Advent Calendar 2021 – Day 10 🥁

Posted on by

A few days ago I tried out something I’d not done before: I gave you three different renditions of the same song. This seemed to go down well so I thought I’d do it again, especially as this gives me an opportunity to play one of my regular Christmas favourites. The song for today began life when it was first written in 1941 by Katherine Kennicott Davis, when it was known as Carol Of The Drum. It is believed to have been based on a Czech carol, or perhaps a French song: its origins are unclear, and I doubt there is anyone still around now who could clear that up. You will know the song by the name it quickly became: The Little Drummer Boy. It was first recorded in 1951 by the Trapp Family (without the aid of goatherds, lonely or otherwise), and has since been heard in many versions. If you were hoping for Johnny Mathis, Johnny Cash, Bing Crosby and David Bowie, The Beverley Sisters, Joan Baez, Boney M or Justin Blubber, amongst others, I’m afraid I’m going to disappoint you. A couple of other versions did come into the reckoning, but I settled on these three: the first because he is a favourite of mine, the second because they made a real show of it, and the last one because they are in my view the best covers band and do it a little bit differently.

First up is Bob Seger:

Of all the recorded versions that I know that is my favourite, by a country mile. Bob gives it so much feeling, and you really are taken along with the little boy playing his drum for the newborn Messiah as he had no other gift to give him, ‘Then, he smiled at me, me and my drum.’ This was recorded for the album A Very Special Christmas, released in 1987 (not 1989, the video is wrong) to raise funds for the Special Olympics. The album has to date sold well over 4m copies in the US alone, and started a series which so far comprises nine albums of Christmas songs newly recorded by well known singers and bands. I’ve shared one or two of these in previous years, and this has prompted me to think about doing it again – there are some good songs in the collection. It also appeared on the Bob Seger compilation double album Ultimate Hits: Rock And Roll Never Forgets, which was released in November 2011 and reached #19 in the US and #28 in the UK. The puppet show, by the way, is part of a movie version made in 1968.

I said that the second version I’m sharing today is a real performance. See what you think:

I don’t usually go for divas, but there is something about this version which gets to me. The CMA (Country Music Association) put on an annual Christmas show, and this was part of the 2016 extravaganza. I don’t know about you, but this doesn’t really say ‘country’ to me: however they are two fine singers belting out their all, and the little lad leading the dance troupe is pretty damn good, too. You may well know of Jennifer Nettles as a member of the country duo Sugarland, but she has also released several solo albums, including the one this duet was on – To Celebrate Christmas – in October 2016, just in time for her hosting the CMA show. That was handy, wasn’t it? The album reached #66 in the main US albums chart, and also got to #13 in the US country albums listing and #18 in the UK equivalent. Her duet partner is Idina Menzel, better known as a stage performer and as Elsa in Frozen. The little boy dancing is called J.T. Church, who was a finalist on the tv show So You Think You Can Dance? I’m guessing the answer is ‘yes.’

The classic British tv comedy series Monty Python’s Flying Circus had a number of catchphrases, one of which was a link they used between sketches: “and now for something completely different.” As if by magic:

That is the one which I also shared last year. You may remember it, in which case I give my usual non-apology for repeating myself: this is absolutely brilliant, and deserves to be seen again. And again. And…

I have mentioned before that I am a huge fan of Walk Off The Earth and their incredibly creative and inventive videos, both for their own songs and for the many covers they have done. I doubt that anyone has ever come remotely close to playing this song in this way, and I think it is all the better for that. The disinterested looks on some of the dogs’ faces are priceless, particularly the one on the left.

That just leaves my image of the day. Having given you some dogs, how about a cat?

Pa-ra-pa-pum-pum. See you again tomorrow 🥁

28 thoughts on “Advent Calendar 2021 – Day 10 🥁”

  1. Pingback: Music Monday: Two All-Time Favorites For the Price of One – Borden's Blather

  4. wow – I can’t say which one is my favorite – they were all great. Bob Seger is one of my all-time favorite artists – and this song shows why. I’d never heard of Jennifer Nettles, although I’m sure you have included a song from her before and I just forgot. But what a voice. And what can I say about WOTE that I haven’t said before? Her voice gets me every time…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • I’m pleased you liked them all, Jim. I tried to give a bit of variety, and as Bob Seger is one of my favourites too I was always including him. I’ve not shared Jennifer Nettles before, or her band Sugarland, so you haven’t missed anything. I put this one in because of the two great voices and the wonderful dancing. And what more can I say about WOTE!

      Like

      Reply

  5. You’re on a roll lately, Clive. I thought each version was wonderful. I always love the fun of a WOTE video. It’s easy to get caught up in the comedy and not appreciate how talented they are. So many strong voices.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thanks, Keith, I see what you did there 😂

      I’ve always thought the Bing/Bowie one was more a trick of technology than a real duet, so I’m pleased you like these too – to me they’re more real, even if one of them is off the wall 😊

      Like

      Reply

Please leave a reply, I'd like to know what you think