Terri’s Music Corner Picks – Winter 2009
First, I will start off with a couple of non- holiday picks…
Brandi Carlile – “Give Up The Ghost”
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I know, I’ve already gushed about how great I think this artist is. This album feels even a little more rootsy to me, and less pop influenced. I hear train beats, not unlike early Johnny Cash, and some really country influences.
I still think “The Story” is my favorite; however, the songs “Before It Breaks,” and “Dying Day” on this album are highly relatable for a road dog such as I. She hasn’t put out a less than stellar record yet.
Ingrid Michaelson – “Everybody”
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I first heard her song “Girls and Boys” on Grey’s Anatomy, and a friend of mine suggested I get that album, which I absolutely loved, so of course, I had to get this one too.
She has such simplicity in her writing. Her songs seem to make very elementary, yet bold statements about basic human wants, needs, and dysfunctions.
George Winston – “December”
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This is an instrumental album. It’s not just about Christmas, as it is just about the whole winter season for me. It truly captures a feeling. I personally love winter. I grew up in the snow. There is something about winter that takes me back to my childhood.
This record brings all of those sights smells and sounds of winter to the forefront. I think it is a real masterpiece and I always have it in my player throughout the holiday season.
Diana Krall – “Christmas Songs”
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Christmas songs almost sound like they were made for her to sing. I love the jazzy piano bar vibe she gives to these classics using very relaxing deliveries. The older I get the mellower I seem to lean with my musical tastes. She doesn’t have obnoxious jingle bells ringing through every song (ok, only one, and it’s on the one they belong on.) It’s all done very tastefully, and is a joy to listen to.
Not all Christmas albums are ones that I could listen to any time of year, but that is not the case with this one.
Barenaked Ladies – “Barenaked for the Holidays”
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If you are looking for enjoyable, heartfelt, a little campy, and downright humorous, this is a great album to get.
There are a couple of tracks that truly make me laugh out loud on this record. I listen to it every year. Trust me on this one; you have to be a little twisted to get it though – which, I am.
Nat King Cole – “The Christmas Song”
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OK, this has got to be the BEST Christmas album ever made. His voice resonates on this record in a way that you can feel every note as if he is standing in the same room. I have this on every year for a month straight. It’s totally my very favorite Christmas album without a doubt. Anyone who loves the holidays has GOT to have this.
MaryLou
01. Mar, 2010
Barenaked rock their Christmas album. Love, love, love their sound. A fairly new singer/songwriter (just given to me by friend) is Sonia Leigh. Give her a listen.
Calilifer
15. Dec, 2009
Picked-up Diana Krall, and waiting on the others to be shipped to me. But I snagged “Holiday Spirits” by Straight No Chaser an Indiania Univ. a capella group that is just awesome…
Hope you are still doing well and enjoying the holiday season Terri.
Cali
scott bombik
08. Dec, 2009
funniest Christmas song: Joe Pesic as Cousin Vinny singing “If It Doesn’t Snow On Christmas”.
nobody does a better Italian mob voice then Joe Pesic.
btw,this song is xxx rated
a14kjeep
06. Dec, 2009
The CD I’m waiting for is “Rock Band Country Track Pack” with Terri’s If You Want Fire!!!!! That way I can rock out like you and Anita on the Guitar.
Putting it out there so maybe it will happen.
MissB (ozzgrl)
04. Dec, 2009
Thank you, Thank you Terri for putting me onto barenaked ladies. I smiled and giggle throughout the whole cd.
I’m alone at this time of year(no family as such)but with a very positive outlook on life(just no pressies to open)but I will keep the barenaked ladies close by to play throughout this chrissy season.
Keep smilin’ beautiful soul.
Stay safe, fit & healthy
cheers
B
Kiyoshi Nagasawa
03. Dec, 2009
nice picks.
i love christmas music-two of my kids were born on christmas two years apart.
i think diana krall’s cd has one of the few versions of count your blessings-one of my favorites from white christmas.
rick
aka
little rickey smokes
Amy Warren
03. Dec, 2009
What?! No John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together?!
scott bombik
03. Dec, 2009
I agree the best is Nat King Cole singing “The Christmas Song”
but my favorite as a kid and still now is Maurice Chevalier singing “Jolly Old St. Nicholas”
Bren19
03. Dec, 2009
I am also lovin Rosanne Cash’s “The List” I heard her on Sirius Radio and she told the story of graduating High school and the next day going on the road with her Dad. Riding the tour bus one summer Johnny asked her if she had heard this song and that song and her answer was no. He sat and made a list of songs that would tell about her Southern Roots and American history. He called the list “100 Essential Country Songs”. She held the list for 35 years until she made this CD. I LOVE this CD!
I also listen to Whitney Houston’s “I Look To You” I’ve always been a fan of hers, never seen her. I was heartbroken watching her go so far down in a whole, this is her recovery CD, I pray she continues to be free of her past.
Dick G
03. Dec, 2009
LUV YOU TERRI !!BEST SINGER IN COUNTRY.I ALSO LUV NCIS ..COTE IS SO DAMN CUTE ..really can’t stand abbie& denozo..both are PIA’!!! saw you years ago at Indian ranch I mass on your B-day…got a nice hug too. your the best !!!ly
Les
03. Dec, 2009
“Barenaked For The Holidays” sounds like an excellent choice !!!!!!!!!!!!
Linsey
03. Dec, 2009
I am loving the Christmas albums by Sarah Brightman, Enya and Andrea Bocelli. I must be the only person alive who doesn’t care for Nat King Cole.
