100: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas |
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Album: |
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Writers |
Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane |
Length: |
2:23 |
Notes: |
Look, don't give me a hard time, I know it's the middle of July and this is a song with the C-word. I feel like an absolute bonzo for even mentioning it but the thing is I've been working through these track notes in a methodical manner and this little pot of Yuletide treacle just happens to be welded on to the end of B-Sides so we all just have to deal with it. Actually, if anyone can get away with a Christmas song in July, Katie can. Her voice is just too irresistible for you to care. As Christmas songs go, this one is rather charming and has a more warm, reflective sentiment than many others of the ilk, such as White Christmas, that can sound a little twee in twenty-twentee. The song was written in 1943 for Judy Garland to sing in the film "Meet Me In St. Louis". In its original form it was deemed a little too depressing for sensitive American audiences so the lyrics were tweaked to be a bit more positive for the movie. Even so, the mighty Frank Sinatra deemed them to require even further jollification for his "A Jolly Christmas" album, and since no one dared argue with ol' blue eyes, twas done. And it is Frank's version that Katie delivers here. It is a matter for you alone to decide if you prefer "hang a shining star upon the highest bough" to "until then we'll have to muddle through somehow". The latter resonates more with my vapid existence but I must grumpily admit that the former is a lovelier Christmas line. |
YouTube: |
You're not gonna believe this—there's actual video footage of Katie performing the song. Not only that, but she is introduced by none other than the legendary Two Ronnies. Shut up. I know. Yes, it's ancient and hence embarrassingly low-res but Katie looks and sounds stunning, even if you do suspect she had to wrestle with a hedge on the way to the studio. |
Lyrics: |
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