Her comes Santa Claaaauus!
Posted on 10/13/2009 6:01:52 AM PDT by La Lydia
This Christmas season, parents will introduce their children to a legendary sage from northern climes renowned for his unsettling facial hair and unmistakable voice. This man is, of course, Bob Dylan. His first-ever holiday album, "Christmas in the Heart," arrives today, with the 68-year-old ripping through a gaggle of jaunty Christmas carols as if they were so much gift wrap...it's a bizarre and bewildering collection that embodies the rough-hewn traditionalism and forehead-slapping surrealism that's defined Dylan's career. The man's serrated croon isn't just jarring -- it actually gives these chirpy old chestnuts a sense of menace.
And it is awesome.
The arrangements on "Christmas in the Heart" are both overtly cheerful and staunchly by-the-numbers, making Dylan's beleaguered croak sound both maddening and sentimental, kinda like the Christmas season itself.
He throws down the gauntlet immediately with the twinkling pep of "Here Comes Santa Claus," one of the most annoying carols ever written. "Here comes Santa Claus/Here comes Santa Claus/Right down Santa Claus lane," Dylan rasps, making yuletide glee feel more like lunacy. "Must Be Santa" ramps up the insanity to even dizzier levels, with accordions moaning and cymbals crashing away at the speed of polka.
...the slower carols feel creepy...the sparse "I'll Be Home for Christmas" sounds like a reason to bolt your doors...
So...don't let Dec. 25 pass you by without hearing Dylan's take on Mel Torme's beloved "Christmas Song."
As ever, chestnuts are roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost is nipping at your nose -- but this time, the man behind the microphone sounds as if he's trying to dislodge a piece of tinsel from his throat: "Although it's been said many times, many ways, Merry Christmas to you."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
"This is NOT Mel Torme." - Top Secret!
What about "I'm a Lonely Jew on Christmas."
the slower carols feel creepy...the sparse “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” sounds like a reason to bolt your doors...
ROFL
Doesn't Neil Diamond put out a Christmas album every year?
What’s wrong with that? I make my outside workers use a port-a-potty. Otherwise things start disappearing. I think Bob Dylan recorded two or three albums of Christian music. I really liked the first one, “Slow Train Coming.” Had Mark Knopfler playing on it if you are a Dire Straits fan. And Dylan needs more money, via “fast bucks,” like I need a hole in the head. He can afford to do things now just because he feels like it. Also, he is hardly a socialist. He is if anything an old-fashioned conservative and admirer of Barry Goldwater. But I believe, at the core, he is apolitical. Not everyone obsesses on it like we do. If you don’t like Dylan, just say so. No one will take offense.
So much ignorance - so little desire to even engage it.
Best line of the review .. had to read it aloud to my cell mate, uh, coworker.
He's donating the profit from this to charity. Nice job on exhibiting your total ignorance. And that's all the response I am giving to Dylan disparagers on this thread. It's boring and a little sad.
Oh yeah, I don’t know why I missed that. Sorry.
Oh goody, when he donates to charity he gets a nice little tax break on the rest of his earnings, so don’t lecture me on his charity. I am tired of all the old hippies wannabes who still idolize dylan and baez who led the anti-war movement of the 60’s with their protest songs as my friends and family members were sacrificing in Viet Nam, so I don’t forget their efforts anymore than Jane Hanoi Fonda on a tank, thank you very much, THAT gets old to me. I don’t need a lecture on this “icon of the 60’s”
Being an anti-war protester in the 60’s is hardly apolitical I must say. I do not and never have liked his music. I find offense that he is singing Christmas songs, yes, to make money even if it is given to charity. He had to have 2 fifths of Jack Daniels in his dressing room before going on stage in the past, wonder if he will now? My close friends are big fans and so I get all his accolades from them.
All I know is that the rain of frogs is followed by the Cubs winning the World Series. Come on frogs!
No the rain of frogs is followed by the Detroit Lions winning the Super Bowl.
He stopped drinking years ago. He does, however, own a private bar where he likes to pour drinks for his friends.
So far, I’ve been told he converted to Christianity, and then converted back, so I don’t know what to believe. It is possible to be both Jewish and Christian, so maybe that’s what he is, a Jewish Christian...........
Maybe he’s a member of “Jews for Jesus.”
Isn’t that kinda like “Protestants for the Pope.”
Then I think we're safe.
I have heard MUCH MUCH worse. I was expecting this to be excruciating but it wasn’t that bad. Maybe just the 3 songs I just heard.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.