Shine on, you crazy star of Christmas.
“The Shepherd’s Star” usually leads or guides or caused to lie down, but those songs will roll in later. This centuries old chorale has the star shine (beaming refulgent) as it focuses on those guardians of the chosen acknowledging the Lord. That should be enough. Most recordings of this hymnal are echo-y from inside a great cathedral. I like the Early Music New York rendition, for its in-yo-face voices.
May it shine its light on you, Nicolette Larson hopes in “One Bright Star.” from 1985. Power pop galloping into gospel.
Junior Walsh twangs out the country about the “Christmas Eve Star” shining only on him. It hits him like a guitar solo, he’s the luckiest country singer on the face of the earth. Good news’ll do that if you listen.
The stars come out when the song is just right. 1954’s “The Star Carol” again makes a fuss over the baby god, and mentions the shedding its light star. Peggy Lee psychoanalyzes it. Aaron Neville fears it. Tennessee Ernie Ford solemnizes it. But Simon and Garfunkle cuddle it. Aww.