I’m kinda rushed on this, because I was out of town for Thanksgiving, but it is December 1 and I wanted to get the annual Christmas music orgy started.
Take a look at this post (or this one) to get the background, but the short version is that I’ve been collecting holiday music for decades and now you get to hear a few selections.
Although, upon further reflection, I guess I don’t have that much for as long as I’ve been at it, but as I’ve said before, I’m the one with this blog, so you’re just going to put up with it.
Right off, I wanted to go off with an extreme selection — a study in contrasts — a pair of versions of a real classic: “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” based on the Clement Moore poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas.” It’s been done many times in many ways.
What’s the odder thing about Liberace: That he was a hugely popular classical/pops pianist or that people didn’t assume straight off he was gay? They both seem mind-boggling to me. You might remember in a couple old Looney Tunes shorts (like this one at the 3-minute mark) the catchphrase “I wish my brother George was here.” Or you might know it from the Del tha Funkee Homosapien album. Or you might know it from Liberace himself. Anyway, here’s Liberace with his brother George.
And then, to go in the extreme opposite direction (in more ways than one), here is Henry Rollins taking a whack at the same song. How old am I that I still think of Rollins as the former lead singer for Black Flag? Old, indeed.
Liberace with George Liberace & His Orchestra – ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas — BUY
Henry Rollins – Twas the Night Before Christmas — BUY
Tags: Christmas music, Liberace, Henry Rollins, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas