Today's Christmas song of the day is, like yesterday's, and like Sleigh Ride, not technically a Christmas song. There isn't a mention of the holiday in the lyrics.
"Winter Wonderland" was first recorded in 1934, almost as an outtake, when Richard Himber's Orchestra ran late and Himber had left the building. The lead vocalist, Johnny Nash, insisted they try recording it, just once, before everyone else went home. If they screwed it up, they'd call it day and forget the whole thing.
Recorded by at least 150 artists (by the wiki count) and I have only a paltry 16 versions in the iTunes? It's still enough to drive anyone but me to drink.
Most of them stick with the snowman as Parson Brown version, although a few combine the Parson and the circus clown together.
It's probably heresy to admit it, but of my 16 versions, Aretha's is the most annoying. Stop sliding around already.
Tony's version is fun, although I the bluebird might take exception to the idea that he is really "astray" instead of just "gone away".
Best mellow, slow version has to be Louis'. (Some nice vintage photos here, too.)
And Ella would probably be in my top five again, but since I just used her yesterday, let's go with Ray Charles for swinginest version:
Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass:
Boston Pops:
And, with a video this time around, Glenn Miller's Orchestra:
The big plan for today was outside Christmas lights.
And then it snowed.
Hard.
Add to this fact we still weren't finding the lights we wanted despite having checked Walmart, Target, and Home Depot.
So this morning we stopped in at Walgreens to pick up some prints I'd ordered and voila! There were the blue LEDs I'd been looking for, on SALE, no less.
Oh, and there was a lot of very weird Spongebob Christmas stuff. Case in point:
So we got our lights, then headed over to Wally world for the weekly grocery haul. New to the what-silliness-can-we-find-this-week files, a plush Cookie Monster mini-backpack, for those of us perpetually four:
After unpacking the haul and having lunch, we settled in for a long winter's nap. That would include Bru:
shhh, don't say a word. Just keep petting.
This afternoon was set aside for baking.
(If you don't lick the beaters, you aren't doing it right.)
And ten dozen snickerdoodles later (Christmas gifts.... mostly)...
That left tonight for me to take Sam and her friend Cayley to see the Nutcracker.
I can now go to bed with vision of sugar plum fairies dancing in my head. Christmas time is here.
It's currently 9° and dropping with more snow expected tomorrow. After today's weather, the song of the day has to be Let It Snow³. And yes, superscript three makes it that much cooler. It also omits those really annoying exclamation points.
Like yesterday's song, this one was supposedly also written on one of the hottest days of the year.
Vaughn Monroe first recorded it in 1946 and had a resurgence in popularity when his version was used in the Die Hard films in the late 80s. Merry Christmas, Hans Gruber, wherever you are.
While Sinatra and Martin's versions are more popular, my all-time favorite has to be Ella's version. (Her whole Christmas album is one my most played, too.)
For instrumental, may I suggest the Glenn Miller Orchestra version which, I am shocked to report, is not found on YouTube.
