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Final Holiday post!!!! We made it!
So. Thanks for stopping by, whether it has been over the last month, the last year, or since the very beginning, lo these many years ago. We hope, if nothing else, we've been entertaining.
Please don't forget to stop by on Friday for the start of our Best of 2008 list. We think you'll find some of selections pretty nifty.
Our Holiday tune today is probably the most predictable. Oh well.
The Holiday season means as many different things for as many different folks as there are, well, folks. We at the Mountain are not particularly prone to any religious belief, so we choose to spend the Holidays with an eye to more earthly concerns, finding context in our relations to others, whether in celebration with friends and family, or in trying to do our part helping out those less fortunate. Seems as if these are things that that should and could be done any time of the year, but the Holidays do tend to focus one.
Shane MacGowan, of the Pogues, was born on December 25th, 1957, with the heart of the last great poet. Somehow he turns 51 tomorrow.
As the world continues to revolve, and uncertainty and worry become the de riguer fallback for those concerned about their jobs and the state of the world, The Pogue's "Fairytale of New York" seems not so distant a tale. It's a story of people in hard and desperate times, making their way as best they know, searching for the "rivers of gold". Shane and the immortal Kirsty MacColl imbue their characters with such longing, such humanity (and all it entails), such anger, disappointment, and, yes, hope, that one can't help but find a bit of themselves in each line. The musical backdrop provided by the Pogues swells with beauty and sadness, pulling you in and sweeping you along. It's not really the story of two drunken Irish immigrants looking for a pot of gold in a far off land. It's a story of all of us, and the dreams we build.
"Fairytale of New York" is, of course, a Christmas song, and it's our favorite, well and truly. We post this every year, and why not?
We wish the best for each and every one of you, however you choose to celebrate this Season. Cheers.
The Pogues: Fairytale of New York (mp3)
Thank you.
Big Rock,
ReplyDeleteThis has been a blast! Happy Holidays and thank you. The music around my house and in my ears has truly been enhanced by your sharing.
Have a great 2009 and best of luck.
Thanks for all the cheer! Merry Christmas. See you on Boxing Day.
ReplyDeleteAwesome shares this year...the best of the blogs...good on ya.
ReplyDeleteAwesome December, man! And yeah, I agree about Fairy Tale. Best song
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to drop by all the Bloggers who have helped make this such a wonderful season and say a great big thanks for your generosity of spirit, your efforts and your time ... you're truly appreciated ...
ReplyDeleteTHANKS!
And from me & mine to you & yours and everyone else reading ...
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all . . . . . and a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2009, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make Canada and other western nations great, and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, choice of computer platform, or sexual preference of the wishee.
It just isn't Christmas until somebody says "old slut on junk" as far as I'm concerned.
ReplyDeleteOh, and the "I built my dreams around you" part...
Thanks!
December 25th is also the amazing Terry Anderson's birthday. He's written drinking anthemns as, "Feel a Drunk Coming On", "Thunderbird", "Beer Drankin' Woman" and new for this year's holidays, "Eggnogorant".
ReplyDeleteHappy B-Day TA!!!
Tom
Merry merry! Thanks for another great round of tunes this holiday season.
ReplyDelete