Thursday, December 9, 2010

Simply Sing Along

This week’s simple pleasure is of the musical variety. It’s all about singing. I love to sing, and Christmas is sing-along season. For the whole month of December, music fills the air, and I think it's grand.

It’s in the offices.
It’s in the stores.
It’s in the foyer at school.
It’s in a little Christmas basket
 riding shotgun in Ebenezer.


I keep a mishmash of Christmas CDs in the car to fit my mood. Because I’m flying solo, I get to turn the volume as high as I want and belt out songs in my best falsetto. In my head, I sound just like Julie Andrews.

You probably aren’t surprised that old carols are my favorites. As I sing them, I can picture the page in the little blue carol booklets they handed out every year when I was a child.


Silent Night was always on the first page, and Deck the Halls was on the last. We would Fa La La our way through the entire booklet, singing all verses to every song except Good King Wenceslas.

We would have skipped that one entirely had it not been for my brother.

Though I prefer the carols of Christmas, I enjoy secular songs as well. Silver Bells and White Christmas are two favorites. I have to use my best alto sing~along voice for them, though. In my head, I sound just like Rosemary Clooney. When I rump a pump pum, I sound like just Bing Crosby…When I want a hooooola hooooop?

Alvin the Chipmunk.

I sing along in the stores as well. Oh, it always begins quite properly with a quiet hum-a-long, but before long I’m in full out Glee mode. I keep my hands on the cart, but the Bobble head keeps time to the music. I've been known to add a little hip action  to my step as well.

Other shoppers just peek about for the hidden camera.

If you frequent a certain store, you learn their sound track whether you want to or not. My grocery store has a horrible playlist which seems to be stuck on Santa Baby every time I venture in. Although that song ranks just below Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer on my least favorite list, I inevitably find myself singing along in a deep husky voice. In my head, I sound just like Eartha Kitt.

Santa Baby, hurry down my chimney tonight….

The only thing worse than getting Santa Baby stuck in your head might be getting those Jingle Bell barking dogs stuck in there. Fortunately, I seem to be able to exercise restraint. I’m proud to report that I have never barked my way through Walmart.

I have, however, barked my way to school. In my defense, it was years ago, and the carpool kids wanted to create a canine chorus. We barked in four part harmony.

Woofers and arfers
 in the middle seat.
Yelpers and yippers
 in the back.
 I sat in the front
and barked right along with them.
 In my head, I sounded just like a cocker spaniel.

I could yak on and on about the simple pleasure of Christmas music and the memories that each song brings, but there are still gifts to buy and cookies to make and rooms to decorate so I'll bring this post to a close. You can be sure, however, that I'll be turning up my Christmas music as I tackle it all.

And this week's simple pleasure will be singing along.

*****
Sharing this with Dayle at
for our weekly
 Simple Pleasures.

42 comments:

FrouFrouBritches said...

I loooove Christmas music. I've been playing it in my car since October! A can't stand those barking dogs or Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer, but I think I like just about everything else. I adore The Time Life Christmas Treasury so much that I wore it out. I need to buy another one. I love all the old classics, the carols and the secular. Hearing them just make me smile!

Angel said...

Arf, Arf, Arf, Yip, Yip, Yip - I am HOWLING with laughter at your post!!! I can so identify. Just yesterday, I was in a store and found myself singing to the Christmas music. I thought I was alone but then turned to find another shopper with that stunned, reindeer-in-the-headlights look on her face. That, too, made me chuckle. Thank you for sharing this wonderful simple pleasure - music and laughter - a great combo!

Denise said...

I was wondering where the "Do you want to go caroling sometime soon?" thought came from yesterday. Now I know. Yes. Yes. Yes. I LOVE Christmas music. (All except the already mentioned ones in your post). I do a lot of humming and bobbling but no hip action here! Many of them make me cry (Silent Night...which traces itself back to when I was pregnant at Christmas time and White Christmas).

