RUN RUDOLPH RUN

CHUCK BERRY

SONGWRITERS: BROADIE MARVIN LEE & MARKS JOHN D.

COUNTRY: U. S. A.

ALBUM: CHRISTMAS WITH CHUCK BERRY

LABEL: CHESS RECORD

GENRE: CHRISTMAS SONG

YEAR: 1959

 

      Charles Edward Anderson Berry (October 18, 1926–March 18, 2017) was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist who pioneered rock and roll. Nicknamed the "Father of Rock and Roll", he refined and developed rhythm and blues into the major elements that made rock and roll distinctive with songs such as "Maybellene" (1955), "Roll Over Beethoven"(1956), "Rock and Roll Music"(1957) and "Johnny B. Goode" (1958). Writing lyrics that focused on teen life and consumerism, and developing a music style that included guitar solos and showmanship, Berry was a major influence on subsequent rock music.

      Born into a middle-class black family in St. Louis, Berry had an interest in music from an early age and gave his first public performance at Sumner High School. While still a high school student he was convicted of armed robbery and was sent to a reformatory, where he was held from 1944 to 1947. After his release, Berry settled into married life and worked at an automobile assembly plant. By early 1953, influenced by the guitar riffs and showmanship techniques of the blues musician T-Bone Walker, Berry began performing with the Johnnie Johnson Trio. His break came when he traveled to Chicago in May 1955 and met Muddy Waters, who suggested he contact Leonard Chess, of Chess Records. With Chess, he recorded "Maybellene"—Berry's adaptation of the country song "Ida Red"—which sold over a million copies, reaching number one on Billboard magazine's rhythm and blues chart. 

Out of all the reindeers you know you are the mastermind

Run, run Rudolph, Randolph ain't too far behind

Run, run Rudolph, Santa's gotta make it to town

Santa, make him hurry, tell him he can take the freeway down

Run, run Rudolph 'cause I'm reelin' like a merry-go-round

 

Said Santa to a boy child, "What have you been longin' for?"

"All I want for Christmas is a rock 'n' roll 'lectric guitar"

And then away went Rudolph whizzin' like a shootin' star

 

Run, run Rudolph, Santa's has to make it in town

Santa, make him hurry, tell him he can take the freeway down

Run, run Rudolph, reelin' like a merry-go-round

 

Run, run Rudolph, Santa's gotta make it to town

Santa, make him hurry, tell him he can take the freeway down

Run, run Rudolph, I'm reelin' like a merry-go-round

 

Said Santa to a girl child, "What would please you most to get?"

"A little baby doll that can cry, sleep, drink and wet"

And then away went Rudolph, whizzin' like a Saber jet

 

Run, run Rudolph, Santa's gotta make it to town

Santa, make him hurry, tell him he can take the freeway down

Run, run Rudolph I'm reelin' like a merry-go-round.

LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW! LET IT SNOW!

BING CROSBY

SONGWRITERS: JULE STYNE & SAMMY CAHN

COUNTRY: U. S. A.

ALBUM: CHRISTMAS CLASSIC

LABEL: WARNER BROTHERS

GENRE: CHRISTMAS

YEAR: 1962

 

          Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr.(May 3, 1903–October 14, 1977) was an American singer and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a leader in record sales, radio ratings, and motion picture grosses from 1926 to 1977. He made over 70 feature films and recorded more than 1,600 songs.

       His early career coincided with recording innovations that allowed him to develop an intimate singing style that influenced many male singers who followed, such as Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Dick Haymes, Elvis Presley, and John Lennon.

           Yank magazine said that he was "the person who had done the most for the morale of overseas servicemen" during World War II. In 1948, American polls declared him the "most admired man alive", ahead of Jackie Robinson and Pope Pius XII.: 6  In 1948, Music Digest estimated that his recordings filled more than half of the 80,000 weekly hours allocated to recorded radio music.

             Crosby won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Going My Way(1944) and was nominated for its sequel, The Bells of St. Mary's(1945), opposite Ingrid Bergman, becoming the first of six actors to be nominated twice for playing the same character. In 1963, Crosby received the first Grammy Global Achievement Award. He is one of 33 people to have three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in the categories of motion pictures, radio, and audio recording. He was also known for his collaborations with his friend Bob Hope, starring in the Road to... films from 1940 to 1962.

