SOUNDTRACK: BRAVE COMBO-It’s Christmas, Man (1991).
This is one of my all time favorite Christmas records.
I love that it plays around with the styles and tempos of traditional songs and yet it remains very faithful to the spirit of the holidays
Brave Combo is a band who likes to have fun, and they certainly do that here.
This record may have been the first time I’d heard “Must Be Santa” (Polka) back in 1991, and their version is peppy and wild. In my mind it is the accurate version. There’s lots of fun percussion and crazy sounds. It’s got a klezmer beat and a conga session at the end.
“Oh Christmas Tree” (Samba) is a 3 minute nearly all instrumental wild version. The vocals come in about 30 seconds from the end to zip through it. “It’s Christmas” [Cha Cha] I love this song. It is catchy and fun and is just the epitome of Christmas to me.
“Corrido Navideño” [Ranchera] This is a mellower song, sung in Spanish. That’s an unexpected change, but Brave Combo celebrates all kinds of musical styles. “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts)” [Ska] is upbeat and dancey and so much fun. Although the vocals at the end are a bit understated for the rhythm.
“Christmas In July” They have some fun with the lyrics: “bells on the ice cream truck” “Rudolph the sunburned reindeer.” “Have yourself a merry, steamy Christmas.” It’s fun, fast and dancey. “Please Come Home For Christmas” is a bluesy song.
“Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah” [Hora] This is fast and punky and a wonderfully jazzy version.
“Frosty The Snowman” This is a short jazzy version of the song with horns taking the vocal melody.
“The Little Drummer Boy” [Guaguanco] I love the various styles of drums which makes this song more vibrant to me than many other versions. It feels calypso to me. “Santa’s Polka” [Polka] This song is outstanding, funny and sweet.
“Feliz Navidad” [Cumbia] The album kind of slows down a bit at this point. This is a little too slow for my tastes, especially given the wonderful faster versions that are out there. It’s not bad it just sounds like it’s designed for older people.
“Ave Maria” This is a pretty operatic version of the song. It is just acoustic guitars and the singer’s lovely operatic voice. It is completely out of place on this disc. If anything it should have gone last, right?
“Buon Natale” [Waltz] I never realized how strange this song is until I listened closely to this fun, upbeat waltz.
Far away across the sea
In sunny Italy
There’s a quaint little town
Not a clock has been wound
For over a century
They don’t know the time or year
And no one seems to care
And this is the reason
The Christmas season
Is celebrated all year
“Jingle Bells” is only 45 seconds long and it is zippy and minor key in a klezmer sort of way. A jolly fun way to end the disc.
[READ: December 1, 2017] “Dogs of Cuba”
Once again, I have ordered The Short Story Advent Calendar. This year, there are brief interviews with each author posted on the date of their story.
Hello. Welcome. It’s finally here: Short Story Advent Calendar time.
If you’re reading along at home, now’s the time to start cracking those seals, one by one, and discover some truly brilliant writing inside. Then check back here each morning for an exclusive interview with the author of that day’s story.
(Want to join in? It’s not too late. Order your copy here.)
This year I’m pairing each story with a holiday disc from our personal collection. (more…)
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SOUNDTRACK: BRAVE COMBO-It’s Christmas, Man (1991).
This is one of my all time favorite Christmas records.
I Just Read About That... 