Holiday Songs

GLORY TO THE NEWBORN KING   Erin Hannon   “Hark The Herald” classical with a full lyric soprano that rolls her rrrrs.  "Sleep In Heavenly Peace.” The brains behind this master is Stephen Melillo, the music director of the award-winning movie, "One Little Finger" w/ Siedah Garrett, and the longline "Ability in Disability."  

NEVER TAKE LOVE FOR GRANTED Dan Berggren  Shopping in the malls for Christmas. “You’ll never take love for granted if you always give love in return.”  Male bass/baritone and acoustic guitar.  Folk styled.  

GOT MY EYE ON YOU, SANTA  Jody Quine & the Big Mr. C.  Female vocals.  Christmas bells.  Flirting with Santa!  Like Katrina and the Waves meets the Shirelles. 

 

CHRISTMAS IS COMING Leo Schaff   Beach Boys meets Shins. Male vocals. His true love ran around the world, and said she’d make it home for the holidays.  A year has gone by, and he’s singing, “Christmas is coming, New Years is coming,” sand “Will you make it home for the holidays?” 

leightonmedia · Christmas Is Coming  by Leo Schaff

WHY CAN’T EVERYDAY BE LIKE CHRISTMAS  (ballad) Tang a gentle, lush song with stand out chimes, bells, violin, and viola, angels, stars shining, and bells ringing.  Denny Colt sings in a sweet, girl-next door voice and range similar to Cassadee Pope’s or Emma Roberts. 

BadPacRecords · Why Can't Everyday Be Like Christmas_ballad

O' HOLY NIGHT Christmas Passion, Jann Klose: classical instrumental with soaring tenor vocals. voice like Ray LaMontagne and a bold Stevie Winwood or Paul McCartney. 

HANUKKAH IN THE VILLAGE Rachael Sage   mellow piano, singer-songwriter.  Rachael’s observations on the eve of Hanukkah in New York City.




HAPPY DECEMBER Jaclyn Bradley Palmer   Affectionate singalong  that mentions every big holiday: Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, New Year’s into one song! 

More Songs Here: 

leightonmedia · Seasonal--Christmas-Hannakah-December thru January holidays

Patriotic & Topical Songs

Please, let me know what music services you need.  We have Christmas songs. My artists run the gamut of session players and composers--notably the incredible string player Joe Deninzon, keyboardist Phoebe Legere, Grammy-nominated Gary Lucas....  I'm pleased that one of the projects I supplied some talent for--ONE LITTLE FINGER-- won a number of awards, most notably The World Peace Initiative--Best Film in Cannes. 

 

AMERICAN HEART Jaclyn Bradley Palmer:  Dark patriotic pop, inspired by my love for America, yet sadness over its current state.  The slow-paced beat piano and EDM is strong and hopeful.  Like pop Billie Eilish mixed with the dark folk pop of Phoebe Bridgers. 

STAR SPANGLED BANNER Carmine Appice, Tim Bogert & Friends: Only use music between :17 and 3:50) Soulful Hard rock version of the Francis Scott Key song.  Traditional lyrics of “Star Spangled Banner”  to 2:28, and then part of “The Pledge of Allegiance,” and shouts of “Freedom!” “United as One!” “Government for the People!"

THE GREATEST LIVES Thembeka Mnguni:  This song that channels advice from Muhammad Ali’s interviews, with emphasis on respect and working hard. Vocals by Voice South Africa runner up Thembeka Mnguni, whose alto range recall a superheroine version of Etta James and Cissy Houston combined.  Midwestern rock vibe with Rod Stewart/Kenny Aronoff-styled drums by Carmine Appice.  (Sheer Publishing administrates this song). 

HAMBA KAHLE MANDELA (GO WELL MANDELA) Sharon Katz & Nonhlanhla Wanda:  Piano and acoustic and electric guitar, the right amount of harmonious electric instruments give “Go Down Mandela” a comforting blend with two gentle female voices in English and Zulu.  Stirring ballad to say “goodbye” to Nelson Mandela, whose birthday is July 18.  The song is a challenge to carry his lessons forward.  (pronounced HAM-BA-KAH-LE  MANDELA)  (H=soft sound).    

PLEDGING ALLEGIANCE Michael Veitch:  Acoustic music about how easy it was to pledge allegiance to an America that once was.  Old school imagery of Hollywood, cars, sending men to the moon, learning to shoot.  Then things changed to the point money went south, and food taken from the babies’ mouths, and vivid descriptions of climate change. Cross between David Crosby and Marc Cohn.  

POPULAR Rebecca Loebe:  Sweet and gentle song, reminding us that everyone has felt unpopular. Fact is, “it’s not about you anyway.”  Her voice is like a soprano Dar Williams, gentle pop arrangement with tambourine.  This song helped get Rebecca on the bill for Mountain Stage this September. 