I can just picture you in action with your singing! Great post. I loved it.

Kay K said...

I love Christmas Music too !!! thanks for sharing

Savannah Granny said...

You are so funny, I can just hear you, singing all those parts. Do you ever get strange looks for other drivers, cause I know your head and body are bobbing?
You actually named most of my favorites. I am dating myself but I remember the first I heard "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" on the radio, the original by Gene Autry. I am not sure but we probably didn't have a tv then. hugs, Ginger

http://bitsandpieces-sonja.blogspot.com/ said...

laughing out loud at these 'pictures' of you singing!
I promise you that every time I turn on the radio it is playing Feliz Navidad in that jumpy irritating version! :)

Entertaining Women said...

Oh my! We could ride around in the car and shop together in great style. When the kids were growing up, their friends called us the 'Singing Cliffords' because we sang everywhere, all the time. My favorite is 'Angels We Have Hear on High' and my precious daughter singing 'Jesu Bambino.'...I could go on and on. I always thought of myself as sounding like Shirley Jones in "Carousel." LOL. Thank you for sharing your musical involvement with us and for stopping by my post. I appreciate that you like to take a bit of time with me. That means a lot. Cherry Kay

Ann said...

If Nick could, he'd play Christmas music ALL year long ... he has it on his iPod. (but Hannah is our music "police" and won't let him near Christmas music on the famiily radio until AFTER Thanksgiving!)
We have always called ourselves the "DeLong Family Singers" when on road trips. Started when Lorri was small.
So singing is something we ALWAYS do. Not always in key or harmony, but we always sing - and as one priest told me years ago, we make a "joyful noise."
And, like you, I do find myself humming along while shopping. I do get some odd looks, but I also get the occasional smile in agreement.
Keep on singing! We need more "joyful noise" in the world!
~Ann

Dayle ~ A Collection of Days said...

Debbie, I'm laughing. Really laughing. You're just a funny girl, and your writing shines. I'm a big lover of Christmas music myself ... and find I cannot decorate a Christmas tree without good old Elvis in the background. Some of his songs are so bad they keep me laughing. I do believe he was a bit tipsy during some of those studio sessions. LOL!

Susan said...

Hi Debbie...That was a great Simple Pleasure...music! I'm like you. I love every kind of Christmas music there is. Just this morning I was playing Kathy Mattea's Christmas album...she's a great folksinger, by the way. If you don't know her, I think you'd like her.

My FAVE of all time cds is the Muppet's Christmas album followed by Elvis'

By the way, thank you SO MUCH for stopping by my blog and commenting. I love having you visit. Susan

Kelli said...

I could sit and read and read about your love of Christmas music!! I LOVE it too! I would just be so happy to be in the adjacent aisle when you're in the store so I could listen to your humming!

Unknown said...

My girls and I continue to banter back and forth about who gets to listen to their choice. All I want right now is Christmas music, specifically Josh Groban's Noel CD!

Ms.Daisy said...

Debbie,
You are such a funny writer that I can see myself alongside you singing and humming our way through the stores! Love your Simple Pleasure today. Hope your Christmas is wonderful and happy!

~Jean

Elizabeth Dianne said...

Hey precious Deb,
Got your second comment and so glad to have you along for the journey. And your prayer meant the world to me. Thank you.

Your post here today is so wonderful--full of memories, good humor, down right belly laughing (at the hip action) and a little scary (not thinking about Santa Baby getting caught in my head but thinking about him getting caught in the chimney.) He's a little bigger around than he used to be. Ha! Aren't we all?

Really,--just delightful!

Love you sweet friend,
Dianne

Vanessa said...

Oh, Debbie I am so with you on the Santa Baby thing! It is definitely up there on my least favorite list too and I have already heard it WAAAYYY too often this season. My daughter and I have been having fun belting out songs together as we listen to her Kids Christmas CD's and my son's all-time favorite song (since he was 3) is Dolly Parton's version of Walking in a Winter Wonderland. He asked me once if we could go and visit her and I told him that the closest we could probably ever get would be DollyWood! :-)
Vanessa

Renée said...

