Holiday Songs - Christmas, New Years & a Sarcastic Birthday Tune

 

Every Little Light, The Slambovian Circus of Dreams  For covers and radio only as this song lifts “Do You Hear What I Hear?” male vocal, Christmas folk-rock, with bells and electric guitar, open hearts, "wish the whole world were friends" celebration of lights on Christmas night, the importance of individuals, thinking like a child, peace, love for the whole world.

Robeone Christmas (instrumental) Robeone triumphant Christmas instrumental, all keyboards Used: Korg Karma. Mellotron 4000D, Roli Seaboard, Expressive E Osmose, Yamaha S80, Technics KN7000, Moog Sub 37, Kurtzweil K2000, ASM Hydrasynth  

Santa’s My Mum  Tony Moore thoughtful anthem ballad w/ bells, male vocal, this song pays tribute to his mom, keeping alive her tradition of perfect childhood Christmases, and he snuck down the stairs early in the morning and she was there, keeping him quiet. 

New Year  Izzy Meth tenor young voice, Kind of Mumford meets Lumineers meets Bob Dylan melody, about New Years, hopeful lyrics that could be about untapped potential or sticking to resolutions even though we know we should, seeking goodness in the new year, mentions "g-d"  

Just Another Birthday Song  Dean Friedman  music hall meets pop, tenor, witty, fun jabs at the birthday boy, "give thanks that your dad wasn't shooting blanks." "thank your mom for pushing you out." Mentions “isolation” from the Pandemic era

Glory to the Newborn King  Erin Hannon / Stephen Melillo classical music with a full lyric soprano that rolls her rrrrs, and "Sleep In Heavenly Peace"   

Five Days of Christmas  Elliott Murphy The story of Linear coming off his meds and coming to visit an easy-to-anger brother over the holidays. Bad boys, gangster, visual lyrical storytelling. 

Love & Valentines

Love We Need You Here Tony Moore slow, acoustic with ambient sound, keyboards, electric guitar build up, like a Pink Floyd ballad, It's a prayer to a higher power, "love remove the fear... don't leave us lost and alone." 

Love Will Blind a Woman  Suzahn Fiering gentle acoustic song, sort of young Joni Mitchell tones, "Love will blind a woman though she knows it ain't right" about a gal smitten by a charming guy, 'even tho' she knows it ain't right" https://open.spotify.com/track/3SPPgUVPHOGOoCSC2l9ahE?si=ae6bb27a0f4b43a4

Tell Me, Elliott Murphy rock, song, electric guitar, male vocals like Lou Reed, "tell me" is the hook. The guy is fighting not to end a relationship, and find ways to stay close to his soon-to-be- ex lover

Made for You Phoebe Legere upbeat female vocal, made for you, can't you see I was made for you. From "Toxic Avenger"

 

Chasing Leaves Joe Matera instrumental, guitars and keys including synthesizer, treated guitar, ambient, midtempo, repeated themes with a little variation.

 Fallin’ In Love  Jenn Cristy  seductive female vocals, R&B, funky bass & drums, has majestic piano solo, similar rhythms to "Tighten Up" foreplay, losing myself in the music of love, "baby we could fall in love" 

A Rose for Your Stone The Kings  male vocals, Americana with horns and accordion, spaghetti western sounding, a winning gunslinger returns home to find his true love is dead, all he can give her is a rose for her (tomb) stone   

Love Killer  Jaclyn Bradley   lush, slow tempo, dream pop alto female vocals, ambient, Madonna tones, theme of loving and losing, love killer, let it all hang out, I'm here for the dream of love. 

Love the Bodies We’re In  Jaclyn Bradley  female vocals, acoustic guitar, gentle tempo, intimacy, song on self-love and intimate connection "love the bodies we're in" "crawl into my bones, give me your skin"

Christmas in July

I'm thankful to be promoting superhero musicians and songwriters--most lately The Kings, Brian Tarquin, The String Revolution, Robeone, Jaclyn Bradley, The Bluestone Sisters, Tony Moore, Refestramus, Joe Deninzon.....  

First, here are some of my holiday songs--all of which I'd love you to consider.

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

Kwanzaa’s Pure Light Yocontalie Jackson & the Jennifer Tibbetts Singers  gospel, percussion, flugelhorns piano, mid-tempo, spoken word and singing, female leadsinger & teenage children choir describes what Kwanzaa is and how it's related to "our African past." celebrate community & words that rhyme like unity, responsibility   

Peace A Dream Robeone  (instrumental, multi keyboards, including acoustic piano and synthesizers, notably a moog. instrumental, slow and steady tempo, flowy, mystical, adventures music starting with a piano and then a range of electronic keyboards  

Tchatchkes Latkes  Rachael Sage She sings the ingredients in this festive ditty which sounds good late night/early morning. Gypsy Oom PahPah Waltz with festive instruments. “Onions Peppers Oy Gevalt!”  

