The Best Holiday Music Ever Made:A Winter Romance
NEIRAD enilno edition
In my search for the absolute best holiday music on the planet I came upon the enthralling melodies of Dean Martin’s “A Winter Romance.” This beautifully sung and beautifully produced album of holiday music includes chillingly harmonious hits like “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” and “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
The album came out on November 16th, 1959. This was a time of white-picket-fenced happiness, Levittown’s (suburban complexes of the 50’s that supplied everything a person would ever need!), and an ignored war in Korea. I am bringing this delicious piece of holiday history back to the light because of how much better it is than the current crop of holiday music on offer this season.
Modern music like “Christmas Songs” by Jars of Clay or “Wintersong” by Sarah McLachlan just doesn’t cut it for that warm Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/etc feeling that we all love. That warmth in part, derives from the “stacticy” recording equipment of the fun 50’s, not the sad and the current dreary lyrics of Sarah McLachlan and friends. People want to be happy during the holidays so that they can ignore the awful weather and of course not think about spending hundreds of dollars on Chinese assembled plastic at Toys R Us.
Dean Martin had a dream when he sung his music. He wanted to use his talent and charm to make the yuletide season a time of happiness and good cheer. His voice has become the benchmark for lounge singers. It is deep and rich, not to mention chock full of holly jolly Christmas happiness.
His covering of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” nearly brought tears to my eyes the first time I heard it. The second time I had to turn the music off because Christmas is still far away. The part that really gets me is when Dean Martin sings “All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names. They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games.” I don’t want to go out too hard too early with my holiday cheer. Otherwise I’ll be awakened to the fact that my five-year old sister gets eight times the presents I do or that midterms are coming too quickly. Not to mention the failing economy, high price of heating, global warming and the ridiculous price of milk that could create an eggnog deficit.
Dean Martin’s “A Winter Romance” not only lets me live in denial of the things in life that stress me out, but it also brings that good ole politically correct Christmas spirit I desire so much. Nothing makes me happier than sitting by the fire with these melodious tunes accompanying me as a comfortable blanket of piano, strings, and Dean Martin’s soothing voice. Nearly 50 years after it was first recorded this album is still the best holiday music available on earth. Yes, even better than “Feliz Navidad” or “Dominic the Donkey.”
