Merry Xmas Everybody - the schmaltzy Xmas video thread

[Batty]

I'm glad that we are still disagreeing. At least their is some normality in a world gone crazy (with 1,000 elephants! )

their???

It doesn't matter when Father Christmas came into being, it only matters that he exists ...

Jan, I really like jacqui lawson e-cards. I can't believe that the annual fee is so cheap, when you consider that you can send as many cards as you want!

The Roman Orthodox Church were buggers for letting go of damned good ideas and religiously kept to the former Imperial practice of latching their own pantheon on the handiest local equivalent deities out in the vast colonial regions. Only having the one god was a leetle bit of a problem granted, but then all they had to do in that case was home in on the big fire festivals that most cultures have for periods when they need to stay in and keep warm (in the northerly European areas anyway) and Holy Joe's yer Uncle etc. Yule/Winter Solstice becomes Xmas (X for whoever this other chap was), Samhain/Day of the Dead/Death of the Sun handily becomes All Souls or All Hallows Eve with All Saints the next day Easter - come on down Eostre/Mithras/insert local deity of choice here, you're just in time for Beltane and Spring festivals - not forgetting lambing time too!

Clever chappies the Romans - they should never have junked the Latin Mass though, it was so much more fun when you didn't know what on earth you were saying and singing about...

I thought the Christmas tradition of giving gifts of fruit and nuts came about because the local grocer "No Where Cheaper" had an abundance of produce and sold it at cost to the locals??

[Jan Van Quirm]

It doesn't matter when Father Christmas came into being, it only matters that he exists ...

Jan, I really like jacqui lawson e-cards. I can't believe that the annual fee is so cheap, when you consider that you can send as many cards as you want!

Of course Santa exists

Jaqui's got a CafePress shop now as well I think, some T-shirt print affair anyway. The ecards are great for those last minute OMG I forgot someone moments (and they're so nice people don't automatically suss you're panicking )

'Nother 'classic one Just when you think Sinead O'Connor's a stroppy mare who shouldn't be allowed to open her mouth except to sing Nothing compares 2 U...

[Morty]

What a brill story from today's Beeb.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8423340.stm

I love this song and I reckon it makes a fitting Xmas UK number one for 2009.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkuOAY-S6OY

[b]WARNING! OFFENSIVE LYRICS!]

Just watched the video posted by Pooh.

The Christmas number one spot used to be a highly sort after prize. In my opinion the 2009 battle has put an end to the credibility of that prize.

Faced with a talentless X Factor here one day gone the next contestant who has no idea of what it’s like to go out on the road and serve your apprenticeship before EARNING a record contract and the miserable rabble who by default are this year’s Christmas number one it makes me feel like getting my Cliff Richard records out.

Another very sad day for the ‘’music’’ industry.

[poohcarrot]

("their" )

A sad day for the music industry? My bottom! It's the best thing that could have happened, ever!

Instead of being told what to listen to by record companies bribing djs and manufacturing bands, for once the power is with the people.

It's also wonderfully ironic that the band is called Rage Against The Machine.

It's a classic 1990s disenchanted youth song that is probably more relevent today than when it first came out.

"You do what they tell you"
"Coz you're under control"
"F**k you I won't do what you tell me!"
"F**k you I won't do what you tell me!"

I love this song!

[Batty]

I agree with Morty!

The truth is that everyone who was encouraged (and complied) to vote for RATM was actually caught up in a massive manipulation by two people who thought it would be 'fun' to alter the outcome of an odds-on winner.

I don't think any song - whether sung by RATM, Robbie Williams or anyone else, that thinks it's OK to use foul language should be released or allowed into the charts.
Unfortunately, this 'song' (or 'rant') will forever be in the record lists.

[poohcarrot]

...and Lady Chatterley's Lover should still be banned.

I actually, honestly think it's one of the best songs of the nineties!
Live, they were one of the best bands I've ever seen.

[Dotsie]

Instead of being told what to listen to by record companies bribing djs and manufacturing bands, for once the power is with the people.

But they dropped the price of the track so they were actually making a loss on it, just to beat the X-Factor to number one. Not very confident of winning then, were they?

How about... people really do just buy the songs they want? Or does that sound crazy?

