KuruPrionz Posted December 13, 2020 Share Posted December 13, 2020 Pointless rant: Every year at this time I will be out and about (briefly and carefully this year!!!) and I will hear "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree on the speakers at various and random retail outlets. Once in a while, they play the version that Brenda Lee had a hit with, in my mind this is the only legitimate version and there is no reason to play any version by a different singer. I've heard "Dentist Office" instrumentals, silky smooth male vocalists gutting the song with insipid and "perfect" emotionless low key vocals over bland yet boring arrangements. Today I heard an imitation version, they closely copied everything, sax, guitar, even an attempt to sing like Brenda Lee. Except, only Brenda Lee sang like Brenda Lee. Anybody else have a "pet peeve" song that annoys them? Quote It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Lobo Posted December 13, 2020 Share Posted December 13, 2020 Once in a while, they play the version that Brenda Lee had a hit with, in my mind this is the only legitimate version and there is no reason to play any version by a different singer.Completely agree, Anybody else have a "pet peeve" song that annoys them? Actually, most Christmas songs annoy me. But you gotta like Brenda Lee. Quote These are only my opinions, not supported by any actual knowledge, experience, or expertise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
232006 Posted December 13, 2020 Share Posted December 13, 2020 Once in a while, they play the version that Brenda Lee had a hit with, in my mind this is the only legitimate version and there is no reason to play any version by a different singer.Completely agree, Anybody else have a "pet peeve" song that annoys them? Actually, most Christmas songs annoy me. But you gotta like Brenda Lee. And I think they start earlier and earlier every year - I find this time of year hard to deal with anyway and this year doubly so. Why they think this is gonna chill everyone out is beyond me! As far as any pet peeve - there are many but "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" has to be up there! I know I became a curmudgeonly old git back when I "passed" 60 on my birthday, on my own, earlier this year under "lockdown" but I didn't realise how much it would affect how I feel about life. LOL! But I agree about Brenda Lee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drawback Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 Absolutely yes on Brenda Lee. But it's the players, bg's, arrangement, production and flat out groove that makes it great. Nothing compares with it. Quote ____________________________________ Rod Here for the gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
area51recording Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 Two for me, every Christmas.....the Mariah Carey debacle, and the George Michael version of Last Christmas....I guess if I'm being honest and don't care about coming off like a heartless SOB, not a real yuge fan of that "Christmas Shoes" or whatever it's called.....When it comes to Christmas I'm a traditionalist with my musical preferences. Not really into the slick R n B versions of the old tunes..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAJUSCULE Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 Absolutely yes on Brenda Lee. But it's the players, bg's, arrangement, production and flat out groove that makes it great. Nothing compares with it. With that band and arrangement, she could be singing about Christmas, Hanukkah, or my own mother's funeral, and I'd still be tapping my toes and nodding my head. Quote Eric Website Gear page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Lobo Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 Brenda Lee has a killer sax solo by Boots Randolph -- 2 8-bar choruses. That's a rockin' Christmas! Quote These are only my opinions, not supported by any actual knowledge, experience, or expertise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Lobo Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 And Jingle Bell Rock always works. But don't get me started on Little Drummer Boy ... Quote These are only my opinions, not supported by any actual knowledge, experience, or expertise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 Burl Ives' rendition of Rudolph the RNRD always makes me smile. Quote Moe --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nursers Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 Not a peeve, just wanted to post this [video:youtube] Quote The Keyboard Chronicles Podcast Check out your fellow forumites in an Apple Music playlist Check out your fellow forumites in a Spotify playlist My Music: Stainless Fields Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Zeger Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 For last week"s 50th anniversary of Donny Hathaway"s 'This Christmas', this was released. I love the store names: He Ain"t Heavy Gym, Everything Is Donuts, For All We Know Books, etc. [video:youtube] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EscapeRocks Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 I always loved that Twisted Sister version! Quote David Gig Rig:Depends on the day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KuruPrionz Posted December 14, 2020 Author Share Posted December 14, 2020 I always loved that Twisted Sister version! Yep, cracked me the Hell up!!! Never saw it before, glad it got posted. Quote It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rodan88 Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 I think I'll stay out of the "Which Christmas song do you love/hate and why?" debate. However - I got