The Popnarcotic 2012 Christmas Music Mix Is Finally Here.
This one is…different.
This mix I mean. It probably “feels” different. As I mentioned in another post, I had a goofy mix set to upload last Friday…and then, well, the world intervened. I started from scratch at that point, although a few songs from that mix made it through to this one anyway.
I can’t rightly say why the events in Connecticut affected me so deeply. Perhaps it’s because I remember sort of getting lost on I-84 8 years ago in the middle of winter and stopping off in Newtown to ask directions. Maybe it’s just the season, and thinking about all those Christmas presents that won’t ever be opened. I don’t know. Something.
What I do know is this. I’m not at all a “kid person”. I like the idea of little kids, and I loved being one, let me tell you what. I have zero paternal instincts, though. I like kids, they just make me feel like a big, clueless doofus most of the time, and I’m pretty sure they can sense that discomfort.
Last Friday I was picking up some carryout and there were about 5 of us in line and this lady in front of me had two little girls who were somewhere between 3 and 6 years old. They were running around, despite Mom’s best abilities to keep them corralled. They were laughing and giggling and being little kids. One of them was jumping around with this ragged-looking stuffed horse.
Mom, looking a little exasperated, looked up at the rest of us in line and apologized for her amped up little daughters. All I could think was “No no no. Today of all days, two weeks before Christmas, let ’em play all they want.”
The sound of their laughter was like magic. Even so, I had to excuse myself from the line to go wipe some tears from my eyes.
I have no idea what any of that has to do with Christmas, other than establishing the frame of mind I was in while reworking a Christmas mix in a few days. If there’s less of my lame sense of humor and holiday goofishness in this year’s mix, well, now you know why.
What I will say is that when I see twitter and facebook posts with folks talking about what they want for Christmas, I already know exactly what I want, and I’d like it every year.
What I want is for all of us–myself, family and all you friends–to be safe and sound, and happy. Get me even close to an approximation of that gift, and I’m all good.
Merry Christmas!
(Either right-click the title and “save as” to download or left click to stream…but you knew that.)
…As Long As We Have Hands To Clasp (2012 Holiday Music Mix)
1. Vince Guaraldi Trio, “What Child Is This?”
2. The Attic Lights, “Why Does Christmas Have To Be So Hard?”
3. Emmy The Great & Tim Wheeler, “Home For the Holidays”
4. Luna, “Egg Nog”
5. Big Dee Irwin & Little Eva, “I Wish You A Merry Christmas”
6. Vashti Bunyan, “Coldest Night Of The Year”
7. The Frank & Walters “Song For A Future Love”
8. Teenage Fanclub, “December”
9. Tracey Thorn, “Snow In Sun”
10. Fountains Of Wayner, “Valley Winter Song”
11. Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, “Christmas Eve”
12. Tender Trap, “Leaving Christmas Day”
13. Magic Theater, “Christmas Lights”
14. The Quarter Afer, “Winter Song”
15. The Clumsy Lovers, “Welcome Christmas”
16. Best Coast & Wavves, “Got Something For You”
17. Ex Cops, “Wonderful Christmas”
18. Foxtails Brigade, “Winter’s Feat”
19. The Primitives, “You Trashed My Christmas”
20. Calexico, “Green Grows The Holly”
21. The Pogues, “Fairytale Of New York”
22. Richard Hawley (Live At The Devil’s Arse) “Silent Night”
Popnarcotic 