Butcher

Nothing cures a person of loving Christmas music like hearing certain holiday songs done in an extremely poor manner. Collecting Christmas cds is an activity in which I have engaged over the years. I typically purchase one new cd per year, though the past couple of years I've made multiple purchases. Therefore, I have heard several arrangements of the same songs. Usually I am delighted with the different renditions.

Most people have "favorite" Christmas tunes, though it is rare that a person can name just one favorite. It seems nearly every recording. . .artist (term used loosely) . . . puts out a seasonal album. Not everyone can sing Christmas music well. Last week this truth was driven home to me twice.

The Bulldog has always liked the vocal stylings of Stevie Nicks. I've never been much on her, and after listening to her cut "Silent Night" to ribbons, my dislike only increased. Not only was the song done badly, and I mean badly, but she didn't sing the line, "Christ the Savior is born." Well what is the point behind the song .. Silent night, holy night...than to herald the birth of Christ?

Then there are The Temptations, who attempted the same song. They put the lovely carol through the meat grinder as well. First, it was sung in a falsetto, then in a deep bass that was never quite on pitch. And then there was the annoying, "sleep in heavenly peeeEEEAAAAAAACE," where people with very little vocal training slide up the scale while singing the word. On top of the nauseating slide, the vocalist came in just flat of the proper note.

I wonder how many of my Christmas cds do not include that song. I really don't have the stomach to hear it again anytime soon. It is a good thing my repertoire of Christmas music is a broad..and a mostly well-done one.