This Christmas  The Kings Harmonic pop rock. Elvis Costello, Smithereens-y, celestial chimes.  the theme of the song is wishing for love for your family who is so far away and for strangers that are alone. Canadian Content.   

Auld Lang Syne Tony Moore  Gentle thoughtful, elderly British-sound voice, tenor,"we'll take a cup of kindness"  piano is lead instrument.  It builds into dramatic orchestral key change.

 Jody Quine & the Big Mr. C's recording of my song “Got My Eye on You, Santa” is a dream come true for me as writer.  It's perfect pop song inspired by 1960s girl groups and beloved Katrina and the Waves. 

 Brief updates on some of my artists.

 Jaclyn Bradley's new single, Hometown is live on streaming media. 

Robeone, who's been cheerleading for the Moogseum, is finding interviews about the Moogseum's 5th Anniversary and Bob Moog's 90th Birthday.  He's due an album, "Optimistica," late September on Transglobal Music/Orchard-Sony. Visit his new storefront at https://thebandwagonusa.com/collections/robeone. If you're in Asheville, Robert's got a storefront at the Moogseum at The Moogseum is at 56 Broadway Street, Asheville, NC 28801.  

Tony Moore's "Awake" is a one-man multi-media story with music and metaphors about being a caregiver for his mum, who was struggling with dementia during the pandemic. Iron Maiden's Steve Harris is one of his angels. He performed the show in Somerville, MA; Albany, NY; and New York City at The Cutting Room, and throughout the UK opening for Steve's band British Lion .  Here's the Trailer:  

The Kings' new album "The Longest Story Ever Told" is finding airplay, including on Voice of America, which interviewed the group this past week for Larry London's show, "Crossings." Their song "Nowhere to Go But Gone" is The Summer #RoadTrip Song! 

Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius signed a record deal with Trey Gunn's 7d Media (City Hall Distribution), which is home to the new Michael Shrieve album "Drums of Compassion."  Joe’s "Impostor!" album will be out on October 11 with the single "Outrage Olympics" out September 6.  Joe's available to record strings for your music. 

Refestramus, a stupendous prog rock band, helmed by Wizard/drummer/songwriter Derek Ferguson. ProgUK says the group's “Intourist” is “likeable, uplifting… a home-cooked slice of melody rich prog… the smile on its face is infectious.” The new single "Side Hustle" has a Jethro Tull flute sound, and is being promoted to radio by Powderfinger. 

I help with tour press for Grammy winning The String Revolution, who will be in Texas, Florida, California, Virginia before the end of 2024. Some of the dates will be opening slots for the California Guitar Trio, the others for Tommy Emmanuel, who shared the Grammy with TSR for "Folsom Prison Blues."  The group does its own music licensing, Check out their cover of Michael Jackson's "Billy Jean."

Brian Tarquin & Heavy Friends' "Beyond the Warrior’s Eyes" album is mainly fusion with collaborations with electric violinist Jean Luc Ponty and great guitarists including Robben Ford and Steve Morse. The final track on the album is a vocal by Phil Naro, “These Colors Don’t Run.” Flag patriotism. 

Fall 2022 Playlist for Covers, Syncs, Radio

I chose Look Around by the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, because it feels like the good people that gave up on public service years ago are looking around, and getting together to work on solutions that will make a difference. This folk rock band is fronted by Joziah Longo.  The band has an incredible time at Cropredy this past Summer, and came out as the Festival Favorite. 

Dan Berggren, who was my radio teacher at SUNY Fredonia, is celebrating 55 years on the radio. This veteran songwriter's "Free to Read" is midtempo folk with a marching beat, acoustic guitar, bass male vocals, "We need to be free to read." He sings a list of books that have been banned: To Kill a Mockingbird, Beloved, American Psycho, Harry Potter, Diary of Anne Frank..... 

danberggren.bandcamp.com/track/free-to-read

I Cry For You by Tony Moore is about Tony's emotional struggle as his mom went through dementia, Sounding a little like Yes' Jon Anderson, the symphonic pop-rock song shares his memories of her both during and before the diagnosis.  The former Cutting Crew keyboardist recently co-wrote "Love Never Dies" with Julian Lennon on Julian's new album, JUDE. Tony is currently working on his critically acclaimed one man show and album called AWAKE.  

