Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

Music Monday – Joy A Holiday Collection

November 22, 2010

Today I am starting my reviews of Christmas music and starting with my favorite album Joy – A Holiday Collection by Jewel. There are classics beautifully sung and newer ones that have become classics for me.

The album boasts 7 of the best traditional Christmas hymns: Joy to the World, O Holy Night, Silent Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, and Ave Maria. All are beautifully sung and while the settings may be a little updated, they still remain the songs we know and love and have cherished for generations. My personal favorite? Hark the Herald Angels Sing because she sings the 3 verses we usually sing in church – it is a joyous song of the reason we celebrate Christmas and also sings of the passion to come. My other favorite is Ave Maria which rings clear and beautiful in all its Latin glory.

There are a couple of fun songs as well – Winter Wonderland and Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer, the latter which she sings with her mom – very cool! Again, no messing around too much with the melodies which I absolutely appreciate – anything else would be heresy in my book.

Almost forgot about I Wonder As I Wander which is a lesser known Christmas hymn but very powerfully done here as she sings with her mom without much accompaniment. Now I did look up this song’s history today and it was written in 1933 by John Jacob Niles – the melody is haunting and now that I know it was written during the great depression it makes even more sense that Jewel and her mother sing it very simply.

Now for the newer “classics”. Face of Love is so beautiful and the words so meaningful to me – especially after going through what I have the last two years. Favorite line – “now I know that the skin just veils the soul” – indeed! Why can’t we get past the exterior to the interior of people? She has a melody on here of Go Tell It On the Mountain, Life Uncommon, and God Is Watching Us. I know, the God Is Watching Us is theologically precarious at best, but there are some things in this song that I’ve liked so it doesn’t bother me too much. I do have to sing along with Go Tell It On the Mountain though – I mean who can resist? Life Uncommon is another one of her songs and I think it is a nice addition here even though it isn’t Christmas per se. Favorite line in this song – “No longer lend your strength to that which you wish to be free from”. That’s something to think about!

My favorite song on the whole album – Hands. The words are a lullaby for those of us who have been and are going through tremendous trials in our lives. And it’s a song for all of us especially at this time of year when so many need our help and we can truly be God’s eyes to see our neighbor and share in their sorrows and joys. We can also be God’s hands to help where we can and in whatever way, large or small. We don’t have to give a lot of money or time to make a difference in someone’s life. Many times, the smallest gesture will mean the most.

So, if you don’t have this album, give it a listen and if you have it, dust it off and bring the JOY of Christmas into your home this season.

4 comments
Comments

On November 23, 2010 at 4:46 PM, Val said:

I love Jewel's Christmas album, too!

On November 24, 2010 at 4:39 PM, java_queen said:

It is great - glad there's another fan in the house :-).

On November 24, 2010 at 2:36 AM, dxprog said:

I expect a full write-up on track ten from the first Mannheim Steamroller Christmas album and another for track nine of the second.
(for the uninitiated, those would be God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman and Greensleeves respectively)

On November 24, 2010 at 4:42 PM, java_queen said:

Yes sir (saluting)! Personally, I'm looking forward to my write up on Some Children See Him and Fum, Fum, Fum.

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