[Morty]

("their" )

A sad day for the music industry? My bottom! It's the best thing that could have happened, ever!

I love this song!

Sorry Pooh on this issue we will never see eye to eye. Making records with obscene language was an easy way to get a No1. The BBC quite rightly banned them from their playlist and the only way you could hear them was go out and buy them.....Result a piece of garbage became an instant hit. They only stayed at No 1 for a week but they deprived a proper musician who had written decent lyrics, written the music and arranged the score from having a well deserved No. 1.

Punk was exactly the same. A punk band NEVER played managed to play any song the same way twice as they couldn’t read music. They never went out on the road to LEARN their craft. They were manufactured in just the same way as the hapless idiots who actually believe that an appearance on X Factor is going to turn them into a superstar over night.

As for the rabble at No. 1 today......I listened to them today and I’ll never listen to them again. I’m sorry Pooh but I’ve played in two or two amateur bands and spent hours driving to a gig, more hours setting up and then 2 hours playing before reloading the van and driving back home. I’ve listened to whatever their called and there isn’t a member of that ‘’band’’ who would have been allowed to sweep the back of our van out.

What happened yesterday was nothing more than a handful of mindless idiots manipulating figures and in my book that’s not playing fair.

The last thing UI want to do is to fall out with you Pooh but if whatever they’re called ever do a sell out world tour and sell 100 million albums I will eat my words.

[Tonyblack]

Not a video, but I rather liked this poem that I got today.

TO: God.Com
Dear Lord,

Every single evening
As I'm lying here in bed,
This tiny little Prayer
Keeps running through my head:

God bless all my family
Wherever they may be,
Keep them warm
And safe from harm
For they're so close to me.

And God, there is one more thing
I wish that you could do;
Hope you don't mind me asking,
Please bless my computer too.

Now I know that it's unusual
To Bless a motherboard,
But listen just a second
While I explain it to you, Lord.

You see, that little metal box
Holds more than odds and ends;
Inside those small compartments
Rest so many of my friends.

I know so much about them
By the kindness that they give,
And this little scrap of metal
Takes me in to where they live.

By faith is how I know them
Much the same as you.
We share in what life brings us
And from that our friendships grew.

Please take an extra minute
From your duties up above,
To bless those in my address book
That's filled with so much love.

Wherever else this prayer may reach
To each and every friend,
Bless each e-mail inbox
And each person who hits 'send'.

When you update your Heavenly list
On your own Great CD-ROM,
Bless everyone who says this prayer
Sent up to GOD.Com


Amen

[Morty]

I’m sorry Pooh but I’ve played in two or two amateur bands

That should have read One or Two amateur bands......Due to circumstances beyond my control at the moment I sttttttttttutter quite badly.....PMSL

[Jan Van Quirm]

Oi! - who lowered the tone in here! Supposed to the season of goodwill etc etc.

Smartypants and Mortypants - stop yer point scoring and go back to being hippies FFS
The whole Xmas No 1 thing is completely bogus anyway and it's always something naff. Whilst I'll tacitly support anyone who's prepared to rub Simon Cowell's face in something cruddy and preferably toxic, I'm certainly not going to be railroaded into buying something I don't particularly want by somebody I don't know (or wish I didn't in SCowell's case) and, having listened to both records (for free) never wanted to know about in the first place. I happily went for however many months it was (22 possibly - X-Factor seems to time-warp it's gestation period of foisting 'real talent' on us to elephantine proportions) managing to make my own little protest against this total waste of time by not watching more than about 2 minutes of the entire wretched, venal and brainless competition... And - even more annoying - that was only because it was also on flaming GMTV or This morning every sodding day

And they should never have got rid of Sharon Osbourne either!

HOWEVER...

Punk was exactly the same. A punk band NEVER played managed to play any song the same way twice as they couldn’t read music. They never went out on the road to LEARN their craft. They were manufactured in just the same way as the hapless idiots who actually believe that an appearance on X Factor is going to turn them into a superstar over night.