             Crosby influenced the development of the post World War Two recording industry. After seeing a demonstration of a German broadcast quality reel-to-reel tape recorder brought to America by John T. Mullin, he invested $50,000 in California electronics company Ampex to build copies. He then persuaded ABC to allow him to tape his shows. He became the first performer to prerecord his radio shows and master his commercial recordings onto magnetic tape.

        Through the medium of recording, he constructed his radio programs with the same directorial tools and craftsmanship (editing, retaking, rehearsal, time shifting) used in motion picture production, a practice that became industry standard. In addition to his work with early audio tape recording, he helped finance the development of videotape, bought television stations, bred racehorses, and co-owned the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team, during which time the team won two World Series(1960 and 1971).

Oh the weather outside is frightful

But the fire is so delightful

And since we've no place to go

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

 

It doesn't show signs of stopping

And I've bought some corn for popping

The lights are turned way down low

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

 

When we finally kiss goodnight

How I'll hate going out in the storm!

But if you'll really hold me tight

All the way home I'll be warm

 

The fire is slowly dying

And, my dear, we're still goodbying

But as long as you love me so

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

LITTLE SAINT NICK

THE BEACH BOYS

SONGWRITERS: BRIAN WILSON & MIKE LOVE

COUNTRY: U. S. A.

ALBUM: LITTLE SAINT NICK

LABEL: CAPITOL RECORDS

GENRE: CHRISTMAS

YEAR: 1963

 

           The Beach Boys are an American rock band that formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Distinguished by their vocal harmonies, adolescent-oriented themes, and musical ingenuity, they became one of the most influential acts of the rock era. They drew on the music of older pop vocal groups, 1950s rock and roll, and black R&B to create their unique sound, and under Brian's direction, often incorporated classical or jazz elements and unconventional recording techniques in innovative ways.

           One of the first self-contained rock groups, the Beach Boys began as a garage band, managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, and with Brian as composer, arranger, producer, and de facto leader. In 1963, they had their first national hit with "Surfin' U.S.A.", beginning a string of top-ten singles that reflected a southern California youth culture of surfing, cars, and romance, dubbed the "California sound". They were one of the few American rock bands to sustain their commercial standing during the British Invasion. Starting with 1965's The Beach Boys Today!, they abandoned beachgoing themes for more personal lyrics and ambitious orchestrations. In 1966, the Pet Sounds album and "Good Vibrations" single raised the group's prestige as rock innovators. After scrapping the Smile album in 1967, Brian gradually ceded control of the group to his bandmates.

       In the late 1960s, the group's commercial momentum faltered in the US, and despite efforts to maintain na experimental sound, they were widely dismissed by the early rock music press. Carl took over as the band's musical leader; records from this period later enjoyed a cult following among fans. In the mid-1970s, as their concerts drew larger audiences, the band transitioned into na oldies act. Dennis drowned in 1983 and Brian soon became estranged from the group. Following Carl's death from lung cancer in 1998, the band granted Love legal rights to tour under the group's name. In the early 2010s, the original members briefly reunited for the band's 50th anniversary. As of 2021, Wilson and Jardine do not perform with Love's edition of the Beach Boys, but remain official members of the band.

              The Beach Boys are one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially successful bands of all time, selling over 100 million records worldwide. They helped legitimize popular music as a recognized art form and influenced the development of music genres and movements such as psychedelia, power pop, progressive rock, punk, alternative, and lo-fi. Between the 1960s and 2010s, the group had 36 songs reach the US Top 40(the most by an American band), with four topping the Billboard Hot 100. In 2004, they were ranked number 12 on Rolling Stone's list of the greatest artists of all time. The founding members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.

           "Little Saint Nick" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys first released as a single on December 9, 1963. Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, the Christmas song applies hot-rod themes to Santa Claus and his sleigh.

         The single peaked at number 3 on Billboard magazine's special seasonal weekly Christmas Singles chart. Its B-side was an a cappella version of "The Lord's Prayer". In November 1964, an alternate mix of "Little Saint Nick" appeared as the opening track on The Beach Boys' Christmas Album.

