Month: August 2020

Following That Star (still)

It’s the bottom of the ninth, inns are full, here comes the star of Bethlehem… watchagonnadew? I recommend comfortable desert shoes.

The Waltons collab on a barely needed TV reunion to sing bunches of songs, including the tolerable folk pop “Follow That Star.” Apparently staying that course is all you need. Now you’re good.

Mariah Carey emboldens the cartoon movie ‘The Star’ with the title track, “The Star.” Unnecessary tremulo, belting out the ends of lines, whispery bridges… yeah, it’s her.

Countryside Church warbles out some thrashing rock guitar pop with “Follow That Star.” It’s neatly combed hair rock.

Follow That Star

Find that savior, find that savior, find that savior! You’ll get a new way of spending Sundays, a hashtag, a paid holiday on 12/25… just follow that star!

Children’ll do it. “We’ll Follow That Star” is attributed to Songs for Children. They sing great, too. A sprightly kidsong march.

Look up! calypsoes The Starshine Singers, so you can espy “The Brightest Star in the Sky.” Might as well follow it, as–well–that’s a thing, innit? Then they clean up their act and sing “Following the Star.” It’s like part two.

“Rise Up Shepherd and Follow” is pretty much the whole hymn (add in a Star of Bethlehem ref), here simplified in tutorial form by Charles Elmer Szabo. Thanks.

Odd alt from MusicBodySpirit, which cautions us to follow “The Christmas Star 2020.” Perhaps this is irony.

It’s a love thing! Ashley Lagunas goes alt-pop with a romantic ballad about how “Following the Star” will get her nearer to You. Aww.

Star Men (3)

Okay, we can’t have a Christmas Star without those three wise men.

Wendy Webster reduces the concept to nursery rhyme doggerel in “See the Wise Men Follow the Star.” Something to provoke the very young.

JJ Heller returns us to real music with a fresh take on ‘We Three Kings’ as “Star of Wonder.” It descends, musically, into the men. But you know part of it.

The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir R+Bs the gospel with “They Followed His Star.” Righteously cool.

John Burland has a hand-clapping pop singalong with “Christmas Star.” The wise men become we at some point, but you follow after all.

David Dunn has a jazzy interp on the ‘ancient astrologers,’ entitled “Star.” This is a fun bebop journey on the old story.

Star Guides

It’s leading, it’s guiding, it’s got a map unfolded and a ray pointing… Look! That star!!

Studio Musicians (!) set a military march beat for their caravan figuring what to do “With a Star That Bright.” It’s definitely guiding us, hup to.

Slim Whitman lends his charisma to “Star of the East.” It’s guiding us all, my children. Hope. Tranquility. Eternity. Go on, now. (Judy Garland‘s take on this is much less reassuring.) (Oakwood Waits make a stentorian antiquity out of this–yowza!)

Star Leads

Time for the Star of God to get to work. Lead those magi, heeyaw.

‘We Three Kings’ references that point of brilliance leading them, and Phil Wickham has a lovely electronic re-imagining with “Star of Wonder.” It gets a bit percussive, so you’d better be prepared.

Kathy Mattea’s “Brightest and Best” features a star, the horizon adorning, that leads. That’s it’s whole deal. Let’s go. Thanks for the sort-of country updating, KM, ‘cuz the original hymn is a whole ‘nother deal.

Star Questions

Can’t miss that titanic twinkler in the East. Seems important. What’s it all mean?

Where’d she go? lonesome David Pomeranz wants to know from the “Christmas Star.” Pop music knows know boundaries.

Doubters gonna wonder. Paul Baloche goes country ballad with “Follow That Star,” but he has some posers before he takes it on faith. And gets the ultimate answer (which is the star).

Peggy Watson has the shepherds ask the “Star of Wonder” what to do with an uplifting pop folk round table. (That’s so good, i’ll listen to Sweet, Hot, & Sassy! sing it, too!)

Kidsongs love to ask the questions, because that’s how proselytizers trick ’em! (And because that’s basic human development.)

Starshine Singers point out “There’s a Star in the Sky” with their timpani. Where does? Who knows? Let’s find out! It’s a real puzzle.

Kidzone goes haunting alto with “There is a Star in the Sky.” Tell me, what can it mean? Then the answers come aplenty. So, presents. And glory.

Star Showing

You know what the Christmas Star is for! Showing, not telling.

Ash strolls over a lava field in his snow suit rocking out how “There’s a Star” in the night sky which brings hope and other dreams of a new age.

Here, here, here says “The Christmas Star” from the Wiggles. So short, it’s not any genre at all.

Golden Apples sweetly (shrilly) tells us how the “Pretty Little Twinkling Star” shows us where Jesus lies. Glistening, streaming, it seems quite fluid. Insistent kidsong.

Star Beckons

Let’s anthropomorphize that Star of the Nativity a bit more.

Diamond Rio compares the beacon with a candle in the wind in “The Star Still Shines.” It beckons, wise men. If you lose your way, you get this hint o’ light. I mean today.

It shines, it dispels, it beckons, it guides all y’all. “Star of Wonder” from James Loynes is middle of the road easy listening for a grand recital showing. What a busy star.

Star Looking Down

So, is that star over Bethlehem just hanging out? Is it just there, like passively looking? Or is it watching? Check it.

A busy busy “Star” from Liz Vandervelden is asked to come, watch; then shines, guides (to the tree). It’s like a nine-year-old wrote this catchy kidsong!

Johnny Reid’s “Winter Star” gets country jiggy with the folk stylings, calling out the light of love and peace for agency. Lead us home.