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 25, 2021
Posted by AAfterwit on Dec 25, 2021 | Comments Off on Christmas: “The Best Christmas Morn” – Phil Keaggy.
This year, as is our tradition every year, we end our Christmas Music Extravaganza 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.” (more…)
Dec 23, 2021
Posted by AAfterwit on Dec 23, 2021 | Comments Off on Christmas: Christmas Carol Fantasy – Philharmonic Youth Winds
The classic Christmas song “The Little Drummer Boy” has been around in many versions since it was written by Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. The first group to record the song was The Trapp Family Singers in 1951 (yes, THOSE Trapp Family Singers portrayed in the Sound of Music.)
For years our favorite version of the song has been one that is performed by the CCM group White Heart (see below.) It was unlike anything we had ever heard of before, featuring the vocals of Rick Florian who had such a mind blowing range and power. (more…)
Dec 20, 2021
Posted by AAfterwit on Dec 20, 2021 | Comments Off on Christmas: “You’re A Mean One, Mr Grinch” ~ Dr Seuss
We don’t care if Dr. Seuss is under attack from the left. This is a classic.
“You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” is a Christmas song that was originally written and composed for the 1966 cartoon special How the Grinch Stole Christmas!. The lyrics were written by Theodor “Dr. Seuss” Geisel, the music was composed by Albert Hague, and the song was performed by Thurl Ravenscroft.
Dec 19, 2021
Posted by AAfterwit on Dec 19, 2021 | Comments Off on Christmas – Carol Of The Bells Two Fer (Strange And Beautiful)
Although we have already done a video with the song “Carol of the Bells” this year, we came across a video that is so “different” that we wanted to post it.
To contrast the “silliness (?)” of the first video, we added a second rendering of the song with a Bell Choir. It’s beautiful.
