The National Anthem - a rant

[French G.]

Two sacred song variants are French approved. Hendrix Anthem and Dropkick Murphys "Amazing Grace." All the other horsecrap gets me all ragey throwey like the OP. I can cringe along to bad singing, but at least get the off tempo and key words correct okay?

[Dannyboy]

As much as I love the Hendrix version, I blame him for some of the abominations that occur these days.  He did something that really hadn't been done before and it seems like so many since want to leave their make in a similar fashion.  That said, it chaps my ass more than anything when people try to sing the song as if it were an R&B song.

[Perd Hapley]

...people try to sing the song as if it were an R&B song.

Like they do with the Christmas songs I hear at the stores this time of year?    Like we really needed One Direction to sing our holiday favorites. 

[Dannyboy]

Like they do with the Christmas songs I hear at the stores this time of year?    Like we really needed One Direction to sing our holiday favorites. 

Exactly like that.  Makes me want to carry some knitting needles on me at all times when I go out these days.

[Perd Hapley]

They sing about Frosty the Snowman like they want to twerk with him.

[Hawkmoon]

Christmas? Did someone mention Christmas music?

Not much good Christmas music comes around these days, but Celtic Woman has some of the best I've heard recently: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5eoxeV56_o

I used to have a CD of a Hungarian boys' choir singing Christmas hymns in Latin that was just spectacular, but it disappeared during a move several years ago and it's no longer available.

[BlueStarLizzard]

Most top 40, pop and Rap/R&B "artists" should not be permited to record christmas music.
First of all, they are generally past their prime when they do a christmas album and are has beens (usually for a good reason. They do, after all, suck)
Secondly, the world does not need new versions of Silent Night, Deck The Halls, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, White Christmas, Jingle Bells or any of the other over produced songs that EVERYONE knows (except The Twelve Days of Christmas, which no one does in it's orginal form in its entirety, thank god!)
Third, the only places this crap gets played is on sound systems at crappy stores and then it gets stuck in a novelty CD with poor sales, never to be seen again. It's not like this crap makes any money.

So the result is some has been worthless popstar assults our eara with crap we can't escape when we have to go to the grocery store or whatever and all so nobody makes all that much money.

[Perd Hapley]

Celtic Woman.  

I'll take Zooey, thanks.

[vaskidmark]

Gayla Peevey sings one of the best Christmas songs ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oOzszFIBcE

Dr Demento went off the radio years ago, now but lives on the internet.  http://aolradio.slacker.com/artist/dr-demento?flv=1  Few folks know the full story of this deranged genius with an MFA in music and possibly the only person with a finger actually on the music pulse.  There were nights when atmospheric skip was good and I could pull in him and Wolfman Jack all the way on the East Coast.  (Try explaining that to kids with their podcasts.  ::frowny curmudgeon smiley goes here::)

stay safe.

[Phantom Warrior]

Christmas? Did someone mention Christmas music?

Not much good Christmas music comes around these days, but Celtic Woman has some of the best I've heard recently: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5eoxeV56_o

1:08 - Aaaaaaand they start with "Carol of the Bells."  It is on now.  Thanks, man.

[Hawkmoon]

16:10 isn't an historical carol, but one of my favorites. And this is a wonderful rendition.

[BlueStarLizzard]

Gayla Peevey sings one of the best Christmas songs ever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oOzszFIBcE

Dr Demento went off the radio years ago, now but lives on the internet.  http://aolradio.slacker.com/artist/dr-demento?flv=1  Few folks know the full story of this deranged genius with an MFA in music and possibly the only person with a finger actually on the music pulse.  There were nights when atmospheric skip was good and I could pull in him and Wolfman Jack all the way on the East Coast.  (Try explaining that to kids with their podcasts.  ::frowny curmudgeon smiley goes here::)

stay safe.

That's one of my favorites! :)

I have the Dr. Demento christmas collection. Dad's favorite is I Yust Go Nuts At Christmas.

[vaskidmark]

And I'll bet he sings it (repeatedly) with a Tom & Yerry in hand. 

stay safe.

[BlueStarLizzard]

And I'll bet he sings it (repeatedly) with a Tom & Yerry in hand. 

stay safe.