Growing up, my dad would put a piano in the back of my grandfather's big produce truck. We had a neighborhood caroling party driving around the streets of my S. Calif. neighborhood. We would party till we were all sung out and return to our house for hot chocolate and cookies. At the very end Santa would burst in with a little present for each child. It remains a magical memory. Thanks for your inspiring simple post. I just loved it!!!!

The Charm of Home said...

Debbie,
I am so with you. I start listening to some Christmas songs in October...well not every year. And...in my head....I am just like you. I hear some things that I am sure my kids don't hear!LOL Your so fun. Merry Christmas.
Sherry

Joan Hall said...

Debbie - this is funny. Barking your way through Wal-Mart. :)

Seriously, I love the old Christmas Carols - O Holy Night and Silent Night are my favorites. I also like secular Christmas music and I have my CD collection in the car. I really like the instrumental music of Mannheim Steamroller...and then there is my John Denver Christmas CD...don't laugh, I like it. :)

Blessings,
Joan

Karen said...

I too love Christmas music. Good ole' Bing! Silver Bells - Dreaming of a white Christmas, which we don't get in MS. The list goes on-but I'm right there with you getting the annoying ones stuck in the head. :)))
Karen

Nikki (Sarah) said...

I loved reading this and imagining you singing all over the place....that says alot about the type of person you are....happy. ☺

La Vie Quotidienne said...

I couldn't agree with you more! I love holiday music and have so many Cd's that it is embarassing.(-: Thank you for visiting me and leaving such a nice comment on the rocking horse post. Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

Oh, yes. I do love singing along. Enthusiastically, of course!
Or singing all alone with no accompaniment. That works, too.
Have a wonderful sing!

Chatty Crone said...

Okay - I gotta be honest - I love the Christmas carols just like you do - but I love the silly ones too - like Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer. . . sandie

Christine said...

You have stimulated great thoughts about what music means.

I use to sing Slight Night to my kids every night as one of their bedtime songs. It calmed them down. When I hear it, I choke up a little.

Keep SINGING!

Sharon said...

What a wonderful post - a smile, a chuckle, an "awww" - simply enjoyable!

Boy, I wish I could be out shopping with you. We'd get our "Bobblehead Baptist" bodies moving! Who'd be naughty? US!!

Have you seen the YouTube flash mob thing with "The Hallelujah Chorus"? Chatty Crone had it on her blog, and I've seen it a couple of other places, too. THAT is my ALL-TIME favorite song ever - holiday or not. It gives me goosebumps and tears, all at the same time.

"King of kings, and Lord of lords..." AMEN!

bj said...

O, Christmas music is at the top of the list of Simple Pleasures...:))

Trish said...

Debbie you are a gem!! This is such a fun simple pleasure post - I loved it!! Hubby and I are laughing all over the kitchen :-) joy in Christ..Trish

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Too funny...totally agree with the ones getting stuck in your head...I am sooooooooo tired of Santa Baby...and grandma got run over...well I have a four year old, so that has become his favorite.
I too enjoy music and pull out my CD's as fast as I pull out my Christmas books.
Stopped by for the first time..enjoyed!!

Kathleen said...

Wonderful! I love your yakking. I like to sing too - it's such a shame that I can't. Well, not on key that is but it doesn't stop me!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Debbie, you have me laughing out loud AGAIN! I tend to sing along with Christmas carols also, but I'm afraid I ALWAYS sound like Alvin and the Chipmunks! Fun post! laurie

saltbox
treasures
said...

Hi Debbie, I also just love Christmas music!
Your home is looking lovely for the holidays.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas!
~ Julie

A Perfect Setting said...

