Sunday 2 December 2012

Sounds like Storytelling Sunday!

All of our senses are involved in making memories throughout the year but for Storytelling Sunday this month I'm going to ignore the sights of Christmas lights and Christmas trees, the smells of Christmas cakes cooking in the oven, the tastes of a freshly baked mince pie, fresh out of the oven or the touch of tinsel and wrapping paper.  My story this time is thinking about the sounds of Christmas.
Certain songs or tunes that bring back so many memories, the tunes you hear in the background at the shops while you are shopping, adverts on the tv, the songs you find yourself singing under your breath while you are cooking dinner and the old favourites that get played every year on the radio.  This is a post about musical memories and is an unashamed excuse for me adding lots of my favourites to my blog!
When I was growing up I loved the way that my favourite shows would always have a special Christmas episode, it felt like I was sharing their Christmases with them.  And who wouldn't have wanted to share Christmas with David Cassidy back in the day?


Then skip to 1973.  I was 15 in the year that my next clip relates to.  It was a catchy little tune and even though the appearance of the group on Top of the Pops prompted much 'Look at the state of him' comments from my parents, I just thought it was fun and a great happy song that went down a storm at the end of year school disco.  Little did we know how often we would hear this song in years to come!

I was married by the time my next memory was released, but it didn't stop me appreciating the sight of George Michael in the snow



But wait, Sian's suggestion for this month was along the theme of Coming Home.  So my last offering will be a memory of our daughter coming home for Christmas after her first semester at University.  She absolutely loves Christmas and it didn't feel like Christmas until she was back at home.  At the time, my husband was working for a property development company that owned some office premises in Harrogate so he was able to coincide a trip up there to detour to Sheffield to pick her up.  One of the songs that kept coming on the radio during their 3 hour drive back was this one, although it was originally released in the late 80s it's still played a lot at this time of year and whenever it comes on the TV or radio at home, they both give a shared smile of happy memories of that year, bringing her home to make our family Christmas complete -

Do any of these hold memories for you?  What are your own special songs that remind you of Christmas?  Maybe we could organised a Bloggers Special Compilation Album to compete for the Christmas Number One this year!
Now please hurry over to Sian's to see what other stories are waiting to be read this Storytelling Sunday!

20 comments:

Amy said...

Hmm, let me see. Well The Drummer Boy is a family favourite at our Christmas Eve service - it is held in the school hall and usually there are around 1000 people there. During the service the drummer boy makes his way through the crowd to visit baby Jesus and the drummer is often a young boy from yr 7, he is usually nervous and self conscious and often makes mistakes - but that is what is so good, the imperfection makes it perfect and he always gets a resounding cheer once he finishes.

As for pop songs, well who can go past George Michael ... or the Do they know its Christmastime - Feed the World song?

helena said...

Slade is the sound of Christmas for me, closely followed by Band Aid

Jane said...

I love listening to all the Christmas songs and have so many favourites, it also really winds my sons up!

Jen said...

There are so very many for me - but I think the one that I love most of all is Silver Bells - I hear it and am instantly a little girl again - too excited to sleep on Christmas Eve.

Jimjams said...

It has to be I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas ... because I always am!

Ladkyis said...

For me it is the memory of my late Uncle singing Click go the Shears, I know it's not Christmassy but it was his party piece and he sang it every Christmas night after putting himself outside a snifter of Brandy.
I have it on a very precious tape recording.

Sian said...

Oh, this really strikes a chord (see what I did there?) this morning! The Chris Rea song from the 80's takes me right back - to the days of my own Storytelling Sunday story. And the other - awful- one I remember is The Frog Chorus, which dates from my last year of school. And Band Aid, too. Thanks Deb - I'm going to be singing happily all afternoon now :)

Missus Wookie said...

I had to buy that Wham recording for Auntie L (she of the rollerskates if you read that STS), Band Aid is always one that divides Wookie & I, he hates it (commercialization etc.) whilst I love it. Wookie does like pop songs rather than hymns whilst I like both.

Was just asked to choose a hymn/carol for Christmas morning Meeting for Worship - hmm, somehow I don't think Slade will make it even if I bet everyone knows it! :)

Lou said...

Wham -last Christmas....now i'll have this in my head for the rest of the day. Nice reminders of Christmas x

Cheri said...

I know two of the four - and boy does the Partridge Family bring back memories! I'm personally a huge fan of "Do You Hear What I Hear"

Maria Ontiveros said...

I always tried to watch A Charlie Brown Christmas each year (back in the days before the ability to record tv shows). And the soundtrack will always be the soundtrack of Christmas to me. Also, the Nutcracker. From a pop standpoint, "A Very Special Christmas" (a benefit for Special Olympics)will always be remembered.
I love the idea of a bloggers compilation.
Rinda

Alison said...

I too love 'Driving Home for Christmas' ...great post Deb!
Alison xx

ComfyMom~Stacey said...

I remember mostly songs from Christmas specials - "You're a Mean One Mr Grinch" and the song the Heatmeister & Freezemeister sing in the Year Without a Santa Claus. Burl Ives has a special place in my heart thanks to so many Christmas specials. :)

Becky said...

I love all of these! My favourite is probably Fairytale of New York - Penny and I sing along loudly to this and thoroughly enjoy it!

alexa said...

What a lovely nostalgic post! The earliest one I remember is Rolf Harris' Two little Boys from 1969. :)

Jo.C said...

Ahh a local lad to us - I love the Chris Rea song but I think Band Aid is my fave.

Melissa said...

Enjoyed these songs today. I haven't heard Last Christmas in years!

Beverly said...

Wonderful idea for a story :) Funny I was thinking about David Cassidy before I got to that lol. I LOVE Little Drummer Boy sung by Bing Crosby and David Bowie and Mary, Did you Know sung by Kenny Rogers.

Ifa said...

Love your song choice. Last Christmas was part of my growing up and boys and all that and we used to sing along to it, a lot.

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Oh, Deb, this was a wonderful post. I am smiling as I type this comment. There were two of my favorites, and two I'd never heard before but I like them now. :o)

I need to get a grip - I'm still in Donny Osmond mode and you laid some David Cassidy and George Michael on me! ;o)