Advent Calendar Day 20

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As today is Sunday, my Advent Calendar window is opening as usual on some versions of Christmas carols. This is the last Sunday before Christmas – in case you hadn’t noticed – and this gives me a problem: how to fit in all of the remaining songs on my list of candidates! I’ve thought about this for longer than my usual nanosecond or two and, having reduced that list to three songs, I’m stuck. So you’re getting all three – hope you don’t mind!

Today’s first one is by a singer who I loved when she was in the Eurythmics, but whose solo career has largely passed me by. On the evidence of this, I should perhaps have a rethink:

I absolutely love that! The folk, almost pagan, treatment is very much to my taste, and her powerful voice carries the song so well. The video is brilliant, too. This was released on her album A Christmas Cornucopia in 2010. The album peaked at #16 here and at #35 in the US. This track was also released as a single, but only got as far as #126 here, failing to chart anywhere else. But it gets us off to a rousing start, I think!

My second carol for today is also given a folk-based treatment, but I could make a case for saying that carols and hymns are a kind of folk music anyway, so I don’t see anything wrong in that! This is one of those unlikely collaborations that sometimes crop up in music:

Isn’t that lovely? The Chieftains have released many albums featuring an array of guest singers, and this is from one of those: The Bells of Dublin, which came out in 1991. I can’t find any details of chart placings, but the album has been certified ‘Gold’ in the US for over 500k sales, so I think it has done alright. Another of the guests on the album is Jackson Browne, who recorded a version of his song The Rebel Jesus: I featured his original on Day 5 of this series. (Update – I’ve been advised since posting that this video isn’t available in the US: hopefully this link will let you hear the song, though the image is static – https://youtu.be/7e4euOE_xuw )

Completing today’s package of three songs is another by a female vocalist. This is, in a word, incredible:

This carol was first performed in Austria on Christmas Eve, 1818. It has been recorded many times, and according to Wikipedia Bing Crosby’s 1935 version is the fourth best-selling single of all time: I have my doubts about that! Sinead released it as a single in 1991, when it reached #12 in her native Ireland and #60 here in the UK. I think those placings really underrate it: her performance, and this lovely video, are wonderful.

As ever, I leave you with my image of the day. Today’s is less of a ‘funny,’ more a piece of social comment on these strange times in which we are living. I share it for the 18m UK citizens, of whom I am one, who yesterday had their Christmas cancelled by the ineptitude and vacillation of our completely useless Prime Minister:

I’ll see you again tomorrow, perhaps without the social comment! 🙂

31 thoughts on “Advent Calendar Day 20”

  2. the first one was OK, but the video was well done. I couldn’t get the updated link you sent for the second song to work either. Is the song “I Saw Three Ships”? And Sinead has an amazing voice. A strong Irish connection for the songs today 🙂

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  3. Annie Lennox is amazing. I liked so many of The Eurythmics’ songs. I’ve never been much of a Sinead O’Connor fan, but I have to admit this video is fantastic. The extra link that you provided for the second tune doesn’t seem to work for me. Oh well, I’ll trust that it is good since your track record is 100%.

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  4. Nice selection Clive. I think Annie does a great version of ‘God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen’. The album ‘A Christmas Cornucopia’ is really well crafted and should get more acclaim… although I suppose it’s not to everyone’s taste.

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  5. Hi Clive – the Christmas dinner image was scary that it is reality for so many and hope your Prime Minister gets good counsel and wisdom – and as you knack things here in the states have their issues – and right now what come from mind is what I hear from friends living in New York State – the governor there has been making many folks pull their hair out (so to speak)
    And now to the music – second video said unavailable and I can look it up later
    But so nice to enjoy the similarities and contrasts between the first and third
    Both singers, Sinead and Annie have those power voices and the acoustics and clarity in the songs were exceptional –
    – I think some of the pagan undertones or messages in the videos went over my head and I will leave it that way – I might not admire many Christians and have issues with the American church and how thy kiss the mark – but not interested in whatever they were trying to add in that dramatized video – but the vocals – omg!
    And wow – it is hard to believe it is the last Sunday beside Xmas
    In fact, when the 20th arrives it feels like Christmas is so close I can smell dinner (even if it is with zoom )

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    • Hi Yvette. Firstly, before I forget, I’m sorry about the video. I’ve just updated the post to include a link to a fixed image version of the song, which I hope works! The link is https://youtu.be/Ve11_czWnCU

      The image is very real for us. Johnson gets lots of good advice: the problem arises from what he does or doesn’t do with it. We’ve had two full national lockdowns, both of which he was advised to do three or four weeks earlier than he finally did. In my view, if he had acted when he should have done things might not be where they are today. I’m going to miss my daughters and granddaughter, and hold him responsible for that!

      I think these are my favourite collection of the whole series so far. They are all lovely, and have some very striking performances. The roots of Christianity and Paganism have many areas in common, and I like the way the Annie Lennox video blends them.

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  7. Once again, you’ve featured a song that inspired me to write a piece of flash fiction, Clive. If you’re wondering which song, it’s Silent Night by Sinéad O’ Connor. Personally, I think it’s the best version of Silent Night that have passed my ears.

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  8. These are all great. The best collection so far. I have seen the Chieftains perform a couple of times in Vancouver and just loved them. Sinead´s haunting version of Silent Night is incredible and I love Annie´s version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman. You are so right, Christmas songs/carols are all folk songs to being with. I will be listening to these all day. Thanks.

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    • I’m glad you liked them all, Darlene. I enjoyed putting them together! I’ve only ever seen the Chieftains ‘live’ on tv, but I love their music. And Marianne Faithfull has links to my home town: when she had her sixties hits the local paper was full of the fact that her uncle was a GP in the town. The other two aren’t bad either, are they! Have a lovely day 😊

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