Walking Man Live

Its official, the holidays started with the mad rush of Black Friday after Thanksgiving dinner. Welcome to the Holiday Season, 2007 everyone!

Everywhere you go stores are getting ready for their golden quarter, people are cheerful, lights are blinking, and the music keeps on playing. Everyone interprets the holidays in their own way. I personally see it as a reminder of winter and the dreadful snow and cold, but that’s me.

To Huntington Village in Long Island, NY, the holidays have a special meaning. The town decorates the lamp posts with reefs and promotes business owners to take part in the festive spirits. Sounds nice, except for one part.

You see, our office at CitiDexLI is right in the heart of Huntington Village, and just our luck, we are a few feet away from a speaker playing Christmas music throughout the day. It a nice touch for the window shoppers to just stroll along and listen, but maybe not for the employees of the area. I’m really not sure what time it starts and stops, but for the last week if I’m at work, I’m hearing more Christmas music then I’d like to.

Hey now, I’m not bashing the music. Again, all music is art, and all art means something to someone. I’d just like to see a more diverse set list. Maybe one that’ll catch people’s attention, make them ponder, or just generate a smile. So here’s my personal list of songs, artists and albums to be played, if you have any suggestions, let me know and I’ll add it.

Buy the songs/albums online at Amazon.com, and share the experience with friends, family and co-workers.

Happy Holidays, and please pray for a mild winter and an awesome summer!

It just isn’t Christmas until you hear the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. These guys took glam/hair metal, got rid of the annoying parts, added an orchestra, and proved you can rock during the holidays. My recommendations are Christmas Eve & Other Stories and The Lost Christmas Eve. Both great albums with some traditional classics, but with an electric guitar twist, and other original songs which make up the concept albums. If you could, check them out live: a great experience, a great concert, and overall, great music.

This next song is a classic for me. I’ve heard it every season for as long as I can remember. Its simple, easy, and full of joy. John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” is a true holiday song. Putting aside any political connections or meanings, it is a universal song. Written by John and Yoko it captures the expression of peace in such a pure and straight forward way. I share with them their desire for the new year:

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear

Are these songs too slow and mellow for you? I’m sorry, here’s something completely different. The Ramones, “Merry Christmas(I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight)“. Definitely a slow (by punk standards) song, but it still has that special kick to it. Its quick, and a great excuse to listen to the Ramones during the holidays. Its a fun song, great peaceful message and again, just something different then the carolers walking door to door.

This last one is a gamble. I haven’t heard it, but I have high expectations. The band Jet is known to provide a refreshing sound to today’s unoriginal and bland music. To continue their rock n’ roll persona, they decided to cover the song “Back Door Santa”. Originally the song was done by Clarence Carter, a great blues artist who was probably inspired by the Doors song, Back Door Man, who covered the song from Howlin’ Wolf. The song currently is an iTunes exclusive, which explains why I haven’t heard it, but I’m sure when its distribution spreads it’ll catch on.

So here’s my Christmas recommendations. Sure its not your traditional songs, but lets not make it a traditional Christmas. Lets be creative. Lets show our love. Lets make this the Christmas to remember. I want everyone here to do something, anything that you’ve never done before in the holidays. It is the season of magic and compassion. Go ahead and take that risk, show that emotion, and surrender to the magic in the air. You’ve got nothing to lose, its a new year in a few weeks anyway.

Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year - one with more peace and prosperity to all, where ever and whoever you may be.

P.S.

If you’re looking for gift ideas but aren’t sure about what to get them, here’s a list of places that’ll be selling gifts in Long Island this holiday season.

• Gift Certificates for regular stores and merchandise
• Gift Certificates for adventures and experiences
• Gift Baskets have always been popular
• Hey guys, you can never go wrong with buying shoes!
• A few good resources for experiencing the holidays with the kids
• Places of Worship if you feel the need for a higher power this season