An Old Guy’s Tondeaf Christmas

1. So I’ve been listening to 95.7 FM—a genunely outstanding radio station (broadcasting from the foot of Mt. Alto in Rome, GA—although it also serves Trion) featuring the hits from the Sixties, Seventies, and Eighties just about all the time.

2. Yesterday and today, they’ve been featuring versions of Christmas tunes from said hit-makers.

3. My completely conventional and musically illiterate opinions:

4. The two most enjoyable performances are Jon Anderson (the YES man)—O HOLY NIGHT, quite the dramatic display of one of the very best Christmas carols.

5. And: The Boss (Springsteen), SANTA CLAUS IS COMING. It’s a fine performance masquerading as fun fluff, with of course a prominent and witty place for the BIG MAN on the sax.

6. Just strange and somewhat annoying: Stevie Nicks, SILENT NIGHT.

7. Oddly moving, although not for musical reasons: Bob Dylan, ADESTE FIDELES.

(Artistic failure of the show: GAUDETE from Steeleye Span is not being played. The only hit, surely, sung a capella and entirely in Latin. Magnificient performance of a hymm with stirring lyrics and melody.)

I hope everyone is enjoying a postmodern—yet conservative—Christmas!