The day 16 window on my Advent Calendar creaks open. Having said that I wouldn’t be featuring many chart hits, I’m doing it again today. Just one, though, as I’m exercising a little restraint. Today’s other choice is from the first band to make their second appearance in my selections – because I think they’re worth it.

First up is a novelty hit from the days when just about everyone was releasing a Christmas record. It comes from one of the most talented musicians of the past fifty years, seen here putting his own unique stamp on a well-known Christmas carol tune:

The original tune is believed to have been written by a German mystic called Hans Seuse, sometime around 1328 – information from that time is a little hazy, as it was a year or two before Wikipedia began. It is the basis for the carol Good Christian Men Rejoice, and features in many collections of Christmas music. Notably, it is the theme for Bach’s chorale prelude (BWV 739). Mike Oldfield’s version was released as a single in November 1975, and reached #4 in the UK charts. It also made the top ten in Ireland, Belgium and The Netherlands. The other guy in the video, if you can spot him, is Les Penning, who played recorder and kortholt (a woodwind instrument) on the record.

(A PS: I’ve been advised that a reader in the US got the ‘not available in your country’ message on that video. But we tried this link instead – https://youtu.be/eIUlEUWKloM – which appears to work)

For my second song today, I’m giving you another from the excellent Walk Off The Earth (WOTE). By my reckoning they have made around ten videos of Christmas songs, each given a different treatment. I can safely say that this is the only song I’ll be including in my Advent Calendar which was recorded on a plane:

As with everything WOTE do, that video exudes their sense of fun, and I love the way they get others involved with it: that young lady is clearly enjoying herself. They make creative use of a small space, too, and there are some lovely reactions from their fellow passengers. That one just says ‘happiness’ to me.

Now, what could I choose as a picture to accompany these? How about this – a practice run for the flight path:

Same time, same place tomorrow? 👍