Santa Saw A Rabbi & Gave The Strangest Remark

Santa Baby - Reverend Run & The Christmas All Stars 

The Reverend Run version of Santa Baby has always been one of my favourite non-traditional Christmas songs [click here to see the video, courtesy of Yahoo! Music]. On this Christmas Eve afternoon, while helping my parents clean and prepare their new apartment for moving in, I was jamming to what is probably one of my favourite Christmas albums of all-time.

There are always the never-failing standbys. Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas, Michael Bublé's Let It Snow!, and of course, the Very Special Christmas series . . . but what about those of us who crave some R&B-flavoured yuletide Christmas jams?

My album of choice is surprisingly little-known considering the star power it packs into 16 tracks. The Soul Train Christmas Starfest boasts artists ranging from Boyz II Men to Kirk Franklin and everyone in between. This 1997 release catches groups such as Az Yet and Immature at the top of their games and even features Rome taking a wonderful turn at Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.


Don't bother looking for it on iTunes though, as it is not listed. I originally had a cassette copy of this compilation. When that was lost, the only way I could get my hands on a CD copy was through Amazon.com . . . Definitely worth the effort and perfect for lovers of pre-millenium R&B.

Take a listen:
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Immature

Oh Come All Ye Faithful - Az Yet

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Rome
Every Year, Every Christmas - Luther Vandross
It's Christmas [All Over The World] - New Edition
Give Love On Christmas Day - Johnny Gill

When The Cold Wind's Blowing Snow Drifts Through The Pine Trees

All That I Want - The Weepies 

There's something in the air. Can you feel it? It's that tingling buzzy buzz feeling I get every year at the end of November . . .

It starts with my birthday, followed the week after by American Thanksgiving. Then you walk into a mall and boom! Trees! Ornaments! Twinkle lights!

Because guess what? In a few short weeks . . . it'll be Christmas - my most favourite holiday of the year. The atmosphere in the city becomes electric. Mix that in with family gatherings, get-togethers with friends, the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships, and feeling like you're on the verge of something.

Then a short week after that? The New Year.

This year, the feeling will last even longer. You better believe it will. Six weeks into the new year, Vancouver will play host to the whole world at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

I, for one, am looking forward to this winter like none other before. Here's to winter!

Stopped Dreaming Of Your Face, Now I Don't Dream At All

Somedays - jacksoul

Heard some news from the Canadian music scene today and it made me very sad. And unfortunately it happened on my birthday.

Haydain Neale, frontman for Juno-award winning R&B/soul group jacksoul, passed away at the age of 39 after a seven month long battle with lung cancer. Like many Canadian musicians, jacksoul kind of got lost in the shuffle, trying to compete with their counterparts from our neighbours to the south. How could they compete with acts such as K-Ci & Jojo and all of their financial backing?

Luckily, because of CanCon, jacksoul got a decent amount of airplay within Canada and some of us were privileged to know their music. When thinking about the type of male voice I find attractive, Neale's was always amongst the ones I'd pick out. What a strong, masculine baritone he had. But unfortunately, Neale has passed just a few short days away from the release of a brand new album.

jacksoul's song "Somedays", from the 2000 album Sleepless, was the particular song I had on repeat when dealing with a certain heartbreak back in the day. It's still one of my favourites. For your listening pleasure:



If you don't know jacksoul or had forgotten about them during their recent hiatus, I urge you to take a journey into their world. They just might touch your soul.

Rest in peace, Haydain Neale
09.03.1970 - 11.22.2009

Stacks On Deck, Patrón On Ice

Whatever You Like - Anya Marina

It's officially the DAB [day after birthday] and this particular birthday did involve the nasty Mexican evilness called tequila. And if you're going to have tequila, you want it to be Patrón.

Makes me think of this song I discovered while watching a recent episode of Gossip Girl. Apparently Anya Marina had wanted to cover a hip hop song for awhile and when she heard TI's chart-topper, she knew she just had to do this particular song.



She has an interesting voice with an innocent quality to it, which makes for an interesting juxtaposition with the subject matter of this song.

I actually prefer the work she's done in her own genre. Reminds me a bit of the popular-after-Apple-used-it-in-an-ad song "Bruises" by Chairlift. Her latest full length album is sophmore effort Slow & Steady Seduction: Phase II, released late '08/early '09, depending on the source.

Take a listen:
Vertigo
Two Left Feet
Waters Of March [Águas de Março]
Cowboy

You'll Make Me Work So We Can Work To Work It Out

Haven't Met You Yet - Michael Bublé

I am failing epically at keeping this blog updated. Apologies . . . though I'm sure I've lost a few readers with inconsistent posts.

