Monday, December 15, 2008

Bearable

Anyone who has been reading my blog for any length of time knows my least favorite Christmas song is The 12 Days of Christmas. Most odious, pedantic, dull song out there. Repetition takes a beating on the head with this song. I'd almost rather have fingers down a chalkboard than listen to this song.

That said, while uploading my vast collection of holiday music to iTunes a year or so ago, I stumbled across a rendition by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir that is truly fabulous! It's the only version of The 12 Days of Christmas I'll listen to.

And why, you ask?

Because they sing each verse in a different classical music style and that makes it fun and less tedious than butternut squash.

Here, for your holiday enjoyment, is The 12 Days of Christmas by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Please note, it's 12 minutes long, but worth every minute!

17 comments:

foundinidaho said...

I like Bob and Doug MacKenzie's version too..."and a beer...in a tree...that beer is empty now"...

Idahoans like Canadians, don'tcha know!

J.M. Tewkesbury said...

FII: I don't know that version. I'll have to look it up! I <3 Canadians.

Wicked H said...

The Twelve Pains of Christmas. You would enjoy that too.

I had never heard the version you posted but well sorth the time.

Thanks!

Gilahi said...

Allan Sherman's song (don't remember the title) is a scream. The #1 gift is "A Japanese transistor radio". Find it. It's worth it.

J.M. Tewkesbury said...

Wicked: I looked up The 12 Pains of Christmas and the lyrics were hilarious! The repetitiveness of it, though, was just as bad as the original and I couldn't listen to all the way to the end.


Gilahi: Excellent! I want a Japanese transistor radio.


If anyone wants to hear The 12 Pains of Christmas, go here.

To hear The 12 Gifts of Christmas, go here.

Herb said...

Okay I listened and I want my 12 minutes back!

Just kidding...it was very well done and beautifully performed but still I was relieved to reach the 12th day.

Ending with a John Philip Sousa march was a nice surprise!

J.M. Tewkesbury said...

Herb: I hear ya. That's why I qualified it as "bearable". Perhaps I should have added the disclaimer, "You'll still want your 12 minutes back even with this version."

Here's another version someone emailed me a day or two ago. This song has more iterations than I appreciated and now they're all coming out of the woodwork like creepy uncles at a family reunion.

Katherine said...

Since you seem think the Google questions thing wouldn't work out, I suggest you become the Weird Al of the caroling world. And bonus if you make the lyrics dirty.

Anonymous said...

Katherine: Hm. The Weird Al of the caroling world, eh? I might be able to make something out of that. Although, really, I'd rather be the Ray Stevens of lyrics. He's far funnier and not as strange as Mr. Yankovic.

Or, perhaps I could have a holiday contest here and all of you could write new lyrics for The 12 Days of Christmas. I'll put you in charge of dirty lyrics, Katherine!

Anonymous said...

Whoever said they wanted their 12 minutes back cracked me up!

Alas, I hate that song too much to even give it the benefit of a doubt. But reading this post was a hoot :)

- Phoebe

Anonymous said...

Pheebs: That would be our fair city's own Herb of D.C. He's the best! Go read his list of Christmas bests and worsts. It's fabulous!

As for this version, really you should give it a listen. I think (despite the group), you'll be pleasantly delighted. At the very least, it will compliment your deck table umbrella strung with Christmas lights tree! ;-)

Jess said...

Ooo, awesome. Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Go Mo-tab. ;)

I really liked the Muppets version of the 12 days when I was a kid. It made me laugh.

Oh - and hi Tewkes. It's been a while.

Anonymous said...

Herb of DC's Best & Worst of Christmas was hilarious! Thanks for sharing that. I mean, what's more campy that Liberace on the cover of a Christmas album? And who would have even known about it? Besides Herb of DC?

Thanks, Herb of DC :)

On a side note, my mother-in-law complained about her new neighbors who dug up the grass on their front lawn and replaced it with a Herb garden (they pronounced the "H" in herb). So now when I pass the Herb garden, I'll think of Liberace on a Christmas album :)

= Phoebe

Anonymous said...

Jess: Glad you liked it! And you're welcome!


Shinshige: Hi! Long time! I'll have to check out the Muppets version. I just finished watching their Christmas special on NBC. So cute.


Phoebe: I'm sure Herb, with an H, would be honored!

RoeH said...

All these years and that's the first time I ever heard that version? Probably because I too hate that song and usually refuse to listen to it. Funny. Thought about you when I was going to put the Alvin/Chipmunk Christmas song onto my blog but decided I couldn't even stand it enough to do that.

J.M. Tewkesbury said...

Lucy: Bless you for NOT posting the Chipmunks this year. It was bad enough when I did it last year!