Teaming up with Scrooge

Has holiday music been basterdized by the man? Oh, completely, every time I hear, "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas", I am filled with total infuriation. I picture people fighting for parking spots, kids running around like chickens with their heads cut off, old men suffering from eggnog intoxication, and prozac patients overdosing on fake happiness. The fact is, during this time, Americans replace secular pop culture symbols with dollar signs.



Christmas has been over-commercialized to the point that the holiday is more like a tab sheet for the economy. Working in retail has it's perks, I see the pandemonium firsthand. There are rude and self indulgent individuals whose whole intent is to make my life a living hell. I try not to let it phase me. It takes too much energy to try and rationalize with these people. Christmas is an "I, want festival" where everything is up for grabs. What ever happen to the gift of giving and NOT expecting something in return along with a genuine respect for one another? Americans are becoming spoiled manipulative brats. It would be too easy to rant about how Christmas solely focuses on materialistic aspects yada yada, but why does that negative emotion seem to come out when certain holiday tunes come into play? if I have to hear another Maria Carey or Celine Dion rendition of, "All I want for Christmas is you" I will more than likely go crazy.

A lot of establishments play the most unpleasant songs that can put anyone in a shitty non Christmassy mood. There are some songs that make me sad and some that make me happy. I don't completely hate all Christmas jingles, I enjoy George Michael's Last Christmas and Santa Claus is Back in Town by Elvis Presley these songs are great. Furthermore, I observed the industry handing these prospects like Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, and even Brittany Spears to name a few, the rights to bank on the quality of Christmas. Christmas songs are becoming more terrible as the years continue where every dollar becomes the most important part of financial gain in the music biz. Different renditions shouldn't apply to genial songs. I miss nostalgic non conglomerate type of Christmas tunes like; Nat King Coles, "The Christmas Song", Bing Cosby's, "White Christmas",and Gene Autry's, "The Night Before Christmas song." The main focus is whole hearted without any type of commercial interruption. Talented artist's from the past don't get as much recognition as they should. Bring these songs back into the mainstream, don't get me wrong, but I am completely over the fact that Christmas songs of today don't have that spunk like the old ones do.

I've been getting into klezmer music. My friend introduced me to this genre and I really like it. Here's are some samples...