Essays, Interviews, Observations, Pop Culture, Stories, and other Dodginess

Christmas Music 2

Posted on December 11, 2011

The non-stop Christmas music continues on 93.9 “The Holiday Lite” and Z107. (EDIT 12/12 – WXRT has begun it’s “Holiday Nights” where now through Christmas they play an eclectic mix of Christmas tunes from 8-midnight).

As expected, and already written, The Lite continues to play what seems like the same 15-20 songs over and over. Guess what Lite? There are a lot more versions of Josh Groban’s “O Holy Night.”

Does anyone remember Groban when he was on Ally McBeal? I think Ally’s character went to his prom as his date.

Anyway…Z107 continues to play a strong variety, although they do tend to repeat some of the same songs a lot. But I have to give them credit – whatever stream they’re getting the music from includes “Carol of the Bells” by The Bird and the Bee. It’s about the only time you’ll hear The Bird and the Bee on any station in Chicagoland.

Z107 has been playing cuts from The Holiday Cafe CD, including one of my favorites, “Maybe Next Year” by Meiko.

I also don’t get tired of Everything But The Girl’s “25th December” and (new!) Jack Johson’s “In The Morning.”

I’m a sucker for Enya (Irish!) so I love hearing her haunting (aren’t they all?) “Ghosts of Christmas Past.”

Z also plays cuts from the She & Him Christmas album. Well done.

And who can ever get enough of Low’s “Just Like Christmas” ??

Songs Madonna should sing at Super Bowl

Posted on December 7, 2011

Madonna’s song repertoire stretches a lot farther than last year’s Super Bowl group, The Black-Eyed Peas. So we shouldn’t have to worry about her singing a sample of the same song more than once during a lame medley (not that it’s any excuse for the Peas to play the dreadful “Tonight’s Gonna Be A Good  Night” TWICE during halftime!).

I’m not a fan of the medley. Yuk. No.

Here are some choices as to what Louise Ciccone should belt out come Feb. 5 in Indianapolis. And no, there is none of that “Into The Groove” shit.

“The Power of Goodbye”

My favorite song by her. It was used a few times during the amazing college-themed TV series “Felicity.”

I first heard "The Power of Goodbye" while watching "Felicity"

“Frozen”

Hauntingly danceable in a slow-shush sorta way. Spooky in a good form.

“I’ll Remember”

I remember this cool song being used in the film about Harvard students starring Brendan Frasier, Patrick Dempsey, Moira Kelly, Josh Hamilton and ! Joe Pesci.

Ok, that’s it. Not a big Madonna fan. No way she’ll play either of those but how cool (for me anyway) to just do full versions of at least two?

Five Alternative Christmas Films

Posted on December 4, 2011

This season (2013) you can add “White Reindeer” to the list. 

It’s A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, Grinch, Elf, Rudolph, A Christmas Story…how about a little something different yet keeping in the Christmas season?

Here are three alternative christmas films to consider this year.

A Midnight Clear

The 1992 Keith Gordon film based on the novel and the story about German soldiers who want to surrender to an American intelligence unit in the snowy Ardennes Forest during WWII in December of ’44.

A Midnight ClearBeautiful, poetic, sad film starring Ethan Hawke and Gary Sinise…with Peter Berg and Kevin Dillon. The best Christmas scene is when the German soldier sing Christmas Carols and toss snowballs, not grenades, at the hunkered down Americans.

Less Than Zero

Seriously depressing adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis novel. But it takes place during Christmas season in Beverly Hills and features a classic holiday party with the arse-busting seasonal song “Christmas in Hollis” by Run DMC and a busting version of “Hazy Shade of Winter” by The Bangles.

Less Than Zero

Batman Returns

The second of Tim Burton’s take on the dark knight featured a Christmas setting – the opening scene consisted of the lighting of Gotham’s Christmas Tree and the Red Triangle Circus Gang bursting out of a giant gift-wrapped box and shooting up the joint. And Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle discover each other’s alternate identities while dancing under a mistletoe.

And the Penguin. He reminds me of a more deranged, vile and disgusting version of Dickens’ Ebenezer Scrooge.

Batman Returns

Ebenezer Scrooge – Penguin style

Bruce Wayne’s final words in the film: “Merry Christmas…and goodwill towards men – and women.”

Untamed Heart

One of my favorite alternative Christmas films is the Marisa Tomei/Christian Slater classic Untamed Heart.  It takes place during a cold Minneapolis Christmas. I love the scene when Marisa wakes up to find a decorated tree in her bedroom and ogles it in her underwear (nice legs Marisa)!

There are a  few good Christmas songs in the film, especially Brooke Benton’s “This Time of Year.” A song that deserves more radio airplay. Just gorgeous, that one.
Marisa Tomei and Christian Slater in "Untamed Heart."

The Merry Gentleman

Filmed a few years ago in Chicago, this alternative Christmas film was directed by Michael Keaton who also stars with Kelly Macdonald. Like her Boardwalk Empire character, Macdonald’s “Kate” is Irish. She develops a relationship with Keaton’s hitman character after he helps carry a Christmas tree up to her apartment. And unappreciated gem of a film, even in Chicago.

Kelly Macdonald in "The Merry Gentleman"