Ooooo! I didn't think I would want to slap anyone as hard unless they were called pooh! What a very silly thing to say! OK so some of them weren't that great, but what about The Clash or Siouxsie and the Banshees or The Stranglers or X-ray Specs or Patti Smith. OR Sid Snot! Forget the sodding Sex Pistols - they were a stunt, but some of the less prominent members went on to play for Adam Ant and Culture Club (I should wash my mouth out I know ) but they could play their instruments and were perfectly decent musicians in anyone's reckoning. And anyway Rotten and Vicious were 'art' not 'pop stars' anyway *makes rude arty noises*

Anyway - I'll eat my words for making my own sweeping and incorrect (sometimes) statement about all Xmas No 1's being naff - here's one that was 'art' (well Mike Myers said it was... ) AND it was one with royal approval...

[Morty]

Sorry Jan even you won't sell Punk to me
The Stranglers and X Ray Specs.........

I need to lie down and listen to some Pink Floyd 1967 -

[Tina a.k.a.SusanSto.Helit]

Don't forget The Ramones!!!!!!!!! I Wanna Be Sedated!!!!!

Merry Christmas, and Happy week to all. I realize it is all commercialized crap to a large extent, but, the communities around our small town are coming together more and more in tough times with more food baskets for those in need. AND I made a mega-pressie for a 17 year old girl... 5 pressies all wrapped separately, and all designed for happiness (3 pair of pretty earrings), good feelings (a pair of very fuzzy socks and slippers to match & a fuzzy bathrobe), good times (a playstation 2 game of Guitar Hero III, she Has to know someone with a ps2), and girl power (a box of fun and odd books about Warrior Princesses and good Fantasy)

When Hubby and I dropped it off yesterday the room was Packed with beautifully wrapped pressies for all ages.

[Morty]

Don't forget The Ramones!!!!!!!!! I Wanna Be Sedated!!!!!

Merry Christmas, and Happy week to all. I realize it is all commercialized crap to a large extent, but, the communities around our small town are coming together more and more in tough times with more food baskets for those in need. AND I made a mega-pressie for a 17 year old girl... 5 pressies all wrapped separately, and all designed for happiness (3 pair of pretty earrings), good feelings (a pair of very fuzzy socks and slippers to match & a fuzzy bathrobe), good times (a playstation 2 game of Guitar Hero III, she Has to know someone with a ps2), and girl power (a box of fun and odd books about Warrior Princesses and good Fantasy)

When Hubby and I dropped it off yesterday the room was Packed with beautifully wrapped pressies for all ages.

Now thats what I call the real meaning of Christmas.
I'm sure the young lady will be thrilled with your gifts Tina.

Hope your Christmas turns out to be one of the best ever.

[poohcarrot]

Lord Morty

I don't expect you to like Rage Against The Machine, but you of all people, should respect them.

They made a name for themselves because of their live shows, which are absolutely mind-blowing. I saw them at the Reading festival in 1993. I'd never heard of them before, but they were by far and away the best live band in the whole three days. I'm sure if you check any thread about the history of the Reading festival, you'll see RATM up there with the greatest performances.

Also if I had to bet, I'd wager that RATM HAVE sold 100 million albums worldwide. I know for a fact that they've had sell-out worldwide tours. If you check the video I posted, you'll see there have been over 10 million hits.

A RATM song was used for the closing credits of the movie "The Matrix". Just how cool is that?

I like RATM. If you check my Bio in the Twerps Peerage thread you'll see that I have a RATM quote as my favourie non-DW quote. Also just two weeks ago I posted a picture of the RATM album featuring the Tibetan monk setting himself on fire and said it was a brilliant album. The very same album that the Xmas #1 comes from!

So Pink Floyd had a Xmas #1 and now RATM have had a Xmas #1.
The delicious irony of it all, is that both songs contain exactly the same lyrics! Both songs are about "thought control by the powers that be", and both are inciting rebellion.

But no, I hear you say, Pink Floyd would never resort to using the "F" word merely to shock and sell records. Pink Floyd would never stoop so low. If you were thinking this, then you'd be dead wrong!
From the Final Cut album, Pink Floyd released the single "Not now John" which entered the Uk sigles chart.
Isn't the first line of this song;

"F**k all that we've gotta get on with this."

PS Have a ----ing good Xmas!
PPS I love you.
PPPS What are you eating for Xmas dinner? How about your own words?