Oo oo oo

Merry Christmas Saint Nick

Christmas comes this time each year

Oo-oo

 

Well a way up north where the air gets cold

There's a tale about Christmas that you've all been told

There's a real famous cat all dressed up in red

And he spends the whole year working out on his sled

 

It's the little Saint Nick (little Saint Nick)

It's the little Saint Nick (little Saint Nick)

 

Just a little bob sleighed we call it old Saint Nick

But she'll walk a toboggan with a four speed stick

She's candy apple red with a ski for a wheel

And when Santa hits the gas man just watch her peel

 

It's the little Saint Nick (little Saint Nick)

It's the little Saint Nick (little Saint Nick)

Run run reindeer

Run run reindeer (oh-oh-oh-oh)

Run run reindeer

Run run reindeer

He don't miss no-one

 

And haulin' through the snow at a frightenin' speed

With a half a dozen deer with the a-rudy to lead

He's gotta wear his goggles 'cause the snow really flies

And he's cruisin' every pad with a little surprise

 

It's the little Saint Nick (little Saint Nick)

It's the little Saint Nick (little Saint Nick)

Oo oo oo

Merry Christmas Saint Nick

Christmas comes this time each year, oo

Merry Christmas Saint Nick

Christmas comes this time each year, oo.

GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMAN

NAT KING COLE

SONGWRITER: DAVID WILCOCKS

COUNTRY: U. S. A.

ALBUM: THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS

LABEL: CAPITOL RECORDS

GENRE: CHRISTMAS SONG

YEAR: 1960

 

        Nathaniel Adams Coles(March 17, 1919–February 15, 1965), known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American singer, jazz pianist, and actor. He recorded over 100 songs that became hits on the pop charts. His trio was the model for small jazz ensembles that followed. Cole also acted in films and on television and performed on Broadway. He was the first African-American man to host an American television series. He was the father of singer-songwriter Natalie Cole(1950–2015).

   "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen" is an English traditional Christmas carol. It is in the Roxburghe Collection(iii. 452), and is listed as nº 394 in the Roud Folk Song Index. It is also known as "Tidings of Comfort and Joy", and by other variant incipits.

       The Magic of Christmas is a 1960 album by Nat King Cole, arranged and conducted by Ralph Carmichael.

      This was Cole's only complete album of Christmas songs, although he had recorded several holiday singles earlier in his career. One of these, "The Christmas Song", originally recorded in 1946, was re-recorded for the 1961 album The Nat King Cole Story

          It is the best-selling Christmas album released in the 1960s, and was certified by the RIAA for shipments of 6 million copies in the U.S. The 1963 version reached number 1 on Billboard's Christmas Albums chart and remained for two weeks.

God rest ye merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay

Remember, Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day

To save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray

O tidings of comfort and joy

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

 

From God our Heavenly Father a blessed Angel came

And unto certain shepherds brought tidings of the same

How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name

O tidings of comfort and joy

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

 

Now to the Lord sing praises all you within this place

And with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace

This holy tide of Christmas all other doth deface

O tidings of comfort and joy

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy.

SILVER BELLS

DEAN MARTIN

SONGWRITERS: RAY EVANS & JAY LIVINGSTON

COUNTRY: U. S. A.

ALBUM: THE DEAN MARTIN CHRISTMAS ALBUM

LABEL: REPRISE RECORDS

GENRE: CHRISTMAS MUSIC

YEAR: 1966

 

         Dean Martin(born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor and comedian of Italian descent. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed "The King of Cool." Martin gained his career breakthrough together with comedian Jerry Lewis, billed as Martin & Lewis, in 1946. They performed in nightclubs and later had numerous appearances on radio, television and in films.

   Following an acrimonious ending of the partnership in 1956, Martin pursued a solo career as a performer and actor. Martin established himself as a singer, recording numerous contemporary songs as well as standards from the Great American Songbook. He became one of the most popular acts in Las Vegas and was known for his friendship with fellow artists Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr., who together with several others formed the Rat Pack.