Extremist by Kathy Zimmer is an upbeat & layered indie pop, female vocal about finding balance within the love and hate of a close, person relationship. Her rich alto sings, "You make me happy and depressed"  kathyzimmer.bandcamp.com/track/extremist

Robin Lane's new album, "Dirt Road to Heaven" has Americana and Folk stylings.  She's been performing this music sincethe 1990s. "Woman Like That" combines Native American roots and British and New England folk stylings, and is about being stalked. Woman Like That | Robin Lane (bandcamp.com)

 

You Hold My Soul, by Nicole Bacher, explores themes of gratitude and dedication towards her partner for their journey together ... He helped her fight depression. "You made me whole let me be bold you hold my soul." One of my Toastmasters' buddies is a corporate headhunter and wrote, "Great energy and you can tell they are working together so well as a team" and "The song is great." 

“Take Your Medicine" by electric violinist/vocalist/prog rocker Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius deals with hypocrisy. The song confronts a liar and watches him run away "You can never win, take your medicine" A live version of this song is available for radio programmers as it appears on the group's upcoming double CD/DVD/Blu Ray "Behind the Curtain: Live At ProgStock."  

 

 

Christmas in July: Holiday Songs for 2021

Auld Lang Syne Tony Moore  Gentle thoughtful, elderly British-sound voice, tenor,"we'll take a cup of kindness"  piano is lead instrument.  It builds into dramatic orchestral key change.  

In the Bleak MidWinter (Instrumental) Hank Wedel & Ray Barron Jr instrumental midtempo, of the classic hymn with piano, Irish bazouki, soothing concertina, guitar. 

 Away In a Manger Cindy Hulette / Stephen Melillo Gentle and Orchestral, Cindy sounds a little like Kate Bush with an orchestra and sleigh bells. 

What Child Is This  Jann Klose / Stephen Mellilo orchestra with triangle and chorus  vocal: tenor, thoughtful interpretation, slow, mysterious, and wondering interpretation. bells, the whole story of Christ in the lyrics.

Road to Bethlehem  Dan Berggren   Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem, discussing the politics of the day and the options she has for giving birth to baby Jesus. Gentle voice and acoustic guitar. 

Some Say Channukah  Dean Friedman Live Recording, a singalong with kids, that includes laughter Ha-Ha-Ha-Hannukah AND singing comments on how “Cha-NU-Kah” could be pronounced!  They sing about other seasonal customs in this fun song.

 https://soundcloud.com/deanfriedman/some-say-chanukah

Tchatchkes Latkes  Rachael Sage She sings the ingredients in this festive ditty which sounds good late night/early morning. Gypsy Oom PahPah Waltz with festive instruments.  “Onions Peppers Oy Gevalt!”  

Christmas Time Jon Mullane Upbeat! Baritone version of Adam Levine, song in the same tempo as USA for Africa’s “Do They Know it’s Christmastime” About the joys of Christmas, and getting ready for it.  

  

  

Fall for the Holidays

SUDDENLY IT’S CHRISTMAS Slambovian Circus of Dreams  Joziah Longo's voice feels like Tom Petty meets Neil Diamond.  Majestic comforting light sleighbells, band, “Nat King Cole,” “Suddenly it's Christmas Have we lost another year.” Lightly lifts lyrics of “O’ Come All Ye Faithful” “O’ Holy.”

 

 TAKE A HOLIDAY  Emily Hurd  Intimate and lilting Allison Krauss voice, piano, waltz tempo, all the different images and upbeat attitudes about the holiday. Hymnals & Candlestick, condos & tenements  Let's take a holiday and give it a name. thoughtful transition

WONDERS Emily Hurd Wonders never cease, the glories and beauty of Christmas wrapped up with Chicago soul--horns and hammond B3  Christmas eve is the setting. Christmas bells understated.  Little children fast asleep  Balsam Tree. Tempo like James & Bobby Purify’s “I’m Your Puppet.”

 

THIS CHRISTMAS The Kings Harmonic pop rock. Elvis Costello, Smithereens-y, celestial chimes.  the theme of the song is wishing for love for your family who is so far away and for strangers that are alone. Canadian Content. 

AVE MARIA by Aeone classical, gentle and slow

 

CHRISTMAS TIME Jon Mullane Upbeat! About the joys of Christmas, and getting ready for it 

and happy new year from Tony Moore.  

Auld Lane Syne is sung by a tender tenor with

 the theme, "We'll take a cup of kindness."

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vgmh1TkNO6k