Christmas carols and hymns are one aspect of the holiday season that never fails to lift the spirits and they require no baking, no tree stands, and no extension cords. There is a large body of well-known Christmas songs that are perennial favorites and there are many more that are new to many people every year. Clay Aiken has introduced many lesser-known, but wonderful Christmas carols and songs to his fans throughout the last 10 years.
Did you know……..
1. There is a distinction between a Christmas carol and a Christmas song. A Christmas Carol has a fairly rapid, regular beat, which would, therefore, exclude a meandering, crooning song such as “White Christmas”. Christmas carols can often be sung by a choir, but this is not the case for pop music.
2. The world’s most famous Christmas carol is “Silent Night”.
3. “Jingle Bells” was originally named, “One-Horse Open Sleigh”, and was written for Thanksgiving, not for Christmas.
4. Charles Dickens’s story, “A Christmas Carol”, is the world’s most read Christmas story.
5. In 2003, the Austrian Trade Union Federation, representing 100,000 workers, claimed that the non-stop playing of Christmas carols in shopping malls was “psychological terror”.
“The Christmas Waltz” is a modern Christmas song. The lyrics are by Sammy Cahn and the music is by Jule Styne. It is a good example of a modern secular Christmas song. This song describes the wonderful joy of the season without necessarily being religious. “The Christmas Waltz” has been reprised by many singers including Frank Sinatra and the Carpenters. Clay Aiken recorded this song on his EP, All Is Well.
The Christmas Waltz
Frosted window panes
Candles gleaming inside
Painted candy canes on the tree
Santa’s on his way,
He’s filled his sleigh
With things, things for you and for me
It’s that time of year
When the world falls in love
Every song you hear
Seems to say
Merry Christmas
May your New Year dreams come true
And this song of mine
In three quarter time
Wishes you and yours
The same thing too
Merry Christmas
May your New Year dreams come true
And this song of mine
In three quarter time
Wishes you and yours
The same thing too
Merry Christmas to you
I will publish the Wild Horse Pass – Chandler, AZ blog tomorrow about noon.
Please check back to get all the news on the 18th tour stop!
I love Clay’s version of Christmas Waltz. Thanks for the video and the great music facts. 🙂
Niiiice video this morning musicfan. I got a few dredded red x’s so couldn’t see a couple of the pictures. He so owns that song!!!
The only thing better than listening to Clay sing is watching him!! This was a treat–thanks.
I have loved this JNT12 tour and will be sad when it's over.
But, come January, I will have lots of videos to watch. His voice will warm the long winter.
# 5 sure is an interesting bit of trivia. Christmas music 24/7, as long as the singers are good, is something I look forward too every December. Of course Clay is my favorite singer of Christmas music.
When I hear Clay singing Christmas Waltz, it makes me want to dance. Come to think of it, just about anything Clay sings makes me feel like dancing. 🙂
I have always just loved Christmas Waltz..and with Clay singing it..it is just downright amazing. Not only do you get to listen to him sing it..but, just watching him is enough to put you in the Clay Aiken fog for the rest of the tour. So glad I will have all this delightful music to keep me warm the rest of the Winter.