CD Review: Enya - And Winter Came
Sunday December 14, 2008
Have I mentioned yet this year that I not-so-secretly hate most Christmas music, and the holiday season in general? I know I talked about it a lot last year, but I've been trying very hard to be jolly this year. It was working until I made the mistake of going to the mall. I made a sort of flexible rule for myself this year: I'm only giving people CDs and hand-made gifts. Turns out, though, that you actually need supplies to make gifts by hand, and CDs also come from stores. Anyway, I went to the mall, where a craft store and CD store co-exist, and there were a million people there, and it appeared that each and every one of them was attempting to revitalize the economy all by themselves. How kind of them. That alone annoyed my eco- and socially-responsible side, but nothing in the world annoys me like the onslaught of heinous music that assaults you in every single store. Frosty the Stupid Snowman. The Stupid Little Drummer Boy. Rockin' Around the Stupid Christmas Tree. Ugh.So, I'm a Grinchity Grinch. What can I say? It's not my fault that I face an aural assault every time I leave the house this time of year. I have delicate musical sensibilities, and I wish everyone would just stop the madness. But after leaving the mall, I can't say that I was entirely looking forward to coming home and reviewing a Christmas music CD. I put a little faith in Enya, though, knowing that she certainly has the ability to pull off a decent holiday CD, and hoping she actually did. For the most part, I wasn't disappointed. There are some duds on And Winter Came, but by and large, it's way, way, way more pleasant than any given thing that the Hallmark Store or Radio Shack is blaring out of their speakers right at this very moment.
And now for fun. What's your least favorite Christmas song? I'm going to have to go with the Little Drummer Boy. The pa-rum-pum-pum-pums make me want to spend Christmas on Mars.
Comments
Worst Christmas song: Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer. It’s about time songs were written about the other reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh.
I beg to differ. Worst Christmas song EV-AH! “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”!
Argh! Why did I do that? Now I have that wretched song stuck in my brain!
Must think of Beatles song — STAT.
Tell you what, if you hate Christmas, just shut your ‘eco- and socially-responsible’ self up about it and go away until December 26th. Enjoy your misery but don’t spread it to us.
Thanks, Steve, that cheered me right up! You sound like a real holly-jolly kind of a fella.
Wow Steve, thanks soooooo much for making those who like Christmas sound like a bunch of hyper-sensitive jerks.
Besides, she didn’t say she hated Christmas, just the current way its celebrated with all its over-commercialization and lack of meaning. Plus there are lots of “Christmas songs” that almost all of us could do without being attacked by every time we walk out of the house.
You’re right, I wasn’t being very nice…and you’re also right, the Enya Christmas/winter/holiday CD is quite good. Take care and Happy New Year!
(And it could be worse, at least you only have to avoid Christmas music a couple of months a year…I hate rap and I’m assaulted with that wherever I go 365 days a year!)
Ugh. I hate that shrieky Christmas song by Mariah Carey. “All I Want for Christmas Is You”
Please…someone stuff a sock or something else in her mouth.
Shereen, I think considering the time of year, we could stuff a stocking in her mouth. And yes, I agree… that song is TERRIBLE, though I confess that I secretly like the version that the little girl does at the end of Love Actually.
And thanks, Liz… you’re absolutely right. I don’t hate Christmas, I just hate that it’s become so commercial. Once the day actually arrives, I cheer up immensely, it’s just the lead-in that kills me. And these days, the lead-in starts sometime in August, I think!
One of the benefits of buying music online is not having to be subjected to the music being played in the store, usually at impossible volume and usually some genre I can’t name. The only ones I go into in my grumpy old age are those with separate entrances for classical (and sometimes they’re clever enough to put Enya down there too).
True confession: I like most Christmas songs, even the cheesy ones. There are a lot of great covers out there, too, so if I don’t like version A so much, version B (or C, or even Q) might be awesome.
But I absolutely cannot stand Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime.” Every time I hear it, it makes me think of that old SNL sketch where Dana Carvey ends up writing the power rock ballad “Choppin’ Broccoli.” Yeah–that much thought went into the lyrics…
Megan. Yeah, I can see how a little girl singing “All I Want for Christmas Is You” would be very cute and sweet as opposed to being belted out by a shrieking harpy.
Or maybe I just really can’t stand Mariah Carey’s songs.
I’m sure there’s a big seat right in the front of the hellbound handbasket for me because of this, but I really really REALLY hate the song about ol’ dyin’ Mama and her Christmas shoes. It’s bad enough that the song is depressing, it’s cheesy too.
And my sister in law just informed me that they made a Lifetime movie out of it, which only confirms, in my mind, the level of cheesitude.
If I hear that song one more time, I’m gonna strangle someone with a strand of environmentally friendly LED lights.
patti
LOL, Patti. I managed to avoid that song until last year, interestingly, and then heard it in the dentist’s office. Dentist + Christmas Shoes = The least happy Megan you’ve seen in awhile.
For what it’s worth, Megan, I’m with you on the Christmas music. The two songs I can tolerate are “Fairytale of New York” by The Pogues and “Christmas in Hollis” by Run D.M.C. (I know, I can’t explain it.)
If only someone would make a Lifetime movie out of THOSE songs.
If you’re gonna listen to Christmas Music, and don’t have time for The Messiah, it’s gotta be the sly one, Mr. Grinch.
Kyle
Now here’s a version of Jingle Bells that’s nifty: Microwave ovens ping Jingle Bells!