We hope that you are having a wonderful and blessed Christmas surrounded by friends and family and those you love.
Our first year of being online, we posted Linus’ speech from “Merry Christmas Charlie Brown” as it tells the meaning of Christmas and brings back so many fond memories. What we didn’t realize is that for years our friend William Teach over at the Pirate’s Cove had been doing the same thing – long before we thought of it. (Great minds think alike, we guess.)
Luckily for us, Teach even took the time to upload the video to YouTube and so we thank him for that.
Merry Christmas from all the writers, staff and contributors here at Raised on Hoecakes.
Luke chapter 2:
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register. (more…)
Dec 24, 2019
Posted by AAfterwit on Dec 24, 2019 | Comments Off on Silent Night – John Denver And The Muppets.
This year, as is our tradition every year, we end our Christmas musical celebration with John Denver and the Muppets singing “Silent Night.”
Years ago we watched the Christmas special called “John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together.” One of our favorite parts was the singing of “Silent Night.” At the time, were weren’t familiar with the story behind the writing of song. John Denver explaining the origins of the song is a nice touch. (We have since found out that the reason the organ in the church was not working was that mice had chewed through the bellows.)
So while it sounds funny, this is our favorite version of “Silent Night.” Not only did we learn something, but it is easy to sing with and not feel out of place. After all, unlike singing with recordings of wonderful choirs, no one is ever going to accuse Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Waldorf and Stadler or any of the Muppets as having great voices, but yet it works.
This is the album version:
And the version as it appeared on the Christmas Special “John Denver and the Muppets: A Christmas Together.”
To all our friends, to all those who don’t like us, to those at home, to those away, to those surrounded with loved ones, to those who are alone, we wish you a Merry Christmas.
Sleep, in heavenly peace.
Dec 23, 2019
Posted by AAfterwit on Dec 23, 2019 | Comments Off on One Voice, A Flash Mob, And A Godzilla Christmas Tree.
Busy music day as our annual “Christmas Music Extravaganza!” slowly begins to wind down.
Today we are offering something that is not truly a Christmas song, but as it was performed as part of the Holiday Celebration program by the USAF Band, we think it qualifies.
This holiday season The USAF Band offers the beautiful song, “One Voice”…a reminder that together we can create a better world. Watch until the end as one voice becomes a chorus inside the stunning Washington National Cathedral. Let the power of unity light the way throughout this season.
Killard House School is a co-educational Controlled School providing for children and young people with additional special educational needs. These include Moderate Learning Difficulties, Autistic Spectrum Disorder and associated Emotional barriers.
According to several sources, Kaylee has a mild form of autism.
Colin Millar, head teacher at Killard House, said: “For a child who came in P4 and would really talk, couldn’t really read out in class, to stand and perform in front of an audience is amazing.
“It takes a lot of effort on Kaylee’s part.”
The performance here is good not because of any “special needs,” but rather it is great because of Kaylee Rogers. It is difficult to believe how great this child’s voice is. Simply mind blowing.
The lyrics for this version of the song were written by the group Cloverton
We’re going for a “Christmas Music Two – Fer today.
First up, is the song “O Tannenbaum performed by the Vince Guaraldi Trio for the animated TV show “A Charlie Brown Christmas” which premiered in 1965. The show won an Emmy for Best Children’s Programming in 1966. In addition:
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” was voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007, and added to the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry list of “culturally, historically, or aesthetically important” American sound recordings in 2012.
After 50 years, the show is still as fresh and with as timely a message as the first day it was broadcast.
The music is great too.
If you follow us at all, you should know what other song we are picking from the special.
Caution: This song is a known “earworm” and may have co-wrkers wondering why, after listening to it, you are smiling and happy for the rest of the day. (more…)
Dec 20, 2019
Posted by AAfterwit on Dec 20, 2019 | Comments Off on Toby Mac – “Christmas This Year.” (In Legos?)
A Christmas medley recorded by the Glenn Miller AAF band on December 18, 1943.
There is more to this than meets the eye.
Miller, born on March 1, 1904, in Iowa, and his orchestra finally achieved commercial success and, by 1941, was the number one “big band” in the country. When war came to the United States on December 7, 1941, Miller wanted to use his musical talents for the war effort, and he managed to obtain a commission in the AAF in November 1942. (more…)
Let us be sure that those who come after will say of us in our time, that in our time we did everything that could be done. We finished the race; we kept them free; we kept the faith.