curious about some of the details of "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree," and did you know that, according to Wikipedia: 1) "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" was written by Johnny Marks, who had previously penned "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "A Holly Jolly Christmas". (Yeah, I knew that.) 2) In spite of her mature-sounding voice, Lee recorded the song when she was only 13 years old. (WOW, I had no idea about that one.) 3) The song's declaration of a rock and roll sound notwithstanding, its instrumentation also fits the country music genre, which Lee more fully embraced as her career evolved. The recording features Hank Garland and Harold Bradley on guitar, Floyd Cramer on piano, Boots Randolph on sax, Bob Moore on bass, and veteran session player Buddy Harman on drums. (All LEGENDARY sidemen. Triple-A Team. I always want to know that info!) THIRTEEN YEARS OLD! A Christmas miracle, indeed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoken6 Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 Brenda Lee has a killer sax solo by Boots Randolph -- 2 8-bar choruses. That's a rockin' Christmas!An object lesson in how to construct an instrumental solo. There's a bit of everything in there. Cheers, Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Emm Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 I win! Quote "I like that rapper with the bullet in his nose!" "Yeah, Bulletnose! One sneeze and the whole place goes up!" ~ "King of the Hill" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marczellm Posted December 14, 2020 Share Posted December 14, 2020 Here"s my playlist for when I start to feel festive. Steve Lukather"s jazzrock-fusion Christmas album with some Joe Pesci comedy thrown in. Still don"t understand the exact circumstances that led Luke of all people to record a Christmas album. Look Out For Angels is a great song with some great solos by Luke and Mike Landau over Herbie-esque changes. Quote Life is subtractive.Genres: Jazz, funk, pop, Christian worship, BebHop Wishlist: 80s-ish (synth)pop, symph pop, prog rock, fusion, musical theatre Gear: NS2 + JUNO-G. KingKORG. SP6 at church. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polkahero Posted December 15, 2020 Share Posted December 15, 2020 Ever notice the bass line during the sax solo? It's brilliant. When my band covers this song I wrote that line out note for note as it's so important. Quote '57 Hammond B-3, '60 Hammond A100, Leslie 251, Leslie 330, Leslie 770, Leslie 145, Hammond PR-40 Trek II UC-1A Alesis QSR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Lobo Posted December 15, 2020 Share Posted December 15, 2020 Ever notice the bass line during the sax solo? It's brilliant. When my band covers this song I wrote that line out note for note as it's so important.Like a walking bass line but up an octave. Never listened for it before. Thanks for the tip. Quote These are only my opinions, not supported by any actual knowledge, experience, or expertise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marzzz Posted December 15, 2020 Share Posted December 15, 2020 I was once somewhere in the Florida Keys back in the 60's, where they played the Brenda Lee Rockin' Around song literally on full repeat, I never got over it. HOWEVER, I had never seen the Twisted Sister video until just now...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KuruPrionz Posted December 15, 2020 Author Share Posted December 15, 2020 2) In spite of her mature-sounding voice, Lee recorded the song when she was only 13 years old. (WOW, I had no idea about that one.) THIRTEEN YEARS OLD! A Christmas miracle, indeed! "Little Miss :Dynamite" was one of her handles. Yes, she started really young. Listening to her sing ":Sweet Nothings" and realizing she was pretty much a kid at that point is sort of awkward. At the same time, Brenda Lee was a HUGE influence on vocal AND performance styles for many white female vocalists. In a sense she was kind of a female Elvis. She probably heard and loved Big Mama Thornton among others. And Janis Joplin probably had her Brenda Lee moments. I still love "My Echo, My Shadow, And Me." great stuff. Crackerjack band and great studio engineers? You betcha!!!! Quote It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nursers Posted December 15, 2020 Share Posted December 15, 2020 On the aussie end of the spectrum there's this ditty but a warning VERY Coarse language / NSFW: Artist: Kevin Bloody Wilson Song title: Hey Santa Claus Quote The Keyboard Chronicles Podcast Check out your fellow forumites in an Apple Music playlist Check out your fellow forumites in a Spotify playlist My Music: Stainless Fields Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KuruPrionz Posted December 15, 2020 Author Share Posted December 15, 2020 Well, that was rude, crass, socially unacceptable and rather lowbrow. It made me laugh!!!!! I'm easy I guess, a bit of a low and slimy sort myself. Quote It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nursers Posted December 15, 2020 Share Posted December 15, 2020 All fixed:thu: Quote The Keyboard Chronicles Podcast Check out your fellow forumites in an Apple Music playlist Check out your fellow forumites in a Spotify playlist My Music: Stainless Fields Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RABid Posted December 15, 2020 Share Posted December 15, 2020 ... Anybody else have a "pet peeve" song that annoys them? George Michael - Last Christmas. It is not a happy song, but it is played everywhere. Quote This post edited for speling. My Sweetwater Gear Exchange Page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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