Whoo-Hoo! Did you feel that? We just went around Darkness Corner. Not that circles have corners, but — zipping along at 67 thousand miles per hour — we just swung past the point of longest night and shortest day.
For those of us north of the equator anyway.Those of you below it must regret the days starting now to get shorter. My condolences. (If it’s any consolation, the Earth’s speed is 107 thousand kilometers per hour.) Naturally the Way-Back link is to the 2012 Winter Solstice post.
This empyrean reason for the holiday demands extra-special music…
Update Earth: The sun dragons are sated and have proceeded on with their annual galactic migration. Sol is down but not out for the count — she will heal and regain her glory (all praise Sol). We’ll get on with Part B of our lives, but before “B” comes Parrrr-Tay!
And since we’re safely After Dark, it’s time for some booze. I mean blues. And being Sunday, it’s appropriate to have a god of the guitar. Once again, ladies and gentlemen, welcome back Eric Clapton:
Here’s a guitar god from another denomination, the Blues King and his magical axe, Lucille:
And to complete the trinity, the god(father) of soul, Ray Charles:
This close to Christmas you get bonus music. Here’s a really fun, really funny, delightfully joyful and musically tasty piece by The Piano Guys. It’s not a Christmas song, but it’s too good not to share:
For forth and spread beauty and light.
Logos con carne 
December 21st, 2014 at 6:27 pm
♩♪ Musical Notes:
Wizards in Winter is an original composition by Trans-Siberian Orchestra in 2004. I’m not normally big into metal, but I like what TSO does with it. I like their complexity and variety.
The Eric Clapton number, Cryin’ Christmas Tears is a rendition of a Freddie King tune from 1961, Christmas Tears.
Batting third, a third version of Merry Christmas Baby, the American R&B Christmas favorite from 1947. We heard it from Springsteen and from Crow-Clapton. Here’s the B.B. King version.
“Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire” (actually The Christmas Song) is by Bob Wells and Mel Tormé in 1944. It’s been recorded many times, many ways, especially by Nat King Cole and (of course) Mel Tormé. This is another one where it’s harder to find a singer who hasn’t done it.
Pachelbel’s Canon (in D (major)) needs no introduction, but this may be the most awesome rendition of it I’ve ever seen.
December 21st, 2014 at 6:34 pm
I love Eric Clapton and am still unsure why he never sought me out and proposed! 😉
Diana xo
December 21st, 2014 at 6:53 pm
I’m sure it was an oversight on his part. No doubt he meant to! You know how it is, yer busy making albums and being famous — sometimes stuff just doesn’t get done. He probably came into Canada a bunch of times, and then couldn’t remember what he came in there for. I know there’s lots of times I forgot to marry someone — did it just the other day, in fact.
December 21st, 2014 at 8:25 pm
LOL! Thanks for the laugh!
December 22nd, 2014 at 11:06 am
I don’t believe I’ve ever seen anyone do the running man to Pachelbel!
December 22nd, 2014 at 12:09 pm
That’s definitely one of the goals here — bringing people Christmas music they might never have even seen or heard (that way) before. (Happy Christmas and a Merry New Year!)
December 22nd, 2014 at 12:53 pm
Happy Christmas and New Year to you too!
December 22nd, 2014 at 1:45 pm
Did you know that we owe the phrase “Merry Christmas” to Charles Dickens and A Christmas Carol? He used the phrase in the story. Up until then it was more common to say: “Happy Christmas (to you)!”
December 22nd, 2014 at 2:50 pm
I did not know that! I wondered about that once, but never bothered to investigate. Thanks!
January 22nd, 2015 at 2:19 am
Definitely EXTRA SPECIAL music!! These are some of my favs!!!! Love TSO and cellos!! Really enjoyed this one 🙂
January 22nd, 2015 at 12:05 pm
TSO is one of those groups I’d heard of but didn’t know much about and found searching for Christmas music on YouTube. They’ve done some really interesting stuff!
And The Piano Guys are just awesome, aren’t they! I really liked that bit they did “playing” the piano!