     Starting in 1965, Martin was the host of the television variety program The Dean Martin Show, which centered on Martin's singing and comedic talents and was characterized by his relaxed, easy-going demeanor. From 1974 to 1984, he was roastmaster on the popular Dean Martin Celebrity Roast, which drew celebrities, comedians and politicians. Throughout his career, Martin performed in concert stages, nightclubs, audio recordings and appeared in 85 film and television productions.

        His best known songs include "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?", "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", and "Volare".

         The Dean Martin Christmas Album is a 1966 studio album by Dean Martin arranged by Ernie Freeman and Bill Justis.

        This was Martin's only album of Christmas music released on Reprise Records (his only other Christmas album, A Winter Romance, having been released in 1959 on Capitol Records). It was reissued on CD by Hip-O Records in 2008, retitled A Very Cool Christmas.

    Ricci James Martin, Martin's son, wrote in a biography of his father that The Dean Martin Christmas Album was the only one of his father's albums that was played in the Martin household, his parents seldom listening to Dean Martin's music.

   This was the fourth of five albums Martin released in 1966. Billboard magazine reported in its December 3, 1966 issue that The Dean Martin Christmas Album was on top of its "Best Bets for Christmas" chart.

         The release of The Dean Martin Christmas Album in October and The Dean Martin TV Show in November 1966 were accompanied by what Billboard described as a "merchandising avalanche" by Reprise Records and their parent company Warner Music. Billboard described Martin as running the "hottest streak of his career", and said that Reprise planned to sell $4 million of his records over the Christmas sales period. Billboard later reported that Martin had sold 850,000 albums in December 1966.

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks

Dressed in holiday style

In the air there's a feeling of Christmas

Children laughin', people passin', meeting smile after smile

And on every street corner you hear

 

Silver bells (silver bells)

Silver bells (silver bells)

It's Christmas time in the city

Ring-a-ling

(Ring-a-ling)

Hear them ring

(Hear them ring)

Soon it'll be Christmas Day

 

As the shoppers rush home with their treasures

(Hear the snow crush, see the kids bunch, this is Santa's big scene)

And above all this bustle you hear

silver bells

(Silver bells) silver bells

It's Christmas time in the city

Ring-a-ling

(Ring-a-ling)

Hear them ring

(Hear them ring)

Soon it'll be Christmas day.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

ED SHEERAN y ELTON JOHN

SONGWRITERS: EDWARD CHRISTOPHER SHEERAN; ELTON JONES & STEVE MAC

COUNTRY: U. K.

ALBUM: CHRISTMAS EDITION & THE LOCKDOWN SESSIONS

LABEL: ASYLUM RECORDS

GENRE: CHRISTMAS

YEAR: 2021

 

         "Merry Christmas" is a song by English singer-songwriters Ed Sheeran and Elton John. It was released through Asylum and Atlantic Records as a single on 3 December 2021. The song appears on the Christmas editions of Sheeran's fifth studio album, =, and John's thirty-second studio album, The Lockdown Sessions. The two artists wrote the song alongside its producer, Steve Mac. "Merry Christmas" entered at the top of the UK Singles Chart during the chart week of 10 December 2021, becoming Sheeran's twelfth chart-topper in the country and John's ninth number-one single in the country. It also topped the charts in Ireland, the Netherlands and Switzerland.

Build a fire and gather 'round the tree

Fill a glass and maybe come and sing with me

 

So kiss me under the mistletoe

Pour out the wine, let's toast and pray for December snow

I know there's been pain this year, but it's time to let it go

Next year, you never know

But for now, Merry Christmas

 

We'll dance in the kitchen while embers glow

We've both known love, but this love we got is the best of all

I wish you could see it through my eyes then you would know

My God, you look beautiful right now

Merry Christmas

 

The fire is raging on

And we'll all sing along to the song

Just having so much fun

While we're here, can we all spare a thought

For the ones who have gone?

Merry Christmas, everyone

 

So just keep kissing me under the mistletoe

Pour out the wine, let's toast and pray for December snow

I know there's been pain this year, but it's time to let it go

Next year, you never know

But for now, Merry Christmas

 

We'll dance in the kitchen while embers glow

We've both known love, but this love we got is the best of all

I wish you could see it through my eyes then you would know

My God, you look beautiful right now

Merry Christmas

 

I feel it when it comes

Every year, helping us carry on

Filled up with so much love

All the family and friends all together

Where we all belong

Merry Christmas, everyone

 

It's Christmas time for you and I

We'll have a good night and a merry Christmas

It's Christmas time for you and I

We'll have a good night and a merry Christmas

It's Christmas time for you and I

We'll have a good night and a merry Christmas

It's Christmas time for you and I

We'll have a good night and a merry Christmas time.

THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS

ENYA

SONGWRITERS: ROMAN RYAN; EITHNE NI BHRAONAIN & NICKY RYAN

COUNTRY: IRELAND

ALBUM: AND WINTER CAME…

LABEL: WARNER RECORDS

GENRE: CHRISTMAS

YEAR: 2008

 

          Enya Patricia Brennan(Irish: Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin/ˈɛnjə/; born 17 May 1961) is an Irish singer-songwriter and musician, known for pioneering modern Celtic and New-age music. Regarded as the "Queen of New Age", Enya is the best-selling Irish solo artist of all time. Born into a musical family and raised in the Irish-speaking area of Gweedore, County Donegal, Enya began her music career when she joined her family's Celtic folk band Clannad in 1980 on keyboards and backing vocals. She left the group in 1982 with their manager and producer Nicky Ryan to pursue a solo career, with Ryan's wife Roma Ryan as her lyricist. Enya developed her sound over the following four years with multitracked vocals and keyboards with elements of new age, Celtic, classical, church, world, pop, and Irish folk. Thus far, she has sung in ten languages, most notably English, Irish Gaelic(Gaeilge), Latin, and Welsh.

           Enya's first projects as a solo artist included soundtrack work for The Frog Prince(1984) and the 1987 BBC documentary series The Celts, which was released as her debut album, Enya(1987). She signed with Warner Music UK, which granted her artistic freedom and minimal interference from the label. The commercial and critical success of Watermark(1988) propelled her to worldwide fame, helped by the UK number one and international hit single "Orinoco Flow". This was followed by the multi-million-selling albums Shepherd Moons(1991), The Memory of Trees(1995), and A Day Without Rain(2000). Sales of the latter and its lead single, "Only Time", surged in the United States following its use in the media coverage of the September 11 attacks. Following Amarantine(2005) and And Winter Came... (2008), Enya took a four-year career hiatus before she resumed in 2012 and released her eighth studio album, Dark Sky Island(2015).

           And Winter Came... is the seventh studio album by Irish singer, songwriter, and musician Enya, released on 10 November 2008 by Warner Music. After recording new Christmas songs for her fourth EP Sounds of the Season: The Enya Collection(2006), Enya started work on a Christmas album of traditional carols and original tracks, but the idea was changed to a collection of songs with a Christmas or winter theme as it better suited the style of the new material. It was recorded with her longtime collaborators, arranger and producer Nicky Ryan and his wife, lyricist Roma Ryan.

          The album received mixed to positive reviews from music critics and became a worldwide success, reaching the top 10 in 21 countries in its first three weeks, including Nº 8 on the US Billboard 200 and Nº 6 on the UK Albums Chart. The track "Trains and Winter Rains" was the album's only physical single, and was followed by "Dreams Are More Precious", "White Is in the Winter Night", and "My! My! Time Flies!", released as digital downloads. To promote the album, Enya made several interviews, appearances, and live performances. The album has sold over 3 million copies worldwide.

When tears are in your eyes

It's time to look inside

Your heart can find another way

 

Believe in what I say

Don't throw this time away

Tomorrow will be Christmas Day

Christmas Day...

 

So let the shadows go

And drift away like snow

Tomorrow will be Christmas Day

Tomorrow will be Christmas Day

Christmas Day...

 

So dream until the night,

Becomes the morning light

Tomorrow will be Christmas Day

Tomorrow will be Christmas Day.

I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS

SARAH BRIGHTMAN

SONGWRITERS: GREG LAKE; PETER JOHN SINFIELD & SERGE PROFIEFF

COUNTRY: U. K.

ALBUM: A WINTER SYNPHONY

LABEL: MANHATTAN RECORDS

GENRE: CHRISTMAS

YEAR: 2008

 

       Sarah Brightman(born 14 August 1960) is an English classical crossover soprano, singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and musician.

