Thursday, November 19, 2009

To listen or not to listen to Christmas Music and reflection on my SoCal Winters...

So the industry standard to listen to Christmas music is after Thanksgiving. I've often broken this rule several times because of a certain song by Mariah Carey which I happen to believe should be listened to year round, yes this one... http://www.youtube.co/watch?v=-8rY0Fyws20

After living on the east coast for the last 9 years, a certain thing called snow, has also put me in a mood to start listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving. But what happens when it doesn't snow before Thanksgiving? Is it still ok?
I can't complain that it hasn't snowed yet because this years Western PA winter thus far reminds me of the cold, frigid, rough times of a Southern California winter. I'm not joking that we thought it was freezing in November, December and January. I distinctly remember going to school in a fleece and seeing other classmates in goose down parkas and Starter Jackets (You know what I'm talking about...I always wanted one, a Raiders one of course)
http://www.queencitytrader.com/images/Jan/1-10/07/10/0107_10%20361.jpg

I also thought Winter ended in February and didn't know what being "Closed for the Season" meant until I went to college in Boston. I remember when I went home for Christmas break during my freshman year of college and I forced my high school friends to go to the beach. Anyways, I digress back to original topic, Christmas music.

Reasons to listen before Thanksgiving:
1. 30 days isn't enough to get your fix of songs that you can only listen to during one part of the year.
2. It helps you get into the Christmas Spirit. Not the Jesus is the reason for the season spirit, but the Buddy the Elf Christmas spirit that makes us feel all warm and goosey inside. (And yes maybe this is a reason to not listen to it because Jesus is the reason, but we often forget that)
http://theeclecticconnoisseur.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/buddy-the-elf.jpg
3. Christmas decorations are up in malls and shops the day after Halloween so we might as well embrace it.
4. There aren't any Thanksgiving songs, except for Adam Sandler's "Turkey Song"

Reasons not to:
1. Some people don't like Christmas music. I will never understand this but I have friends who can't stand it.
2. You can't even say "Merry Christmas" anymore because it's PI, so why would you even think about listening to songs about it?
3. It's the same songs over and over, being sung by different people.



As for myself I have to admit I have sneaked in a little Mariah "All I want" and the Drifters "I'm dreaming of a White Christmas". I'm trying to ease myself into it. I haven't made a Christmas playlist on my itunes yet, but I think it's alright to want that Buddy the Elf feeling and you can only get it once a year, so you might as well try to get it going sooner rather then later.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Jon Foreman- Your Love is Strong

Heavenly Father
You always amaze me
Let your kingdom come
In my world and in my life
You give me the food I need
To live through the day
And forgive me as I forgive
The people that wronged me
Lead me far from temptation
Deliver me from the evil one

I look out the window
The birds are composing
Not a note is out of tune
Or out of place
I look at the meadow
And stare at the flowers
Better dressed than any girl
On her wedding day

So why do I worry?
Why do I freak out?
God knows what I need
You know what I need

Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong

The kingdom of the heavens
Is now advancing
Invade my heart
Invade this broken town
The kingdom of the heavens
Is buried treasure
Will you sell yourself
To buy the one you've found?

Two things you told me
That you are strong
And you love me
Yes, you love me

Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong

Our God in heaven
Hallowed be
Thy name above all names
Your kingdom come
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us wicked sinners
Lead us far away from our vices
And deliver us from these prisons