My Christmas List

Someone once asked me: What if Christmas were celebrated everyday, would it still be special then? My thoughts? I don't think so. Christmas is special because it's a yearly one-time, big-time deal. The thought of waiting 364 days more before celebrating Christmas again makes the occasion extraordinary. One can argue the same thing about birthdays; but I think there's something more momentous in everybody observing the occasion at the same time rather than in a birthday being celebrated every 3 seconds and only by those who think the celebrator is special. Besides, I don't look forward to my birthday in the same way I do Christmas: Must be the dread of being a year closer to my grave - a morbid idea my English elementary teacher espoused, and which I adopted. Anyway, I love so many things about Christmas that this entry might come in parts. The list begins...

The Songs. Each year, I make a mental note of the first Christmas song I hear over the radio and that becomes my Christmas song for that year. I don't know when this 'tradition' started exactly, but it was inspired by the fact that Christmas in this country starts in September. I thus have four whole months of savoring or tolerating my song. It has not been a good haul this year: Last Christmas by Wham. I didn't think it was that Christmasy, but being the OC that I am, I gritted my teeth and made it my own.

My ultimate favorite is The Christmas Song. Although it evokes an American Christmas with its lyrics of 'chestnuts' and 'jack frost', I still consider it the perfect Christmas song. Simple and short, the song is able to convey anything and everything about Christmas, well, Western Christmas anyway. Indulge me...I love White Christmas. I particularly love Nat King Cole's version with its mix of jazz.

Another favorite is My Grown-up Christmas List, Kelly Clarkson's. I thought the melody was a bit melancholic for lyrics that speak of world peace. Be that as it may, I still love it. I'm not a fan of the song I'll Be Home For Christmas, but Josh Groban's version made me a convert. The song is everything a Josh Groban song should be - soothing voice, perfect delivery - but what I liked about his version are those voice overs by American soldiers who couldn't be home with their loved ones for Christmas. I thought this new addition made the song more significant.

Now on to the local scene, my very own Original Pilipino Music (OPM). Once in my pathetic life did I shriek over Gary Valenciano's Pasko Na, Sinta Ko. I lost interest when the nation adopted it as its National Christmas Anthem. I'm currently swooning over Ariel Rivera's Sana Ngayong Pasko. It's the same sad song as the former, but the latter's more upbeat. The sweetest Christmas love song ever is A Perfect Christmas by Jose Marie Chan. And no, it's not sad. One can go right ahead and think of her special someone while listening to this song without feeling overly dramatic. The melody isn't too slow as to be dragging, neither is the rhythm fast as to destroy the song's sweetness. I'm having difficulty downloading another Christmas OPM favorite: Even Santa Fell In Love by Lea Salonga. It has a nice, easy tune and I find the lyrics heart-warming.

To be continued...