Day 5 – Create the Mooood
Hey Dad,
I’m telling you, nothing gets the old Christmas blood pumping like a great Christmas song. Especially, if you’re caught off guard. Usually, it hits around this time as I’m walking thought Wal-Mart. I’m just minding my own business when I hear that familiar strain of music…yump ba bum, ba bump…“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…everywhere you go…”
All of a sudden…everything does begin to look a lot like Christmas.
Powerful stuff, Christmas music is.
When I was a kid, I remember the night my dad brought home a new stereo system around the holidays. It was a tuner, turntable, AND 8-tract tape all in one.
I think we only had one 8-tract tape and it was a Bing Crosby album with his head (in a Santa hat) plastered on the front. Boy, that stereo system was used during the holidays and I would stack the turntable high with records by Tennessee Ernie Ford, Andy Williams, and Perry Como.
I grew up, and replaced 8-tracts and Records for cassettes. I had new favorites like Amy Grant and the Gaither’s. Then along came cds with still more options like Kenny G, the Winnan’s, and more Amy Grant. Along with the new came the repackaged old favorites like Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and Vince Guaraldi (think Charlie Brown). In fact, had I written this blog a year ago I would have made a list of our favorite Christmas albums for you to enjoy.
Not today.
We’ve left our stacks of ‘ancient cds’ behind and now play PANDORA through our iphone or MP3 player. It’s a FREE app that’s available in all formats (I think). It’s like listening to the radio only you pick the song types that you like. We have the Amy Grant Christmas channel loaded on Pandora and it plays all kinds of songs (by all kinds of singers) in that genre. In fact, I’m not sure we’ve played a single CD recently.
My how times have changed. But no matter the format…whether vinyl, 8-Tract, cassette, CD, or Pandora…the effect is the same. That wonderful Christmas music softens the harsh reality of life, reminds us of what matters, connects us to the past, and proclaims the truth of God’s redemptive plan.
My recommendation for the weekend? Slip on a little Christmas music and create the mooood.
You ‘da dad,
Todd
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I’m really enjoying “God is With Us” by Jeremy Camp.
My wife is surprised I’ve been listening to Christmas music already. (normally a Christmas music Grinch!) but I’ve found some that I like – so I’ve been enjoying it!
At dinner, we turn off any tv in the house and turn on the radio. Christmas music plays through the house during dinner. A lot of times, it continues to be only thing on until we get ready for bed that night.
And speaking of Pandora, found a great station to play. Type in “Winter Wonderland”, and the music is all traditional Christmas by Bing, Sinatra, Como, Nat King, and many others like it. Great Christmas mood music.
I have a daughter, (one of my eight children), who claims to dislike my Christmas music. She says that they are only songs that she has heard over and over again. In fact, she does not want to see the Advent season come at all because that reminds her of Winter coming. My kids have always known and appreciated my love for the season, and my ability to listen to “the music” all year long.. I will keep trying…I believe a big payoff is in the future!