timo
NEW TO THE FAMILY
Posts: 29
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Post by timo on Nov 22, 2008 10:47:57 GMT -5
They're here again - the Christmas songs have already started playing all over town. What's your opinion on Christmas music: love it or loathe it? What kind of songs bring the Christmas feeling to you? I just listened to the C's "Merry Christmas Darling" and started feeling Christmas-y - only one month to go! (also something to do with the fact that winter has started early here in Helsinki). Overall I like the slower, sentimental stuff and hymns more than the merrier ones (something to do with age?). timo
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Post by Rick Henry on Nov 22, 2008 16:10:50 GMT -5
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Post by beaner on Nov 24, 2008 6:39:11 GMT -5
So, so many!!! I absolutely love this time of year, especially listening to the Carpenters Christmas music. Just to mention a few of my favorites, I love "Little Altar Boy", "The First Snowfall", "He Came Here For Me", "Do You Hear What I Hear", "Ave Maria" and "Merry Christmas, Darling". Just about all the rest though.
Did Richard say he was going to get another Christmas CD going or not? I thought, at one time, he said he was. Not sure but I'm thinking it's mostly his stuff cause I think he said that there wasn't many more songs left that they had with Karen singing.
What's the latest on that, anybody know?
Beaner
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Post by Rick Henry on Nov 24, 2008 12:06:59 GMT -5
So, so many!!! I absolutely love this time of year, especially listening to the Carpenters Christmas music. Just to mention a few of my favorites, I love "Little Altar Boy", "The First Snowfall", "He Came Here For Me", "Do You Hear What I Hear", "Ave Maria" and "Merry Christmas, Darling". Just about all the rest though. Did Richard say he was going to get another Christmas CD going or not? I thought, at one time, he said he was. Not sure but I'm thinking it's mostly his stuff cause I think he said that there wasn't many more songs left that they had with Karen singing. What's the latest on that, anybody know? Beaner Richard has expressed his interest in releasing a Christmas album... but I think due to the fact that Richard Carpenter solo does not command a large amount of sales the record company is hesitant to invest in releasing his material. I think if Richard were to release something with maybe two or three songs with Karen's voice, Universal would most likely release it... but without Karen the overall interest isn't there.
I think the only way another Richard Carpenter solo project will be released is if he releases it himself independently, but I believe Richard has a binding contract with Universal which prevents him for doing such a thing. Another possibility could be to do a package deal of releasing a solo album as long as another Carpenters compilation is released around the same time period. Big music corporations have made deals like that in order to appease their clients... releasing an album that will not profit with the agreement of releasing a product which will profit... but even that is a long shot of a deal. Another possibility is a Japanese only release, where Richard is good for selling about 50,000 units.
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Post by ps11932 on Nov 26, 2008 17:06:21 GMT -5
I surely love Carpenters Christmas music. If I recall correctly from the 2007 log we kept, at least 8-10 of their songs got good air play. A lot of people who are not necessarily big fans will think of Christmas music as being one of their highlights, along with "We've Only Just Begun", "Close To You", "Superstar", "Rainy Days & Mondays", & perhaps a few others.
Among my favorites are "He Came Here For Me", "Christmas Waltz", "MCD" & "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve."
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Post by Rick Henry on Nov 26, 2008 21:04:22 GMT -5
I surely love Carpenters Christmas music. If I recall correctly from the 2007 log we kept, at least 8-10 of their songs got good air play. A lot of people who are not necessarily big fans will think of Christmas music as being one of their highlights, along with "We've Only Just Begun", "Close To You", "Superstar", "Rainy Days & Mondays", & perhaps a few others. Among my favorites are "He Came Here For Me", "Christmas Waltz", "MCD" & "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve."
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timo
NEW TO THE FAMILY
Posts: 29
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Post by timo on Nov 27, 2008 1:14:49 GMT -5
I like the song White Christmas (the C's did a splendid version too) , though it's over-familiar, I know. It might happen in Finland this year - I mean we've already got a lot of snow this week - no need to dream about it... Btw. the man living in this house www.santaclaus.fi/?deptid=11779 is busy getting ready to tour the world once again...
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Post by Ming on Nov 29, 2008 11:04:00 GMT -5
'Merry Christmas Darling' is always my favourite Christmas song. I like Karen's voice and the melody of this song a lot. I feel warm and have a good feeling when I listen to it.
Ming
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Post by carpentersgermany on Dec 7, 2008 19:54:52 GMT -5
The funny thing is, that in Germany Carpenters are not at all regarded as a Band famous for their Christmas Songs. Over here you won't find them on a Christmas Song Compilation, you won't hear their songs played in the mall etc. So, I have to admit that I'm not too familiar with the Carpenters' Christmas music. One song I know (and love) is "I'll be home for Christmas". The version sung by Connie Francis has always been one of my favourite Christmas songs, so I just had to find out if there's also a Carpenters version of the song!! It's great!! Of course I know "Merry Christmas Darling" - I think it's simply a beautiful song!! A very special performance for me is the Duet of Karen and Georgia Engel on "A Christmas Portrait". They perform the original version of "Silent Night" in German - I could listen to this again and again (I do actually I will listen to the songs everybody mentioned..
