Songs of the Season

If December was a single sound it would be the combination of a dribbling basketball, referee whistle for a jump ball, a trumpet blare, a slide trombone honk, a soprano note, an alto note, a Dad snore, and of course, the peaceful call of a partridge in a pear tree.

With our daughters in the heat of band, choir, and basketball, it is a survivalist countdown to Christmas. Music, as it so often does this time of year, allows for reflection, hearty anticipation, or a healthy escape. The madness we create in calendars, bright lights, and elf migration can be countered by just the right notes at just the right time. 

Without further ado, my favorite songs of this December:

Manchild   Sabrina Carpenter

Didn't see this coming, did you?  Well, you must not live in a house with all women. Far from a traditional hymn, this song hit my airwaves this month and then I did what any traditionalist would do, I looked up the music video on Youtube. It features desert hitchhiking, explosions, an orca, questioning masculine intelligence, bubble bath pigs, and a cowboy chicken. It is four minutes of What The Frosty!?! 

If you happened to drive up our street on one December eve, you could see four humans dancing to the beat, singing high-pitch Manchild and having some sort of epiphany. 

One of the best ways to tackle December debauchery - dance it off by the refrigerator. 

On That Holy Mountain   Joe Mattingly

As members of the Bishop McCort elementary chorale, my daughters sang at the Advent of Christmas Concert. Held every year at St. John Gualbert Cathedral downtown, an adult choir combines with angelic children to create harmonious Christmas spirit. My wife and I got to enjoy this performance after climbing the mountain that is 5th and 6th grade basketball - back-to-back games in an afternoon slugfest. My eldest daughter, to her credit, transformed from scrappy baller to sweet soprano. My youngest, her basketball season over, sang from the front row as an inspired alto. She almost fouled out in one November baseketball game. In December, she melts hearts. 

This song was my favorite piece as it combined the adults, kids, and Mother Nature. "There shall be peace, led by all the children", a monumental line as we climb the mountain that is parenting. Proud of my girls for their gusto and years of praise singing. Grateful to the chorale director for her passion, humor, and Christmas crazed baton leadership. She is fierce and fantastic and fits right in with the kitchen dancing delirium that is our family. 

Silent Night   Joseph Mohr

Before the Advent spectacular concert, my girls performed at their school's Christmas concert earlier in the week, combining talents with the high school students. While there was a lot of highlights and standout performances, a 7-year-old piano player stole the show. His Silent Night quieted one and all. A statement song of calm and radiant beams performed by a brave and resilent young boy. 

This song has stood the test of time. 

And there is always a place for kids standing tall in the face of adversity. 

Days Like These  Luke Combs 

I will be the first to admit, I detest some of the December gauntlet. The hoopla can be a headache and I sometimes feel jarred in the crammed celebrations. Then, I have to take a step back and stop being a silly Manchild running around with cowboy chickens in the December desert. One of country music's top acts has brought me back down from Fa La La La Land with this simple tune. Luke sings of blue skies and the promise of green grass. Of being together and enjoying all of the trees, not just that one symbolic evergreen. 

And as we get closer to Christmas, I will appreciate days like these. Days when my kids are playing hoops and instruments, singing songs, and excited by what is to come. Days when peace on Earth seems like a longshot, but one sensational Silent Night might just get us there. 

To one and all, 

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!