Year-round Yuletide oddities
The Star is the medium and the message. Good news, everyone!
Vanquishing the gloom, “In the Heavens Shone a Star.” Pete Feltman gently gospel-rocks us with the happy heralding of this announcer,
“One Star” from The Orient was bearing those glad tidings with folk austerity. The New Christy Minstrels make it playful, but portentous.
Did the Star of Jesus move, or just stick in the black velvet of Israel’s roof?
Sufjan Stevens does that minimalist folkrock thing he does so well with “Star of Wonder.” It takes a bit to start, but it won’t end. Mesmerizing.
The Star of Bethlehem was like Coming Attractions for humankind.
“See the Star!” betokens Cathy Jones (feat. John Houston) with plonking church piano gospel that may just get you swaying.
That billboard for God’s birthing might be the brightest thing in the zenith. It might do more than simply shine.
Wendy Moses twists up the kidsong with a soupçon of calyspo in “It was a Starry Night.” And it was BRIGHT.
Burning so bright, came Jesica Bennett’s “One Special Star.” Brace yourself for this aria, it’s pithy.
Sheila Walsh updates us on the child, son, savior, you know. But this pop-gospel emphasizes how brightly it was foretold in “Star Song (There is Born a Child.”
It might pierce, or blaze according to Resound Worship in their pop Xian song “See the Star.” Can’t miss the star, more likely.
That interfering atmosphere above us makes the job of a star seem intermittent. The godstar of 0 A.D. may have blazed on the cnadle of the cake of the world, but for us it twinkled.
Well, the kids get it. “Twinkle, Twinkle, Christmas Star” bastardizes the nursery rhyme yet aggrandizes it as well. Sheila Wilson may have stumbled upon the greatest Sunday School earworm ever. Better than the other kidsong versions.)
Not sure how long those wise men took to follow that star (from Nativity to Epiphany), but it must be tiring to fission that hydrogen. So, how about just a GLOW?
Ricky Skaggs does that blue-collar retelling of Joseph and Mary country music loves with “New Star Shining.” It’s still shining today. Powered by some pink bunny battery or sumfin’.
Simon Wolfe gives us a Motown serenade against some south of the Border brass for “Beneath the Stars.” It’s like a Santa-Jesus mix-up dream.
That Year Zero Star that begat our calendar of forgiveness, it shines. Boy Howdy, does it. And other stuff, too.
Canadian grocery chain Sobeys spins a “Star of Christmas” jingle every year. This star doesn’t merely shine up there, but within us! Sing-along propaganda.
“Fix Your Eyes Upon That Star” proselytizes Lisa Bevill. ‘Cause it shines. Everywhere. Gentle country gospel.
Empire of Sleep’s “Star” does its fair share of shining and hiding. It also JUDGES. Don’t leave us alone! Emo alt.
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.
So that star of Bethlehem… what’s it doing pre-xactly? Well, that depends on the carol. Sometimes it just shines.
“Shine Like a Star in the Morning” helps us identify (God knows I’m gonna…) with that blazing point of light. If not Nativity, at least folk power ballad. The Seeger Sisters antiquify it. John Reischmann and the Jaybirds prettify it. Elizabeth Mitchell simplifies it (digging that snare).
It only shines on Christmas Eve, ’cause it’s the “Christmas Eve Star.” So say The Boy From Space. If you believe. Odd alt.
More personalization from NoNameBand with “I am a Star.” The brassy offkey marching music makes me miss Ethel Merman. But the star just brightly shines. (And the song seems to cut off, is this just a teaser?!)
So, what’s this star of JC doing at the first Christmas? Following the lyrics, we find mostly shining.
“Beautiful Star of Bethlehem” is a rite of passage for powerful country pipes. Who sings it best for Christmas?
Coming in at number 5, The Judds deliver unto us a sassy, sultry, nasal number. Kinda sexy.
Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys bring old time religion to make monotone holy.
Rhonda Vincent mixes real blue grass with rebellious youth for a knee splapper.
The Oak Ridge Boys blend together preachy and pure to reach group-power.
Emmy Lou Harris takes the halo despite the rushed strings. Her voice is perfect for this (and most everything else she does.)