Year-round Yuletide oddities
Who’s the star? Jesus is the star! Yes, he is! Oh, yes he is! What a good God!
Mary Thienes Schunemann intones “He is the Star” matter-of-factly. So, we’ll leave it at that.
Steve Courtney once again does not disappoint with “Jesus is the Star.” Carrib beats take us into the POV of the star/savior/omnipresence. Ya, mon.
This is an oopsie entry. Didn’t realize i skipped a day. But there’s always one more song to list for any theme.
Sia diva pops “Sunshine” about how good you’ll feel with my comfort. What?
Even more metaphorically, Hot Hot Heat rock the state of mind in “Christmas Day in the Sun.” I’m guessing it’s SoCal burnout.
More funnily, Joel Kopischke parodies up a storm with “Christmas in the Sun.”
Family friendly rock from Aussie Kids Rock with the geography lesson “Christmas in the Sun.” Thirty degrees, Bruce!
The Stage Crew reggae rocks “Christmas in the Sun” like they’re south of the equator (Jamaica isn’t quite the ticket). It’s all love, though. Check the sing-along fervor.
Space, the final stop on God’s tour. All those stars out there, not just the Christmas one.
KindyRock Christmas features Judi Cranston counting down “Five Stars Shining” for Xmas. Or any time math matters.
A lovely annual Aussie tradition is “The Silver Stars are in the Sky.” This lullaby alludes to the Nativity so no pressure, baby. The Idea of North do a killer a cappella on this big church hymn.
Kidsong from The Starshine Singers puts the “Twinkling Stars” into a nearly secular sky. It’s winter, it’s pretty. ‘Nuff said.
Not sure how to keep track of Terra’s solstice from light years away, but “Christmas in the Stars” follows Anthony Daniel’s C3PO listing traditional traits from a far away. Unfortunate pop bordering on disco.
Is it retinal burn? Parallax? Why so many points of light Christmas night? Shouldn’t there just be one?
The Star in the East gets a shout out, but “Great Big Stars” seems to elvate all elements of the first Christmas Eve to heavenly hyperbole. Elizabeth Mitchell swings this old folk song.
Piggybacking off ‘Twinkle Twinkle’ come The Peter Pan Christmas Players with “Praise Him All Ye Singing Stars.” That’s right, the stars all sing to HIm.
“Stars of Glory” might be hinting that every star is an angel, not just the one that spotlit the Baby J. I’m a fan of The Lower Lights folking up this gospel.
Also better unplugged, “Stars were Gleaming” which paints a landscape of that night, achieves divinity from simplification by Nancy Hanson & Kevin Corbett.
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.
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.
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.
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!)
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.
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.