‘Most wonderful time of the year’

Christmas is just around the corner, and whilst not celebrated by Omanis, there is the gesture towards Christian observance, in line with the long-standing respect of Islam, for those of the other faiths.

For most Christians, especially the very young, it is acknowledged as the ‘Most Wonderful Time of the Year,’ as identified by crooner Andy Williams, back in the day, 1963 to be exact, yet it still evokes the ‘Christmassy feelings’ every year and is played on English language radio, endlessly, throughout December, then put away until the following year. It’s an Eddie Pola and George Wyle song about kids jingle bell-ing, of being of good cheer, of holiday greetings, of happy meetings when friends come to call, of parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting, and caroling out in the snow. It’s about scary ghost stories, tales of the glories of Christmases long ago, mistletoe-ing, and of glowing hearts when loved one’s are near, because it’s the most wonderful time of the year. It embodies much of the old and the contemporary of the festive season.

Another ‘crooner,’ someone who sings slow tempo songs in a soft, low, tone and voice, is Bing Crosby, whose warbled, whistled, and vocal performance of ‘White Christmas,’ has become iconic as a global Christmas melody. An Irving Berlin composition from the 1942 Grammy award winning film, ‘Holiday Inn,’ is believed to have sold over 50 million copies of the Crosby version alone, while other artistic renditions would easily double that figure. Interestingly, Berlin said the morning after he finished it, not only was it “the best song I have ever written,” but “the best song anyone has written.” He was so right! The emotive lyrics of dreaming of a white Christmas, just like the ones I used to know, where the tree tops glisten, and children listen to hear sleigh bells in the snow, and pining that with every Christmas card I write may your days be merry and bright, and may all your Christmas’ be white... have ever since nurtured melancholy among those far from home.

One of the oldest, and most-loved, especially by children, is ‘Jingle Bells, written 164 years ago by James Pierpoint, and was first recorded twenty years later on an Edison gramophone cylinder. It has barely changed across the years, and still bounces along exactly like a sleigh ride, of... “Dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh, over the fields we go laughing all the way. Bells on bob-tails ring, making spirits bright. What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight, ho! It is, in fact a fun sleigh ride of a song. In the same vogue, ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,’ tells the story of Rudolph, a red-nosed reindeer who always felt left out of festivities because of his bright, shiny, red nose, but on Christmas Eve was needed to light the way for Santa’s sleigh. The first radio recorded version was by cowboy star Gene Autrey, in 1949, and was a number one hit!

Having the Number One Christmas hit song is a big deal today, and over recent years “all I Want for Christmas is You,” helped by a flawless Maria Carey performance has risen from barely raising a ripple in 1995 when it was released, to being today’s most played tune on radio stations everywhere. Michael Bublé has become a Christmas favourite too with a Christmas album of standards that just keeps on giving, with “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, probably the best. At the other end of the ‘cheery scale,’ Wham’s “Last Christmas,” is a strange success, about a broken heart, but musically enriched by George Michael’s brilliant vocals, while The Pogues and Kirsty Maccoll’s heart-rending, almost despairing narrative is unsettling as the NYPD choir, and their bells, ring out “The Fairytale of New York,” in an angst riven story of love lost, and regret. Christmas then, in song, is as diverse as our crazy world, but let’s cherish its true message of “peace and goodwill to all,” at Christmas and always. Merry Christmas readers.