Tossing It Out

Showing posts with label Santa Claus Is Coming to Town. Show all posts

Monday, December 22, 2014

Passion of Self-Love & "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" BOTB Results

Merry Christmas. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Some FaceBook Nonsense--Or Not?

A while back someone whom I know expressed the following on FaceBook:

Hating so many things allows me to be passionate about the things I actually love.

Knowing what I know about this person, I was not particularly impressed by this thought. In fact, I was dismayed, though not very surprised. However, I have mixed feelings about this statement. I see a perverse sort of truth to it while at the same time seeing an outright arrogance and selfishness to the statement. I've never heard this before, but maybe there is an origin to it other than the mind of the person who said it on FaceBook.

What do you think about this quote? Have you heard it anywhere before?

Battle of the Band Results:
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

This Battle was another crazy back and forth race to the finish. I enjoyed the Cimorelli Sisters, but my favorite version remains the energetic piano playing of Jo Ann Castle. Surprising to me, this means no clear winner. I really thought that Jo Ann Castle would have this win in the bag, but I guess Santa's bag is so full of toys that there was no room for a winner.

With my vote added in, the contest is a tie.

Jo Ann Castle 12 votes

Cimorelli 12 votes

Oh, and the JC was of course the one whose birthday we celebrate this week. But you knew that didn't you.

Have a Merry Christmas and enjoy your holiday.

I'll be back on the blog on January 1st with another Battle of the Bands. This next one will be a quirky post-Christmas Battle with a song that is not thought of as a Christmas song, but I'll tie it into a Christmas related theme. I'll try to make it a fun post to start off the New Year.

What in the world kind of song will I be using? (hint: It will have something to do with what I got for Christmas.) What would you prefer to get this Christmas--presents or presence? Is there anything under your tree yet or do you even have a tree?

Monday, December 15, 2014

Battle of the Bands: Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

Christmas is almost here and Santa has made his ubiquitous presence known throughout much of a world who believes in him. The guy is like a superhero--or a god. What a power and what a universal symbol of the Christmas season. And it's time for my second Christmas installment of Battle of the Bands, the blogging event first introduced by our friends at Far Away Series and StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands. This event happens twice each month on the 1st and 15th and conveniently these days fall on Mondays this December. The premise is simple: Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it. Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for more Battle action

As I did in my previous BOTB segment I'm racking my brain to figure out why the initials "JC" seem to be such an important part of Christmas. Santa Claus is "SC" so it's not him even though he seems to have become the most iconic presence of the season. Plenty of songs have been written about Santa. In this Battle I offer one of the most well known--"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town".

Jo Ann Castle "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town Boogie" (1985)

As a boy and into my teenage years I had a crush on Jo Ann Castle, the ragtime piano playing sweetie from the Lawrence Welk Show. Yes, I will admit that I was a regular viewer of that iconic broadcast of senior citizenry and bubbly champagne music. After all I grew up on this show that introduced me to some of my first loves--the ever charming Lennon Sisters. Jo Ann Castle struck me even more with her effervescent personality and energetic piano playing. I could have sworn she was flirtatiously looking right through the television screen at me in my living room.

There's a darker side to the Jo Ann Castle story that I won't go into in this post, but you can read more by clicking on the link on her name above in the subtitle of this section. I'd rather keep this post light and in keeping with the happy holiday spirit. Here she is with that Christmas Santa favorite performed in her inimitable style. You might have to watch this video if you aren't familiar with Jo Ann Castle just to get an idea of how she did what she did so well.

Cimorelli "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (2012)

With six Cimorelli sisters in the line-up I figured that at least one of them would have a first name that begins with the letter "J". I was wrong so I guess I'll cheat on this pick. Maybe we can say that this version of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" is somewhat similar to an earlier version done by the Jackson 5. Jackson Cimorelli? Works for me.

This is a fun video and these girls have some nice harmonies going on. Check it out.

Time to Vote!

Which do you prefer? Please vote on your favorite or you might end up on Santa's naughty list. Let us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the one you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours.

‘FAR AWAY SERIES’

StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

‘YOUR DAILY DOSE’

‘DISCCONNECTED’

‘CREATIVE OUTLET OF STRATPLAYER’

'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

Book Lover

Alex J. Cavanaugh

The results of my Battle will be announced on Monday December 22nd. I'm still dealing with my travels back east to tend to the affairs related to the passing of my mother so posting at Tossing It Out will remain a bit sporadic until after Christmas. I'm now home, but holidays and a visit by one of my daughters and her family will keep me busy I'd say. But like the Terminator, "I'll be back".

Have I come up with the right "JC" Christmas connection yet? Are you a fan of the Lawrence Welk Show? What do you think of sibling singing groups?