Things that make me go HMMMMMMM -- Elephant boats????

It is that time of the year when the air waves are flooded with Christmas carols.  I don't get on board until Thanksgiving has passed (or at least our service the night before Thanksgiving).  

Some Christmas songs are pretty well dated, even if they remain popular.  We still hear people singing songs about their longing for figgy pudding and children who allegedly dream of sugar plums.  But this is not the most grievous, outdated lyric I've encountered.

Consider a portion of the lyrics of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town."

"With curly-haired dolls that coddle and coo, elephant boats, and kiddie cars, too."

ELEPHANT BOATS??????

I've asked elderly people if they remember some trendy toy known as elephant boats.  So far, no one has.  I've looked it up on the internet and have found only photos of gondolas in India.  Now, I appeal to the worldwide audience for an answer.  Were "elephant boats" ever a thing?

If it helps to discover the answer, the song appears to have been released in 1934.  Is this some Depression era toy?

Just one of those things that make me go HMMMMMMM.....

For Your Amusement -- Classical Twelve Days of Christmas

Here is a rendition of the Twelve Days of Christmas which incorporates classical music selections.  It is performed by the Canadian Brass.  I tried to find who wrote it, but I came up with nothing.  I had heard it earlier today on WRCJ, Detroit's Classical Music station.  They credited the composer.  I remember he was born in Toronto, but can't recall his name.  Crud.

My only criticism is that they should have chosen something for J. S. Bach besides Toccata and Fugue in D Minor.  There are many better options.  

Nevertheless, very clever.  Enjoy!

Favorite Christmas Hymns collected by Forward In Christ magazine

Here is a neat article for you to check out.  

Forward in Christ magazine, the official magazine of the WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod).  They asked for people to submit their favorite Christmas hymns and to share memories of them.  While there are four pages in the magazine dedicated to this, there were many more submissions than they had room for.  So, they put together this digital presentation.  Enjoy.

Favorite Christmas Hymns – FORWARD IN CHRIST

10,000!!!!!

I have done precious little to promote this little LutheranSubject blog.  It is primarily a place to post my sermons.  Occasionally, I have posted some pastoral concerns.  In this way, the blog has replaced Good Shepherd's long defunct newsletter.  Of course, these pastoral concerns and similar articles have not been published with the same consistency as a newsletter, either.  I guess that means there has been less pressure to produce a monthly article.  Articles are now produced as the topic seemed urgent and the timing was permissible.

In any case, as of today, this blog has officially surpassed the 10,000 pages viewed mark.  I consider that astounding, as those who have found it have probably found it by accident rather than on purpose.  Hopefully, this blog has produced some articles, sermons, etc.... that have proven worth people's time to read through.

It would be nice to know who's been out there, especially if you have been a somewhat regular lurker.  If you would be so inclined, please let me know you who are in the comments section.  Name and city/state/country would be nice.

For what it's worth, the top 5 blog posts of all time are:
1)  Christmas Carols (secular), the Gold Standard
           http://lutheransubject.blogspot.com/2012/11/christmas-carols-secular-gold-standard.html
2)  Sermon -- 13th Sunday after Pentecost (August 18, 2013)
          http://lutheransubject.blogspot.com/2013/08/sermon-13th-sunday-after-pentecost.html
3)  Local Tourist, Edsel and Eleanor Ford Estate
          http://lutheransubject.blogspot.com/2013/07/local-tourist-edsel-eleanor-ford-estate.html
4)  Local Tourist, Detroit Ren Cen and Riverwalk
          http://lutheransubject.blogspot.com/2013/07/local-tourist-detroit-rencen-and.html
5)  MLS football vs. Merrill (October 5, 2013)
          http://lutheransubject.blogspot.com/2013/10/mls-football-vs-merrill.html

I really don't know what conclusions to draw from that. But since I included them here, they will probably get a boost in page hits and build on their lead.

Thanks for checking in.  I will try to keep making it worth your while.  God bless you!

Christmas carols (secular) -- the Gold Standard

CHRISTMAS CAROLS!!!

The versions of these songs are the gold standard for secular Christmas music.  While others have also taken a shot at recording these songs, and some of those versions may be good, these are the best versions produced.  Convince me otherwise.  Feel free to add your own selections.

 

Criteria of selections.

1.  These are secular pieces.  Sacred music is entirely its own category, and sacred selections are sung best as a congregation.
2.  These are songs that have been sung, sung again, and sung again by various artists.  For example, I don’t know if anyone has re-recorded “Merry Christmas, Darling” by the Carpenters. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR1ujXx2p-I ; footage from a Christmas special).  If it has been redone, the Carpenters are the gold standard.
3.  Some songs, in my opinion, have yet to find their gold standard.
4.  Some songs won’t have a gold standard.  Ever. (Sorry, “I Saw Mommy Kissing santa Claus.”  Go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsat4e8jgHA for the worst version of the worst Christmas song ever.  (I am willing to listen to other entries for bad Christmas songs, but that’s another blog entry.)
5.  Instrumental versions and lyrical versions may have different gold standards.

 

Caroling, Caroling – Nat King Cole

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFSPGIHjak8

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) – Nat King Cole

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__kQ1PCP6B0   (Recorded on TV special)

White Christmas – Bing Crosby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJSUT8Inl14

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas – Johnny Mathis

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYTnzNeTWmE

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Andy Williams

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFtb3EtjEic

Happy Holidays – Andy Williams

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSfzvrtgsSE

Holly, Jolly Christmas – Burl Ives

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up1t5siifEw

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer – Gene Autry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ara3-hDH6I

The Little Drummer Boy – The Harry Simeone Chorale

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT1fA59oH7Q

Sleigh Ride (Instrumental) – Leroy Anderson & the Boston Pops

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuSl9PKx6M4

Here We Come A-Caroling – Ray Conniff Singers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71js6tQr334

We Need a Little Christmas – Percy Faith

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDaDopTFRoU

O Tannenbaum (instrumental) – Vince Guaraldi Trio

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kw6h4mZO1oU

NOTE: I don’t think Nat King Cole and the Ray Conniff Singers have produced a bad version of any Christmas song.  Perhaps add Bing Crosby.  These should be essential additions to anyone’s Christmas CD’s (or iPod’s, for those more technologically advanced that me).