Christmas Tuneage & A Birthday

First, my top 3 fave Christmas Tunes...

Thank God It's Christmas by Queen Released in Europe in 1984, this tune didn't receive much (if any) airplay in the U.S., as far as I can remember. I happened to hear it in 1985, the Christmas my Dad and I spent in Portugal with his mum, about two years before she passed away, God rest her. Anyway, the first time I heard this tune on Portuguese radio, I felt sucker-punched by the fatigued sort of sadness it expressed, this mournful ache which hoped to find relief in the holiday. I had my tape recorder ready to go for the next time it played and managed to capture it, but what's become of the tape, I've no idea. It was only in very recent years I was able to find it online, and I'm so glad I did, even if I get all onion-eyed every time I hear it.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings by Barenaked Ladies & Sarah McLachlan

It is deucedly difficult to find info about this track, so I gave up after a half-hearted Google search. But I will say that what I love best about this track, apart from how danged pretty it sounds, is that these two artists chose songs that actually focus upon what Christmas is really about. Rock on, youse guys.

And because I know how to have a good time...

The Twelve Days of Christmas by Bob and Doug McKenzie

C'mon, this one's just fun.

And the birthday...

Is MINE, MINE, all MINE! (OK, and Jane Fonda, Samuel L. Jackson, Kiefer Sutherlands, & possibly other folks', too.) In case you're wondering, the age I'll officially be at 10:41 a.m. today is the same number as the answer to life, the universe, and everything! (If you don't get the reference, do the research; us crotchety middle-agers think you young folk are shiftless layabouts who've never had to do an honest day's work.) I invite you all to drink to my health (seeing as I'm on meds which disallow the imbibing of booze, alas.) Still, there's always chocolate...

The Dark Romance of Q...

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Well, I was stuck for Q songs that fit my theme for the 2012 A to Z Blogging Challenge, which was le major suck (this is not actual French). I put out an S.O.S. to my peeps and they answered the call, bless them. My Dear Friend Katy O suggested Queen and I smacked myself on the forehead for not having thought of them already. So today's post of three will be an all Queen revue!

Crazy Little Thing Called Love: For a long time I thought this was a cover, which made sense after I learned that Freddie Mercury wrote this as an hommage to Elvis Presley. (That is actual French.) Though it was a departure from their usual stuff, the world went crazy for it, and so, I must confess, did I. C'est adorable! (Also actual French.)

Get Down Make Love: My Dear Friend Robin suggested this song and thank goodness she did, as I'd never heard it before! (Woof!) Also was intrigued to learn that Nine Inch Nails covered it!

You Take My Breath Away: I came across this tune, another I hadn't heard, in my investigation of Queen tuneage for this post. Dudes. This really did take my breath away. You da man, Freddie - I hope I can someday do an hommage to you that's worthy of your eternal greatness. I can't believe you've been gone for over twenty years. May God hold you close.