Christmas Music Ruined???

Sorry! No funny blog themed picture this time! But before you start freaking out, here's a link to a music video of one of the most inspirational Christmas songs of all time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Exflbnmfqzg


Wish I could post the video directly onto here but I don't know how right now...

Now, before I go about ranting about Christmas music, I'd like to direct your attention to the following link by my friend and fellow blogger, Nintendood:

http://eelsushi.blogspot.com/2008/12/decemberween.html

Now for those of you that weren't paying attention, I'll repeat Nintendood's top 3 cardinal rules about Christmas (You're welcome!):

1.) Christmas Time starts the day after Thanksgiving. No sooner, no later. Since Christmas Time is the only fun time to go Christmas shopping, performing the task at any other time is just performing a chore, and that's not what Christmas is about. This is also perfect because if you want to buy something embarrassing (not like undergarment, more like Yu-Gi-Oh! cards and such), because every cashier will assume it's a gift for someone else. Here the part of the rule that many people break year after year. Christmas music may only begin to be played during Christmas Time, and possibly Thanksgiving evening.

2.) It's Christmas Time. Not "Holiday" time or "Winter Break" time. This is directed at all of the politically correct nut jobs out there. It's Christmas Time. Calling it anything different is not going to change the fact that during this time of year, a vast majority of Americans, Christian and Atheist alike, celebrate Christmas. I don't want people to say "Happy Holidays" or whatever to me. I would like to be wished a Merry (or happy) Christmas please.

3.) The list of Christmas Time No-No's:
- No peaking at Christmas presents.
- No giving a gift basket with ONLY a fruitcake. Include something edible as well.
- No singing of a certain "Santa Baby".
- No giving of gifts that you just want in your house so you can play with it.
- No repetitions of "Feliz Navidad". One verse will suffice.
- No referring to the holiday as X-mas.
- No RUNNING!*

*Not really.

Now that I got your attention, Nintendood mentioned Christmas music. He also mentioned how badly Christmas has been commercialized over the years... One of the ways Christmas has been commercialized is the music. And I am not making this up! You hear like 10 different variations of Christmas songs that have the same title! In my opinion, that just ruins the original beauty in the music.

Now I have some cardinal rules about music IN GENERAL:

1.) It should be inspirational.

2.) It should have it's own unique beauty.

3.) It should be a form of enjoyable entertainment. Not as a parody or an Internet joke.

4.) If you're a musician, you should put as much emphasis on the music part as you play.

5.) You should dedicate time to practice your music so you'll know the part better. It will also sound good too (But you knew that right?).

6.) It should be original.

7.) It should be played at the most appropriate time(s) of the year.

8.) And finally, it shouldn't be overplayed.

If you watched the music video on my link above, that song (Christmas 1915) sung by Celtic Thunder was about the Christmas Truce that occurred in World War I (I'll be talking about this in future post very soon.). And I'll tell you that this song touched my heart when I first heard it.

Thanks reading!

Questions? Comments? Advice? Leave them in the comments section.