I had that same carol book!! I don't hesitate to belt it out in church, and my kids look at me like I have a disease lol!! I enjoyed reading your post, soooo funny!! I can relate!! Thanks for your visit and your kind comments...

Susan Nowell @ My Place to Yours said...

Well, Debbie, I love Christmas music, too! But I must confess... I guess I'd never really "experienced" it until I heard it the way you do! LOL Cute post!

Unknown said...

Debbie, you made me laugh out loud with this one!!!! I would so love to hear you as Eartha Kitt. Really.
And are you like Julie Andrews from Sound of Music or in Eloise at Christmas????
Thanks for the reminder of the barking Jingle Bells. One of my all time favorites.
The worst one is about the little child buying his dying Momma shoes for Christmas. I think it should be banned. Forever.
xoxo
lynn

Francie...The Scented Cottage Studio said...

Ahh... I am known for dancin' in the stores...and the one song that I can't stop singing, the one song you can't get out of your head..Feliz Navidad ... and geeeesh there aren't even a variety of words there. That's probably why it makes ya so nuts. Sooo I say to you "Feliz Navidad, Feliz Navidad, Feliz Navidad y Prospero ano de felizidad. I want to wish you a Merry Christmas, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my hearrrrrrrrrt.
Feliz Navidad, Feliz Navidad, Feliz Navidad y prospero ano de felizidad !!!

Barbara Neubeck said...

Hi,Debbie.I'm Barb and I'd like to thank you for visiting me the other day.
I can totally relate to what you're saying about Christmas Carols. I think it's fine to jiggle in public to the music--it's a little worrying if you start humming carols out loud(like I tend to do) any where any time of year. The happy birthday song gets a look-in too.My whole year is geared around looking for and making presents, much to the enjoyment of my grandchildren.God Bless Barb

Sue said...

What can I say Debbie, except, if you and I were living in the same town, and if we both were out driving, and if we both were stopped at the same stop light, we would both be singing at the same time, how wonderful to find someone who loves all the same Christmas songs as I do. Who knows maybe there would be a record producer in the other car, and we could make a cd and go on tour. lol Love this.

Now as for your Christmas decorations, I want, I want , I want them all, I was so blessed by reading your other Christmas posts, and oh! how my heart was so touched by what your dad did for his grandchildren, I absolutely cried, and then for the Duchess to take up this tradition, I cried even more.What treasures your girls have.And what great parents!!

I love the tradition of drawing names and having the gifts at the table,(Thanks for the idea).
I leave here today so uplifted, Debbie.
Much love,
Sue

Victoria said...

thanx for the memories! I remember those carol books! Now, I'm gonnna be looking for them, in thrift and antique stores!!!! ....Maybe my mother still has a few hidden somewhere in her "stuff". {That's a story I'll have to post about one of these days!~My sisters & I have threatened to call one of those tv shows, like Hoarders, to come clean out my parent's home!}

..."Christmas music and the memories that each song brings", Definitely one of my simple pleasures, too! Merry Christmas to you and yours! And thanx again, for your wonderful blog!

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

I love all kinds of Christmas music! There's nothing like putting on a Christmas CD to get in the mood for wrapping presents or making cookies - it's a tradition.

Have a wonderful Christmas!

Manuela

Jessa said...

Cute post! Love that booklet!

CAL said...

During these last two weeks of illness it dawned on me that I rarely sing anymore. Decided that I would put on the Christmas Carols and try to rectify that situation.

I too love the old classics, they bring me such comfort. Funny though, I'm kinda ready for them to be put away by the time 12/25 hits.
Guess that's what makes them special - short shelf life.

Amy Kinser said...

Oh, Princess Deborah, how you make me smile and laugh.

I can picture you (even though I haven't seen you) strolling along through the stores humming, singing, and doing a slight little Christian jig along with the music. I would love to be there and see the joy on your face and the spark in your step.

God bless you, Amy

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