2019 Love is in the Air!

Rebecca's latest album GIVE UP YOUR GHOSTS (on Austin's Blue Corn Records) features GROWING UP, a collection of poignant observations on how things change.  Sounding like one of Ed Sheeran's waltzes, GROWING UP''s hook "growing old, getting over it."  

P.S. Rebecca's looking forward to opening for Suzzy Roche & Lucy Wainwright Roche Cookout Concerts in Novato CA 6/2! http://tinyurl.com/yytveyra 

ROLLING STONE loves Rebecca’s album, comparing her “coffeehouse Americana and light folk-pop” to Norah Jones.

 

Rachael Sage has been an inspiration to friends for years.  

"Alive" is such an upbeat song, listing topical possibilities "including microfilm being pulled out of the archive," " the olympics where nobody ever cheats!"  She mentions Frida Kahlo,  and the hook "IT’S GOOD TO BE ALIVE." 

 Dean Friedman's perfect Love Pop song:  PUT YOU IN MY POCKET

Dean has a great Easter song "The Ducks of St. Stephens Green."

PUT YOU IN MY POCKET and other Valentine & Love songs are at

https://soundcloud.com/leightonmedia/sets/valentines-love

AMAZING LOVE by Phoebe Legere is a LOVE song. Someone was that self-centered until YOU came along!  Enjoy the beauty of the video—Phoebe strutting and playing with her squeeze box on an enchanted tropical island.

 .

UNFINISHED by Lisa Sniderman / aka Aoede  

Unfinished is from an album Lisa created (but hasn't released) while writing a book, "A Light in the Darkness", about how she is able to write and record music, score plays, win awards, and many other things while living with a debilitating disease.

https://alightinthedarkness.info 

UNFINISHED is chamber pop, and about reconnecting with lost love, growing up.  It could be used for themes of either Optimism (with a Hollywood Ending) OR Toxic Optimism. Heartfelt, Yearning, Wishful, Poignant, Questioning.

So much distance 

So much unsaid 

We’re perfect strangers 

Under painted smiles  

And I remember 

Remember dreaming 

When we were younger

Oh-we had it all-had it all 

And memories flash in my head    

Back to a time when nothing could break me

Ba ba ba ba da  

Ba ba ba ba da

Ba ba ba ba da-a

If only I could forget you 

Wake up and just regret you 

Ba ba ba da     

Ba ba ba da-a 

Maybe-we’re unfinished

Full of hatred

And foolish games

We blamed each other

Always wanting more-always more

And I closed that door 

I swore I locked it

But I keep trembling

Oh-now you’re here-so near

And we keep playing in my head    

There was a time when nothing could break me

Ba ba ba ba da  

Ba ba ba ba da

Ba ba ba ba da-a

Nothing could break

Do you believe in second chances

Do you believe in charmed romances

oh whoa-oh whoa

Do you believe in second chances

Do you believe in charmed romances

oh whoa-oh 

If only I could replace you 

Wake up and just erase you 

Ba ba ba da 

Ba ba ba da-a

If only I could reject you 

Pretend I never met you 

Ba ba ba da 

Ba ba ba da-a 

Maybe we’re unfinished   

Maybe we’re unfinished

Maybe we’re unfinished

©Aoede/Lisa Sniderman Feb 2017 

Lisa interviews me about how I've been songwriting to share insight on healing and abuse. Lisa Sniderman (AKA Aoede): a quirky folk winner of the IMA, John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and also playwriting contest. She also writes children songs. Sharon Katz is now on tour in North America HAMBA KAHLE MANDELA (GO WELL MANDELA) - Sharon Katz & Nohlandla Wanda:   A stirring and gentle ballad to say goodbye to Mandela and a challenge to carry his lessons forward.  (pronounced HAM-BA-KAH-LE  MANDELA)  (H=soft sound) She continues to lead multi-racial choir performances and marches.

HER OWN LAGOON by Josh Lewis is part Aerosmith/Cheap Trick/Black Crowes: 
The song is about an abused person now in the hospital, and a million miles from the truth.  She’s sending him postcards from her room.  

AMERICAN HEART: Jaclyn Bradley Palmer  

dark patriotic pop, inspired by her love for America, yet sadness over it's current state. The song is still hopeful.

Sounds like pop Halsey mixed with the dark folk pop of Phoebe Bridgers. 
Jaclyn had an amazing time, performing both pop and opera on Ireland's Got Talent this Spring.

Holiday Songs
https://soundcloud.com/leightonmedia/sets/seasonal-christmas-hannakah

JOY TO THE WORLD I GUESS by  Rebecca Loebe and Findlay Napier is topical, about people’s arguments through during the holiday season, and the resolutions we make to fight less, “Joy to the world I guess….  There are friends we no longer will see in the holidays, because they’re shadows in the moonlight on the lawn.”  

https://loebenapier.bandcamp.com/track/joy-to-the-world-i-guess-single

Jaclyn Bradley Palmer Releases Christmas Album Dec. 1

Due out Dec. 1, Jaclyn Bradley Palmer's DECEMBER,
in the singer-songwriter, Americana genre.