Naomi
03. Dec, 2009
Great choices all, TC!
MissB (ozzgrl)
03. Dec, 2009
Hey ya Miss T,
thanks for sharing your music choices for the holiday season but I must tell you, once you said you have to be twisted to listen to Barenaked Ladies, well that’s the one for me. I’m abit twisted too(think I was a failed comedian in a past life). Ok off to track this Album down.
Never lose you humor girl.
Stay stay, fit & healthy
cheers
B
Calilifer
03. Dec, 2009
Dar, you cracked me up!!! Yes, Cote is someone else I’d like to have sing a version of “La Vie en Rose”. I have Diana’s, Edith (of course), and Louis… I’d like to add Terri and Cote. It’d be shiny…. I hope you enjoyed her outfit while she was singing it…
.
Cali
Lynn T.
02. Dec, 2009
I am always interested in your music Terri. For I know it is always sound. I am not much for Christmas, I know I should move on, but, when Christmas has always been awful, it’s hard getting through it sometimes. So, listening to even oustanding music, unless it is humorous…but, I always listen to anything music that’s passed on to me. Thanks.
coolchangehd
02. Dec, 2009
I agree with Terri, Brandi Carlile is awesome. Great singer/songwriter. I’ve got all of her CD’s and I love them all. I’m gonna finally get to see her live in Feb. 2010……woohoo!! For Christmas you can’t beat Kenny and Dolly’s Christmas music. Melissa Etheridge, Kenny Chesney, and the Trans-Siberian orchestra are all awesome as well. I would just love to hear some Terri Clark Christmas cheer too. I just got Sugarland’s new holiday cd and its pretty good, but not as good as their usual stuff.
Bren19
02. Dec, 2009
This is my latest gush http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VFgvknXZ8c You can download Orianthi’s Believe CD from amazon for $5, I love the CD, I’ve always loved a heavy rock guitar from my Rock and Roll days LOL and this young thing can play with the best of them. You can see her in This is it the Michael Jackson movie.
DARLENE PHILLIPS
02. Dec, 2009
Cali…I just read your post! NCIS is one of my fave shows. Cote de Pablo’s Temptation…I drooled. Who knew? Really? Should I have known that she could sing like that? God bless her too.
DARLENE PHILLIPS
02. Dec, 2009
I really need to get serious and order some of this Brandi Carlile music. I think I’d like her stuff, matter of fact I went to her website and listened to a couple of songs. I really like “The Story” also. She also has a song called “Turpentine” that I listened to…I liked that also. She reminds me of someone…I just can’t figure out who…
And for pity’s sakes…I didn’t even know that Diana Krall had a Christmas album out. My word…hello…Quiet Nights…good gawd she’s got a voice. My former boss had one of her cds playing this summer when I was talking to him on the phone, he found her music while traveling this summer. He’s always been into jazz and such-and I never paid attention. I asked who that was…and he sent me a cd. I don’t think I’m allowed to really talk about Diana Krall’s voice as I see fit and such-but that chick can whisper in my ear any time. Absolutely amazing…I’m so brightening up Christmas this year with her cd. Oh. My. Gawd. Seriously. Really. Friggen, eh.
Does everyone our age have Nat King Cole Christmas music? I still listen to his stuff every year. Wouldn’t be Christmas without some NKC.
I would like for Barbara Mandrell to come to my house and sing Christmas songs to me. I have several Christmas cd’s with various country artists on them, and Barbie always brings it. I love me a good BM song…wait…that ain’t right…
Other than listening to the Christmas music that we had growing up I listen to Point of Grace’s Christmas cd. I love this cd, and so do the kids. I could make a joke here about 4 women…but I’d like to wake up in the morning. Anyway…great Christmas cd, full of songs of faith and then some…even idiots such as myself-that one may think have no faith at all in ‘em-love it.
calilifer
02. Dec, 2009
Hey TC, thanks for updating this… I was a little curious to see what you listened to during the holidays. It’s my favorite time of the year and my staff is treated to (usually) pretty good spirits from me for about one month a definite departure from my usual grind lol! I will definitely check out Nat Cole and Diana Krall, and who could pass on the hook of listening to something that makes you laugh since your humor is something that lots of us enjoy
. If you like Diana, you should listen to Cote de Pablo’s rendition of “Temptation” of off the NCIS soundtrack… whoa piano bar… I think maybe the rest of the cd is not your speed, but buy this one song off of iTunes or just listen to the sample… Or let me know, I have the cd so I can mail/email/whatevs the song to you. As long as you don’t report me. 
Anyway, have a great holidays!!!!
Cali
Heather
02. Dec, 2009
ahh holiday picks! perfect!
I grew up listening to Anne Murray’s ‘Christmas Wishes’ vinyl record. For years and years it would play in the background while we opened presents on Christmas morning. Now every year I search high and low for it on CD, but I’ve yet to find it. I could probably find it online, but i’m not one for shopping online. My other two fave holiday CD’s are Martina McBride’s ‘White Christmas’ and Shedaisy’s “Brand New year”. Not a big fan of any of their (shedaisy) other music, but they have an AWESOME holiday album.
Karin
02. Dec, 2009
Terri, in the last chat, you said that recording a Christmas album is something you would like to do. Would it be more on the traditional side, or more on the humorous, sort of “left of centre” side?
I love Christmas but am not a huge fan of Christmas music……not sure why.
Maybe you can change my mind with your own album when you do it eventually and also with your suggestions here…….