            Brightman began her career as a member of the dance troupe Hot Gossip and released several disco singles as a solo performer. In 1981, she made her West End musical theatre debut in Cats and met composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, whom she later married. She went on to star in several West End and Broadway musicals, including The Phantom of the Opera, where she originated the role of Christine Daaé. Her original London cast album of Phantom was released in CD format in 1987 and sold 40 million copies worldwide, making it the biggest-selling cast album ever.

       After retiring from the stage and divorcing Lloyd Webber, Brightman resumed her music career with former Enigma producer Frank Peterson, this time as a classical crossover artist. She has been credited as the creator and remains among the most prominent performers of this genre, with worldwide sales of more than 25 million albums and two million DVDs, establishing herself as the world's best-selling soprano.

       Brightman's 1996 duet with the Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, "Time to Say Goodbye", topped the charts all over Europe and became the highest and fastest-selling single of all-time in Germany, where it stayed at the top of the charts for 14 consecutive weeks and sold over three million copies. It subsequently became an international success, selling 12 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling singles of all-time. She has collected over 200 gold and platinum record awards in 38 different countries. In 2010, she was named by Billboard the fifth most influential and best-selling classical artist of the 2000s decade in the US and according to Nielsen SoundScan, she has sold 6.5million albums in the country.

       Brightman is the first artist to have been invited twice to perform the theme song at the Olympic Games, first at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games where she sang "Amigos Para Siempre" with the Spanish tenor José Carreras with an estimated global audience of a billion people, and 16 years later in 2008 in Beijing, this time with Chinese singer Liu Huan, performing the song "You and Me" to an estimated four billion people worldwide.

         In 2012, Brightman was appointed as the UNESCO Artist for Peace for the period 2012–2014, for her "commitment to humanitarian and charitable causes, her contribution, throughout her artistic career, to the promotion of cultural dialogue and the exchanges among cultures, and her dedication to the ideals and aims of the Organization". Since 2010, Brightman has been Panasonic's global brand ambassador.

         In 2014, she began training for a journey to the International Space Station, later postponed until further notice, citing personal reasons. Brightman was awarded the decoration 'Cavaliere' in the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic on 2 June 2016 and an honorary doctorate from the University of Hertfordshire in 2018, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to music and theatre.

        A Winter Symphony is a Christmas album from the English soprano singer Sarah Brightman, released in November 2008.

      The album borrows its name from Brightman's earlier 2008 album, Symphony.

          A deluxe edition was released through Barnes & Noble, which included extra tracks and a DVD that featured documentary segments: "The Making of A Winter Symphony", a photo gallery, and Brightman's live performances of "Fleurs du Mal", "Symphony", "Let It Rain", and "Running".

           Brightman chose a number of traditional songs from the season: "Silent Night", "In the Bleak Midwinter", and "Child in a Manger", as well as two versions of "Ave Maria", one being the classical piece by French composer Charles Gounod, and the other—in duet with tenor Fernando Lima—an original by Brightman and Mexican composer Jorge Avedaño. Included are also contemporary pop tunes, such as Vince Gill's "Colder Than Winter", a cover of Neil Diamond's "I've Been This Way Before" and Roy Wood's "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday". The set continues with a rendition of "Amazing Grace" and closes with a reading of "I Believe in Father Christmas" originally by Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

They said "There'll be snow at Christmas"

They said "There'll be peace on Earth"

But instead it just kept on raining

A veil of tears for the Virgin's birth

I remember one Christmas morning

A winter's light and a distant choir

And the peal of a bell and that Christmas-tree smell

And their eyes full of tinsel and fire

 

They sold me a dream of Christmas

They sold me a Silent Night

They told me a fairy story

Till I believed in the Israelite

And I believed in Father Christmas

And I looked at the sky with excited eyes

'Till I woke with a yawn, in the first light of dawn

And I saw him through his disguise

 

I wish you a hopeful Christmas

I wish you a brave New Year

All anguish, pain and sadness

Leave your heart and let your road be clear

They said "There'll be snow at Christmas"

They said "There'll be peace on Earth"

Hallelujah, Noel!

Be it Heaven or Hell

 

The Christmas we get we deserve.