chaplin

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

For a short season only, the best Christmas record ever made

It's traditional at this time of year for me to share with a few close friends The Greatest Christmas Record Ever Made. It's called "It's A Big Country" by Davitt Sigerson and it was made in the early 80s. Because of the size of their land-mass, Americans feel distance and separation more keenly than we do, particularly during the holiday. That's what Sigerson's record taps into so beautifully, the idea that you can't possibly get to see everybody but you're thinking of them.
"Merry Christmas, girls, you're crazy, but I guess you know..."

10 comments:

  1. That's one of my favourites as well. I even bought a Davitt Sigerson LP once on the strength of it - big mistake!

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  2. Anonymous10:55 am

    On the subject of Christmas songs I was interested (well, mildly) that none of the regular Word bloggers posted on the Pogues/ BBC 'controversy', a story which I thought would have been ideal for the readership.
    Is it because they, like me, suspected viral marketing at work?

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  3. There's a post on the site about it.

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  4. Anonymous1:32 pm

    Thanks BTP, I've seen it now. I don't usually look past the front-page of the Word site these days because it refuses to acknowledge my existance whenever I try to sign in, and neither does the email help address.
    I stand by my suspicion that this has all been a (very successful) marketing gimmick, but it's worth noting that there is a 1990 Youtube clip with the Pogues and MacColl where they sing 'You're cheap and you're haggard' instead of the contentious lyric.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmrUkB6UElY

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  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  6. Ken: Get in touch with The Word via http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/contact - I'll make sure you're able to access the site.

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  7. Anonymous3:23 pm

    Jona Louie

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  8. Fraser and David - you really must big up your virtual advent calendar far more. It's drawn in loads of friends and relatives to the site from my recommendation, including a growing American audience, even now as the days tick by. It's far too good to be tucked away far down the main page.
    Thank you - I look forward to next year's!

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  9. Sorry Fraser/David - it looks as though my comment above became out of date at some point during today. As you were.

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  10. And of course the Davitt Sigerson song was included on a WORD CD this time last year. I hadn't heard it since the late 1980's and it was great to hear it again. It has been getting a few plays on the IPOD this week I can tell you!

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