2004, I think. But I like the original the best.
3. Frank Sinatra~ Hark the herald angels sing- I’ve always liked every Frank Sinatra song I’ve ever heard, all on account of his incredible voice. His version of this Christmas carol is wonderful, as you’d expect it to be. Come on, it’s FRANK SINATRA!
4. Celine Dion~ Ave Maria- Hail Mary, full of grace sounds wonderful in Celine Dion’s classic voice.
5. Bruce Springsteen~ Santa Claus is coming to town- Love this one, specially the sound of the piano. And when he plays the Jingle Bells tune at the end… it takes my breath away.
6. Barbra Streisand~ Jingle Bells- Yes, you’ve heard ‘Jingle Bells’ many times, every child who knows how to say ‘Christmas’ can sing it, but Barbra Streisand’s version is something unique. The way she plays with the lyrics and the tempo is simply awesome. A song you must hear at least once before you die.
7. Kylie Minogue~ Santa Baby- I’ve heard two versions of ‘Santa Baby’, and I obviously liked Kylie Minogue’s version better. She sings in the style of a performer in a ’60s nightclub, which makes it different, unique.
8. Angels and Airwaves~ Star of Bethlehem- A relatively new song. It was released in 2006. Very good music, which makes you want to listen to it again and again.
9. Dido~ Christmas Day- The lyrics bring to mind a picture from history- maybe sometime in the 19th century- a young woman waiting for her beloved, who promised to return for her on Christmas Day. Fit to be a ballad, although Dido hardly sings it like a ballad. Still, likeable. Well, more than likeable, in fact.
10. ABBA~ Happy New Year- The perfect song to round off this list. A relatively unknown single from the hugely popular band from the ’80s. From the ‘Waterloo’ album, I believe. Beautiful music.
Well then, that’s it. I’ve said what I wanted to. Only one thing more thing: Merry Christmas, everybody. Hope you have lots and lots of fun.

Scripted by Aparajita Bhattacharya at 3:13 PM |    

Tags: Christmas, Festivals, music, New Year