The second Christmas Present season comes to a close today, given today is Christmas day. To give you something to enjoy the holiday, this year I’ve compiled 20 posts of Christmas Present selections (at least what’s available anyway) into a Spotify playlist. Continue reading
A couple of years ago, an interesting novelty popped up at Dunkin’ Donuts that led to a nice stocking stuffer for mom: a 10-pack of Dunkin’ Donuts large hot coffees for $10. At the time, it was a regional promotion for just the tri-state area, but mom was traveling across the state and working odd hours as a nurse, so I thought it might be a good pick me up. Continue reading
Today’s Christmas Present looks at a group that had some success breaking through with dance music in the U.S., Cascada. The group released a Christmas album in 2012 called “It’s Christmas Time” that largely eschews the rhythmic music they’re known for, to mediocre results, but it’s their rendition of “Last Christmas,” recorded during their hey day, that prompts this entry. Continue reading
I was just sent this, footage from a fight that broke out during the parade of people fighting over cheap TVs at a Wal-Mart. I worked Black Friday a couple of times as a Circuit City employee, including watching my store manager at the time, rolling out some more cheap portable CD players (ooh!), get knocked on his rump by people who couldn’t wait. Continue reading
I wrote about Nicole Westbrook here when her second song, “Smile,” came out, but this one kicked things off a year ago. If you’re not ready for Christmas music yet, how about “It’s Thanksgiving” to keep you going? Continue reading
Our last Christmas Present of the year is the first recommendation to come from a Facebook friend and co-worker, Ashley, who shared some of her own selections with me recently and, added bonus, they were made available as free downloads this season. Of them, I love most her recommendation of a 2010 track from Fitz and the Tantrums, “Santa Stole My Lady.” Continue reading
For the inaugural Christmas Present pick, I turn to what I consider a quintessential example of the Christmas Present concept: The Bird and the Bee’s rendition of Carol of the Bells. Continue reading
When I first moved out on my own, I roomed with a guy who was a radio DJ. He worked for a station that played a lot of current Top 40 hits, but when the holidays rolled around, for some reason they’d break out Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas.” I asked him, “why don’t they play songs by some of their current artists?” and he responded, “We’d need about 100 good ones to form a playlist and make that happen.”
Challenge accepted. Continue reading