Can you believe Christmukkawanzaa is almost upon us? Actually I can, because this year holiday decorations - various street pole "snowflakes," red bunting and the usual falderal - went up in my neighborhood the day after Halloween.
Why not after Labor Day? Or the Fourth Of July? Really, why wait? It makes me want to give a special gift to all those wonderful city planners, like the one John Waters once sent to certain such people below. And, yes, that's a real roach:
But then there's no need to be "bah-humbug" about the season, is there? If anything, it's an excuse to listen to some atrocious/wonderful music - or music that's so head-turningly bad that it's got to be good, like a certain TV movie that I'm looking forward to (and I know you are, too).
And let's face it, it's a good time to shop this time of year, and not just for the loved ones in your life, but for yourself. Or as Sally from Peanuts says, "All I want is what I have coming to me. All I want is my fair share." Ah, from the mouth of babes.
Don't forget about the slew of movies hitting theatres. This is the time of year when all the good adult movies are crammed into one brief, two month stretch (to qualify for Oscars), along with the usual holiday drek (I know, I know, but I can't with all that magical dwarf crap) (and I like Peter Jackson) (even though I still haven't forgiven him for "The Lovely Bones").
At least people get some time off between the end of December and New Years'. It's a perfect time to meet with friends for a little fun, or sit back and zone out to that TV show you've always been meaning to watch.
Speaking of music for the holidays, I just today drove my Cuban Luvuh up the wall by playing a few tracks from the CD below. Actually, I doubt that I could have listened to more than a few tracks, but if you're making a holiday mix-CD or playlist, these cats are invaluable to have.
I haven't forgotten gifts. For the Herrmann-heads amongst you, here's even more from the new 14-CD set - this time discs 7 and 8. The best of these two is the score for "Beneath the 12-Mile Reef," starring a young, ingenue-ish Robert Wagner (who below is about to be chained up, hurled onto a seaward-bound ship and pushed overboard) (many years later, he would re-enact this scene for reals) (but I digress).
"Beneath the 12-Mile Reef" is not Herrmann's best score (not by a long shot), but mark my word, it's the best cheesy 1950's movie score you've ever heard in your entire life - or rather, how you think they all must have sounded (they didn't, unfortunately). Herrmann mashes together every known music cue and cliche into a score that transcends formula and creates all new cliches of its own. In other words, it's amazing, and for all the right and wrong reasons.
Speaking of wrong, I was just thinking of holiday mix-CDs and playlists, and wondering what one might insert here and there to break up all those jingling bells and such. And then I thought, "Of course! Blaxploitation radio ads!" Trust me, if you insert these into any holiday mix, then innocently play the CD or playlist for a crowd....when the Blaxploitation ditties hit...the room will stop silent, jaws will drop, giggles will spontaneously erupt. I promise.
Like Sally, The Secret Song File just loves getting-getting-getting during the holiday season. Jewels, a necklace - any bauble will do (as long as it's expensive). You know, diamonds. Ice. Speaking of ice...and cold...and Iceland...and singers 'n' things. Oh, c'mon. Do I really have to go any further?
Let's just say this: it's her latest CD based on her latest CD, but with all the tracks remixed by assorted DJs (with varying degrees of success). Another jewel in her crown? Hmm. Maybe.
A Happy Christmukkawanzaa to you all!
And if you can say that backwards twice (and perfectly), then you really are all that.