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Post by YesterdayOnceMore on Dec 10, 2008 16:13:30 GMT -5
I am a big fan of Merry Christmas Darling. Not only am I quite fond of the reading Karen does, but Richard's arrangement of it, as well. Those beautiful harmonies make me weak in the knees. You're right, O.E., I have heard Carpenters Christmas music twice while out and about this holiday season....it's a staple in America, now, me thinks. One radio broadcast played "Home for the Holidays" and the other hear was in a restaurant just over the weekend, where we all smiled as we heard Karen singing "Christmas Waltz." Both of these are favorites of mine, as well. I quite enjoy Karen's vocal of Ave Maria....I like the fact that they used the intro to White Christmas as well as the well known part...I really enjoy the way in which Let It Snow was arranged, and the way It's Christmas Time is done, though I wish Karen and Richard would have done some overdubbing, rather than using the O K Chorale. Also, the arrangement of Winter Wonderland has always just knocked my socks off. And, though I could do without Jingle Bells completely, I love the way Karen and Richard to it. (Actually, I just heard Jingle Bells done by a Finnish Jazz group. WOW! Was that ever FUN. More about this in Tim's Musings, to come). I like the way Richard did the acapella "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear." Too bad Karen was not around to help him out with that. Carpenters should have had the awesome tune Palma wrote called "Much Less Than Christmas." It was intended for them - penned in 1973. They would have done an awesome job of it, too. Forum member Frank Rendo did it on his Christmas CD, and he and Ms. Pascale did it up right - a very Carpenteresque feeling to it. Those are some of my faves from Carpenters. There are a few more that I intend to do this year for my special music at church....This year will be some not so "usual" Christmas tunes - Michael's Card's "Joseph's Song" and "Her Heart Remembered" - and three beautiful songs that are so wonderfully performed by Sandi Patty; Bethlehem Morning, The Gift Goes On, and Someday. Finally, I'll duet with my daughter and we'll sing Carole Bayer Sager's The Prayer. I've been looking forward to Christmas for a long time..... I just LOVE the music and the messages this time of the year.
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Post by smoothie2 on Dec 11, 2008 23:50:56 GMT -5
hello all... sounds like everyone is getting in the spirit of Christmas. I have been for at least a couple of wks. and then especially after I listened to J. Denver's Rocky Mtn. Christmas album which is excellent also. Of the Carpenters, I love The Christmas Waltz, The Christmas Song, and actually there are only a few of which I don't like.... I think Home for the Holidays is also my very fave of theirs though.It' a fun and spirited tune. I mostly hear Merry Ch. Darling over the radio the most this time of yr. It's a beautiful song, but a bit on the sad side.
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Post by ps11932 on Dec 13, 2008 17:45:06 GMT -5
Thanks Smoothie for the reference to John Denver's "Rocky Mountain Christmas."
For inspiration and a good sense of reminissaince, a truly excellent number is "Remembering Christmas" which is on Frank's CD and includes a performance by our own Tim.
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Post by Rick Henry on Dec 13, 2008 21:27:36 GMT -5
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Post by smoothie2 on Dec 13, 2008 23:59:24 GMT -5
Thanks Smoothie for the reference to John Denver's "Rocky Mountain Christmas." For inspiration and a good sense of reminissaince, a truly excellent number is "Remembering Christmas" which is on Frank's CD and includes a performance by our own Tim. well, thanks also for the acknowledgment because I will always be a huge fan of the C's, and also of J. Denver. Very special talents from both. And ps11932, yes I have listened (thanks to Tim's Musings) to Remembering Christmas and absolutely love it. Great voices and songs.
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Post by smoothie2 on Dec 14, 2008 0:11:08 GMT -5
Wow! What a superb thing to do Rick! I'm sure they appreciated your help! You may need to take a Tylenol tonight, or tomorrow, sounds like some serious muscle work. This sounds like the very thing you would willing do...good for you! .... It's always very nice to hear Karen of course. ;DToday I listened to Christmas Portrait album, it's perfect. The Christmas Waltz and The First Snow fall stick in my mind. Beautiful melodies.
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Post by blueboy on Dec 15, 2008 18:20:27 GMT -5
As for the Carpenters' Christmas music, my favotites at this time are "Christ Is Born" and "Silent Night".
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Post by Rick Henry on Dec 15, 2008 22:55:45 GMT -5
As for the Carpenters' Christmas music, my favotites at this time are "Christ Is Born" and "Silent Night".
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Post by enigma on Dec 16, 2008 11:30:50 GMT -5
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