On Saturday, December 1st, Lorain, Ohio native, singer-songwriter Jaclyn Bradley Palmer, will release her highly-anticipated holiday album, titled December. It is her 4^th studio album release, and in the Americana/Singer-Songwriter Genres.

Palmer received her vocal training in opera from Indiana University and later became a singer-songwriter in Los Angeles where her music was licensed for TV and film. The new record, which combines holiday classics with original compositions, is a nod to her diverse musical background. “I have been longing to create a holiday album for many years and am so happy with the result,” shared Palmer. “Every winter, the music of Nat King Cole and Johnny Mathis filled my house and really made the home feel like Christmas.  I wanted to contribute to this musical tradition of bringing on holiday cheer in the same way.”

The album was recorded in The Netherlands and includes many guest appearances and collaborations with other singers and musicians, including a duet of O Holy Night with Jeroen Robben, who played “The Beast” in the Broadway production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Palmer’s daughter, Roma, age 4, can also be heard on the album’s last song, Happy Christmas Reprise.

The opening track, Happy December is an ode to all winter holidays and a wish for joy regardless of creed. “I couldn’t think of any holiday song that incorporated Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s and Kwanzaa into a single song,” said Palmer, “so I decided to write one. It celebrates the fact that we are far more alike than different.”

The album’s vintage cover is a homage to Christmas past- an old 1971 photograph of her parents, Jack and Debora Bradley, celebrating the holiday with her uncle, Dennis DelBoccio, and grandparents, Sarah and Dominic DelBoccio- all of Lorain! “When I was home visiting my parents in the Fall, my mom and I went through hundreds of old photographs, searching for a perfect album cover, said Palmer. “I was initially looking for a childhood photo of myself that would be a throwback to holiday tradition and memory, yet when I saw this one, I cried and said, ‘this is what Christmas feels like to me.’ At that moment, there was no question what the album cover would be.”

Last year, Palmer was featured on The Voice of Holland (the TV show that originated The Voice) and was the only American selected for the show. She and her music have appeared on Vh1, MTV, Bravo, HGTV and TLC.  Her award-winning music videos have been named official selection at the Orlando Film Festival, Amsterdam Lift Off Festival, Utah Music Awards (which she won!) and Dances with Films in Hollywood where her latest work premiered at the famed Chinese Theater. Cleveland magazine labeled Palmer one of the area’s “most interesting people.”

The new Christmas album, December is available for download and streaming on mediums such as iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, and albums can be purchased through the artist’s website: www.jaclynbradleypalmer.com.

  

"Capitalist Without A Soul" and Empowerment Songs

CAPITALIST WITHOUT A SOUL is another hummable topical song from Adirondack songwriter laureate  Dan Berggren. 

With images of ways people have been ripped off through the years in this song, like: “hands in your pocket, thumb on the scale,” the hook is “a capitalist without a soul.”  This banjo ditty features the telling lyrics: I sold my soul guilt free” AND “Maybe there’s a small loophole for a capitalist without a soul.”

Capitalist without a Soul 

Hand in your pocket, thumb on the scale

Make me an offer, it’s all for sale
Where conscience was, now there’s a hole 

I’m a capitalist without a soul 

When savings all go down the drain 

When your loss becomes my gain 

So what? I say. That’s my goal
I’m a capitalist without a soul 

When I was born I had a soul 

Sold it for a big bankroll 

Scheming all around the rules 

Stealing dreams from poor fools 

It’s not Robin Hood at your door
I steal from both the rich and poor 

But that’s just me - playing my role 

I’m a capitalist without a soul 

I’ve always done just what I please 

Brought the economy to it’s knees 

When no one looked, I took control 

I’m a capitalist without a soul 

I sold my soul now I’m guilt free 

My commerce lacks morality 

Gandhi said that was a sin
But I’ll do anything to win 

Laissez faire, hands off my pile 

It’ll trickle down after a while 

That’s if oversight takes its toll

 I’m a capitalist without a soul 

If my fortune’s ever lost
I wonder what a soul would cost 

Maybe there’s a small loophole 

For a capitalist without a soul 

© 2012 Dan Berggren / Berggren Music (BMI) tune based on Cotton Eyed Joe, All Rights Reserved

Contact: Anne Leighton: 718-881-8183, LeightonMedia@aol.com, Anne@AnneLeighton.com 

I am working songs to empower people that have been abused.  Too many #metoo people yearning to be free. 

LOVE THE BODIES WE’RE IN by Jaclyn Bradley Palmer 

 a profound, minor-key song about self-and-friendship acceptance   Jaclyn was a contestant on the Voice Holland this past season, and has a new EP: “Be It Wild or Poetic.” 

Here is Rebecca Loebe's "Weeping Willow."  A lot of the songs on her recent album, "Blink" give comfort to everyone that's ever been put down.