Friday, December 22, 2006

I Built My Dreams Around You



Well.

Here we are on the final day of the Holiday extravaganza. Thanks for stopping by. Regular posts will resume shortly. Hope you can make it back for those. My Best Of lists start next Tuesday.

On to the tunes, and no surprises today. It's the same damn song every year.

My favorite Christmas song, and I'd argue one of the best ever written, is "Fairytale of New York" by The Pogues . On it, Shane MacGowan has his finest moment, both as a writer sweet and sour, and as a singer, slurring and blurring the lines between the drunken joy and sunken despair of the Season. The gutter angel voice of Kirsty MacColl, accusing and cajoling, gives Shane the perfect foil. It's an immigrant song, filled with the broken dreams of brave new worlds and the willful, joyful abandon that desperation brings. And in the end, it's a song about hope.

Shane MacGowan turns 49 this Christmas day.

As a bonus we've got our good pal Tom Waits giving his take on a Christmas chestnut. It's....strange. Even by his standards. Back up singers?

Enjoy. Have a good Holiday. Or at least a good day off, if you get one. See you next week.

The Pogues: Fairytale of New York (mp3)

Tom Waits: Silent Night (mp3)

You've spent enough money this year.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Mr. Big Rock,

Thanks for another excellent year of Xmas postings.

I am looking forward to your best of list (will Mr. Hand be making an appearance?).

Have a great Xmas,

John (from Milw)

C. said...

Merry Xmas!! And have a great new year too.

chris

Anonymous said...

Hey Mr. Rock, Congrats on the FMU mention. They FINALLY got it right! And thank you for a fine year of enjoyable posting. Just stopping by to wish you a very Merry Xmas and hoping that you have a FANTASTICALLY successful and happy 2007.

Anonymous said...

Where is "Christmas in Chicago" by Leon Russell?? I can't find it anywhere and this seemed the likely place. Have a great Xmas...

Anonymous said...

Hello. Thanks for all the great Christmas tunes. Have you given any thought to compiling these into a zip archive for those that might have been late to the party?
Don't know if anyone has done similar with previous years' BRCM Christmas tracks, but I'd love to sample those if possible. email me if you can help: dealtime06 --at-- gmail dot calm