Have we talked about how I started playing Christmas carols on the piano in July as a child? In Arizona? We haven't? Oh dear.
My dad, who is one of the kindest people to ever live, let me note, drew a line: No carol-playing before October 1st. So who was up at 6 a.m. on the first of October, every year, pounding out "Deck the Halls"?
You got it: This lady.
I just fancy carols, all sorts, and do I know all the words to "Last Christmas" by Wham!? Will I sing this tearjerker of a ballad aloud, with the appropriate heart-aching facial gestures? Ladies, we discussed this last year. (By the way, when Wham! ends a question, it looks funny, what with the exclamation point. Observation.)
As for Wilshire & Fairfax and holiday music? The Wilfair Hotel generally switches its soothing piped-in lobby and elevator music to carols in early December, all vocal-less, all soft and lilting, so as to be unobtrusive.
But Monty and Gomery Overbove, and their moms, don't care about being classy and sophisticated, so they blare whatever the hell they like in the Motel Fairwil's bathroom-sized lobby. Heavy metal Christmas, on occasion, and definitely a few indie hipster ironic isn't-the-yuletide-hilarious gems.
Did I tell you that the Motel Fairwil people had an ancient cassette-playing boombox behind the front desk forever, and just recently updated to a budget MP3 speaker set? It was a very big day.
Here's what I'm listening to this week. Thanks Caitlin #1 for some recs. A few of come from Pandora and a few are forever favorites, too.
"Christmas with You Is the Best" -- The Long Winters
"All My Bells Are Ringing" -- Lenka
"Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" -- Mariah Carey
"Tonight It's Christmas Time" -- Hey Ocean!
"Please Come Home for Christmas" -- Charles Brown
"What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" -- Ella Fitzgerald
"I'd Like You for Christmas" -- Julie London
"Washington Square" -- Chris Isaak
"Snowfall" -- Ingrid Michaelson
"Snow Globe" -- Matt Wertz
"Merry Xmas Everybody" -- Slade (the classic Casa Painter all-time carol)
cr: Kevin Dooley