Excitement around the corner. My nearest and dearest know what's up. But I can't quite announce the news yet. Though if you pay close attention, maybe you can figure it out? I'm in a countdown, you know. Less than 100 now.

In the meantime, my nephew Colby has started hockey lessons. Regular skating wasn't really working out for him. He's now enrolled at the Hong Kong Academy Of Ice Hockey, which is run by Vancouver native and former NHLer, Barry Beck [LA Kings, NY Rangers].

He's just in beginner lessons for now and it's only him and another little boy named Justin. Two of them to one instructor is pretty good. Halfway through his first lesson he came off the ice whining that it was hot. My sister had put him in jeans under his hockey gear. I don't know what she was thinking. Colby seems to like it though. I will nickname him CoHo and try to score an endorsement deal with Koho . . . Draft class of 2023?

I will see you soon . . .

And The Rain Turned Into Tears Upon Your Face

Lost - Michael Bublé

This is breaking my spirit.

- mobile post from my iPhone

There's No Winning This, The Battle's Just Begun

Where Do We Go From Here - Deborah Cox

I keep setting deadlines for myself. And they keep passing.

I fail. Epically.

Show Me That Smile Again

As Long As We've Got Each Other - B.J. Thomas & Jennifer Warnes

Alright . . . time for my first real post of this year. I can't believe it's already May! Where has the time gone? I haven't written in five months. That's got to be a new record or something for me.

But I guess there's a good explanation. There really hasn't been anything significant to write about lately. Same place, same job, same people . . . I'm getting so bored of it all. I actually have half a mind to just pack up and move back home. It's what I've wanted to do practically since I got here. But there's a complication.

Life hasn't been kind to be lately. And I know it's mostly my own doing too. But I'm having hard time figuring out how to dig myself out of this one. I've started to . . . but it's not enough.

Thing is . . . if I'm not happy where I am, how could I ever be expected to put in as much effort as I should? Part of me really thinks that I've used up all my good luck. I went from university straight into my first post-grad job. Then from that job straight back into school. Everything has always transitioned so easily. Now what?

Most people would just say, "If you want to be back in Vancouver so badly, then just go." I see their point. What's holding me back?

My friends have been great lately . . . tons of support and encouragement . . . they've really helped me keep my head above water through all of this. The old reliables . . . and one I thought I'd lost forever. It's good to have you back. After all, you probably do know me better than anyone out there. My friends are the ones keeping me smiling.

[It's a lazy night in for me . . . for some reason I've been reading my old blog. In some ways I'm still the same . . . but in other ways . . . geez I'm so happy not to be in that place anymore.]

Your Heart Is True, You're A Pal And A Confidante

Thank You For Being A Friend - Cynthia Fee

Earlier this week, Bea Arthur passed away at the age of eighty-six. I hadn't paid much attention to her career after the heyday of The Golden Girls, but last night I found myself heading over to Youtube and looking up that old familiar theme song.

Then for the next half hour, I ended up linking to all these different clips . . . of theme songs from the past . . . and I'm talking the ones from shows in the early to mid-80s . . . ones you might not remember until you hear them. I was pretty young when most of these shows were on . . . I guess I have my sister to thank for exposing me to them. =) Sit back and take this journey back with me, would you? I bet you can't help but sing along!!!

Perfect Strangers [also came across the Dance Of Joy - a comment said "Balki was like an early Borat . . . hahaha *high five*]


Silver Spoons [Who would've thought little Ricky Schroder would grow up to be NYPD Blue? I always wanted his cool train.]


Gimme A Break


Punky Brewster


Facts Of Life


Charles In Charge [Starring a pre-Baywatch Nicole Eggert!]


Who's The Boss?


Mr. Belvedere


Head Of The Class


Family Ties [I *heart* Michael J. Fox!]


Growing Pains [darn, couldn't find the version with Leonardo DiCaprio in it . . . the younger Alan Thicke picture looks EXACTLY like Robin Thickes does now]


The Greatest American Hero


The Hogan Family [Josie Bissett pre-Jane Mancini on Melrose Place and Josh Taylor before he was Dylan McKay's father on 90210!]


Out Of This World


Empty Nest


Quantum Leap [Can't find the proper visual for this, poop.]


A Different World [Dwayne Wayne - just saying that name makes me laugh.]


Hanging' With Mr. Cooper [Wow, all En Vogue stylez.]


They don't make theme songs like that anymore. Bet some of those put a smile on your face!