8 Christmas No 1

It has been literally decades since I gave a monkeys about who was number one in the charts, probably since Iron Maiden brought out their Number of the Beast album. This year the race for Christmas number one has been fantatstic and I'm very pleased that Rage Against the Machine won it. I have no argument about Joe McElderberry or whatever his name is and I'm sure he's a very nice young man with a pretty face who will sell lots of records over the next few months before becoming an answer on Never Mind the Buzzcocks in 2020 ("Who came 2nd in the 2009 race for Christmas no 1".."erm...Joe something...?"). Honestly, I wish the chap well in his career in an already oversubscribed arena and I may be proved wrong when he achieves long lasting fame and success as a performer and songwriter.

The backlash will probably be fierce from the "moral majority" in the papers tomorrow morning.  However, take this from Gennaro Castaldo, of HMV who said the following to the BBC re RATM

"The expletive-laden song is a "powerful protest", he said, adding: "Rage Against The Machine may not be the ideal expression of the Christmas spirit - and many people will have preferred a more appropriate song to top the festive charts, but their anti-corporate message proved a perfect vehicle through which to register such a powerful protest."

The words of "Killing in the Name of" are powerful and certainly aren't "festive" but what is meant by "festive" lyrics?  Some sort of glowing, romanticised view of the world in which robins dance on the snowy lawn outside while the yule log burns on the hearth and everyone gets wassailed as a newt?  "Mistletoe and Wine"?  Jonah Louis' (excuse spelling) "Stop the Cavalry" song is probably the best Christmas song ever as it has something approaching a message of reconciliation and hope in it.  It isn't jolly (despite the ripping brass band break in the middle), doesn't exude warmth but it is a good song with good lyrics or at least it did until it became an advert for John Smith's beer.

I think "Killing in the Name Of" is the perfect Christmas chart topper.  In my lifetime Christmas has become over commercialised with the pressure on everyone, especially parents, to provide huge amounts of presents or their offspring will feel unloved, worthless and different ("Everyone else is getting Call of Duty when they're 8 years old...").  I would argue that the sentiment of the lyrics of "Killing in the Name Of", if not the exact wording of the sentiment, is entirely in keeping with the spirit of Jesus' ministry.  Bear with me on this while I explain...

Throughout his ministry Jesus openly pointed out the hypocrisy of the religious and political leaders of his time ("Some of those that work forces are the same that burn crosses"), he cured the lame, spoke to prostitutes, threw the money changers out of the temple and refused to be kowtowed by the Sanhedrin, the Temple authorities, the Roman authorities ("F*** you I won't do what you tell me") but, unfortunately, due to humans interpretations of the Bible, we have been "killing in the name of" Him for the past 2000 years and counting.

(By the way, before anyone complains or starts spitting hellfire and brimstone at me, I'm not trying to convert anyone or denounce anyone and certainly don't want to get into a religious slanging match about matters of doctrine etc or to annoy anyone of any religious faith.  I've got an A level in RE, have read the Bible through from Genesis to Revelation twice and am entitled to my opinion & interpretation)

Of course it is ironic that the label RATM are signed to is the same one as Simon Cowell's acts but this is beside the point as far as I am concerned.    They are a band who have written and performed some of the finest rock music of the past 20 years and their longevity is guaranteed.

Now, if you want a truly awful Christmas song and to donate to a good cause, go to www.justgiving.com/statusold where you will find a video of a Christmas song I've written which perfectly sums up the festive spirit whilst raising money Maggie's Cancer Care Charities.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

7 The "c" word part 2: Singing Carols

Now that we are well into the Festive season I feel that I can now say the word "Christmas" without a sense of panic. As a music teacher in a huge school that caters for pupils from the age of 4-18 there are plenty of carol concerts and services to keep me busy at the moment. Four this week, four last week, two next week...

The most positive thing about having a choir involved in several of these performances is that it gives them the chance to perform the music more than once. Usually, for the non-professional performer, you rehearse a piece for months then perform it only once. You get an amazing adrenalin rush at the thought of this one off gig but you also have in the back of your mind the thought that you only get one shot at getting it right and that all depends on one performance.

One of the great things about going on tour with an amateur orchestra or choir is that the performances get tighter yet more relaxed. By the end of even a short 3 concert tour you feel relaxed enough to enjoy the performance and, as a conductor, to really work the performers eg by using rubato and so on, safe in the knowledge that everyone knows the music well enough to move with you. As a performer you get to know the music very well and start to enjoy performing without being a slave to the dots on the page.

The same is true of the Christmas season if you happen to be performing at several events. The choir I run also had to deal with having two different conductors with very different interpretations of the music involved.

The other thing which performances at this time of the year bring to the fore is performing in different cicumstances to very different audiences. In the past fortnight my choir have sung at a church service, a church concert and a private dinner and have done so with great professionalism (average age 15). They've adapted to the differing occasions - solemn, solemn yet light hearted, light hearted yet potentially very pompous - and to the differing acoustics but all the time singing music they have got to know well. The final time they sing this repertoire together, at a huge carol service, they will be relaxed enough to enjoy the performance and experienced enough to deliver a great performance.

So, despite all my usual "bah humbug" at this time of year there is such a lot to be said for singing carols in concerts, services, out and about carol singing and so on. Rehearsals are fine. Performances are great. Several performances over several occasions in varying locations can really bring a group of performers close to their peak.

Obviously I'll be cursing Christmas music once again in October 2010 but, until then, let's hear it for the Green and Orange books!!!!!!!