Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Music / TV The 5 Best Songs from A Charlie Brown Christmas
Posted by Henry Stewart on Wed, Dec 26, 2012 at 11:30 AM
I don't care if it's not Christmas anymore. Dave Brubeck's death renewed my interest in cool piano jazz, which left me more susceptible than usual this year to Vince Guaraldi's A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack. It'll occupy a place in my five-disc changer (you guys, what's wrong with me?) well into the new year. But if you don't listen to albums anymore because your attention span has been destroyed by lists on the Internet, here are the key tracks (minus "Linus and Lucy" because it's too obvious, even if it's obviously awesome).
5. O Tannenbaum
If anyone among your family and friends is resistant to a jazzy Christmas, this is the perfect introduction: it's a familiar tune, but it bops!
4. Christmas is Coming
In case you were wondering why the Peanuts dance like that: I'd like to see you think of a better way to show your appreciation of this song.
3. Christmas Time is Here
I mean, you'd think this'd be #1, right? I don't know if I've just listened to this too many times or if I'm just so psyched about other tunes on this album... Anyway, it's nothing against this song. Great song. One of the best Christmas songs ever, for sure.
2. My Little Drum
I want to put this one so high because if there's one Christmas song I can't stand it's "Little Drummer Boy." Guaraldi transforms it into something new by tweaking the rhythm and the melody just enough to make it not the most boring song ever written—to make it pretty and sad and awesome.
1. Skating
That melody sounds like snowflakes! If you ever feel tempted to doubt Vince Guaraldi's genius, remember that he once made a piano turn into snowflakes.
Follow Henry Stewart on Twitter @henrycstewart
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