From Today's New York Times
SARAH McLACHLAN: ‘WINTERSONG’ (Arista). Anyone susceptible to holiday depression should steer clear of Sarah McLachlan's "Wintersong." It's not just that the album includes Joni Mitchell's despondent "River", or that Ms. McLachlan's own new "Wintersong", sung alone at the piano, is almost as forlorn. Most of the album's production is far more lush, but even songs that are usually cheerful or pious - "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", "Silent Night" turn morose as Ms. McLachlan makes them slow and breathy, with sobbing breaks in her voice. Backed by Diana Krall on piano in "Christmas Time Is Here", she sounds nearly suicidal. "Wintersong" is a triumph of sorts: a strong contender for the mopiest Christmas album ever. JON PARELES
I've been wondering for quite a long while why just about everyone who covers this beautiful Vince Guaraldi tune makes it sound like the saddest song ever, but McLachlan's is truly the saddest of the sad. I can see pensive, or thoughtful....melancholy even, but every new version I hear just makes it sound SO sad. If you want to hear this tune covered (what I would call "right") try Rosemary Clooney's recording or John Pizzarelli's (the most upbeat of any I've heard). Toronto's Emilie Claire Barlow has released a holiday disc this year and her version, while not happy, is not morose either and happens to be quite beautiful.
--
Christmas time is here
Happiness and cheer
Fun for all that children call
Their favorite time of the year
Snowflakes in the air
Carols everywhere
Olden times and ancient rhymes
Of love and dreams to share
Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there
Christmas time is here
We'll be drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year...
I will forthwith, opportunity presenting, acquaint myself with the Clooney and the Pizarelli versions.
ReplyDeleteToo funny re MacLachlan. It's not a dirge, for Chuck's sake!
Black Tarantula
Black Tarantula is listening to Christmas music on maxtrax. They have just favoured me with McLachlan's version of "What Child is This?". I can hear Father O'Malley saying "there's no thought behind it".
ReplyDeleteLife is good. They've just started Frank with "The Christmas Waltz".
Must bake cookies. Must wrap presents.
I love Sarah M.'s voice. My favorite thing she sings is "Will You remember me." I don't know a lot of her stuff, just the main songs, hits.
ReplyDeleteI don't like a lot of sad xmas music. Mostly happy with some wistful thrown in. On one level, I don't think anyone shoud really bother recording another version of "Have Yourself a Merry Llittle Christmas" b/c Judy made her version so completely definitive that it literally, can't be beat.
I love that song but it honestly depresses the hell out of me. I hear those peanuts characters start singing it and I get all weepy.
ReplyDeletePathetic,I know.
When they get that sad little tree in the xmas show, it is so sad. It's not pathetic.
ReplyDeleteRosemary Clooney in White Christmas: She is awesome in that
Hi people
ReplyDeleteI do not know what to give for Christmas of the to friends, advise something ....
BT - I'm now picturing Father O as a judge on something like American Idol. Eventually, he's so over stimulated by the bad singing, his head just explodes.
ReplyDeleteTrish - if you haven't seen it yet you should go get your hands on a dvd of the Judy Garland Christmas special. Seriously. SOOOO good (on so many levels).
Oh and, you mean this tree?
http://misstraceynolan.blogspot.com/2005/11/dont-hate-me-cause-im-festive.html
Jenny - I don't thin that's pathetic at all.
Anonymous? Um. How about gift certificates? Wha?
Shawn Colvin does a very nice version of "Christmas Time is Here." It's a little bit wistful, but there is redemption in the end. Just as in all of my favorite books. =)
ReplyDeleteAs though Christmas weren't depressing enough...Sarah Maclachlan is going to be responsible for some holiday suicides this year.
ReplyDeleteHello. Good day
ReplyDeleteWho listens to what music?
I Love songs Justin Timberlake and Paris Hilton
Yes, that is the tree!
ReplyDeleteI have to tell you guys, I heard Sarah Maclachlan's version of Joni Mitchell's "River" and it is beautiful. Not feel good music, or something I'd want to listen to at Christmas time, but it is a lovely recording of a lovely, sad song. In this case her style suits the song perfectly.
ReplyDeleteCall me old-fashioned, but 'Christmas Time Is Here' makes me excited about Christmas and merry, too. Of course the Christmas Waltz makes me want to hunt down my neighbor and beat him with his own candy cane ;-)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I just discovered and really enjoyed your blog!
Tracey, I really think you need to enable word verification in your "comments" options - sheesh!
ReplyDelete