Weekly Mail 2nd Annual Christmas Eve Special

Thank you so much for tuning in....


Last year when I wrote this I had visions of people taking a few minutes out of their busy Christmas Eve's to have some fun. I realize that many of you might not read this till Christmas or even after the fact. No matter. I hope you enjoy it whenever you get a chance.


Let's kick it off with a song parady shall we? In honor of the new GOP Tax bill...


A HOITY-TOITY CHRISTMAS

Sung to Holly-Jolly Christmas


Have a Hoity-Toity Christmas
'Cuz even though it's cold,
Santa brings me lots of things
Made of 14 karat gold

Have a Hoity-Toity Christmas
And check out my new boat
It cuts through ice and goes real nice
with my new full length fur coat

Oh-ho there's a foot of snow
Out in my front yard
But not a snowflake on my Lexus
Or the bow on top of my new car

Have a Hoity Toity Christmas
And don't you shed a tear
Don't resent that the 1%
Will have a hoity toity Christmas
next year



My list of Christmas songs haven't changed. If you want to check 'em out you can go to last year's blog. http://weeklymailfb.blogspot.com/2016/12/weekly-mail-christmas-eve-special.html


But here's some fun we can have.....

BAND AID 1984 VS. BAND AID 2014.

Seems every 10 years, Bob Geldof gets together the hottest group of British musicians to do an updated Do They Know It's Christmas Time. You've probably never heard of Band Aid 10 20 or 30, because well, like the 1992 Dream Team, no matter who you got in the following years, you'll never top the first one.

(Not that I'm against his trying. Shoot, if they raise enough money to combat African famine, more power to them)

Anyway, here is a tale of the tape between the original Band-Aid and Band-Aid 30....


It's Christmas Time There's no need to be afraid

1984-Paul Young
2014-One Direction

At Christmas Time we let in light and we banish shade

1984-Paul Young
2014-Ed Sheeran

And in our world of plenty, we can spread a smile of joy

1984-Boy George
2014-Rita Ora

Throw your arms around the world at Christmas time

1984-Boy George
2014- Sam Smith

But say a prayer, and pray for the other ones

1984-George Michael
2014-Paloma Faith*

At Christmas time its hard but while you're having fun

1984 George Michael and Simon LeBon
2014-Emeli Sande

There's a world outside your window, and its a world of dread and fear

1984-Simon Lebon and Sting
2014 -Guy Garvey (lead singer of Elbow*)


Where the only water flowing, is the bitter sting of tears-Simon Lebon and Sting
Where a kiss of love could kill you-2014 Bastille 
And there's death in every tear-2014 Angelique Kidjo*

And the Christmas bells that ring there, are the clanging chimes of doom

1984-Sting and Bono
2014-Chris Martin (Coldplay)


Well tonight thank God it's them, instead of you   1984 Bono
Well tonight we're reaching out and touching you 2014 Bono


And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmastime -1984 Chorus
Bring peace and joy this Christmas to West Africa- 2014-Seal

The Greatest Gift they'll  get this year is life-1984-Chorus
A song of hope where there's no hope tonight -Ellie Goulding

Where nothing ever grows, no rain or rivers flow-1984 -Chorus
Why is comfort to be feared why is to touch to be scared Sinead O'Connor

Do they Know it's Christmastime at all? 1984-Chorus
How can they know its Christmas time at all?- 2014-Bono

Here's to You-1984-Glenn Gregory
Here's to You-2014-One Direction

Raise a glass for everyone-1984-Paul Young
Raise a glass to everyone 2014-Ollie Murs*

Here's to them-1984-Glen Gregory
Here's to them-2014-Bastille

Underneath that burning sun-Paul Young
And all there is to come- Sam Smith

Do they know it's Christmastime at all-Chorus
Can they know it's Christmas time at all- Rita Ora


Yeah, I'm a little obsessed with this song...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjQzJAKxTrE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w7jyVHocTk (WARNING- the first 15 seconds of this video is hard to watch.


*Not a clue who these people are

FINALLY...

and I have to give a shout to my pal Mike Macchi for this one. Every year between 1963 and 1969, the Beatles recorded a Christmas song that was sent exclusively to members of their fan club. Can you imagine how many records they would have to send out today if they were so inclined? Their fans have to total in the billions.

Anyhoo, the one I'm posting here is from 1967. Why this is of particular interest to me is that it also served as the B-Side to 1995's Free as a Bird, the John Lennon demo the remaining three Beatles took and made into a Beatles song for the Anthology series. I knew Santa Claus was going to bring me the CD, Beatles Anthology One, so I went out and bought the Free as a Bird single cassette, with Christmas Time is Here Again as the B-Side.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovX5bcIxTQ8


Thanks for indulging my craziness...


Merry Christmas!