Wayback Wednesday: Dec. 24, 2014

It's #WaybackWednesday Christmas Edition! That's right. All of these are fairly old Christmas songs. If you're willing to take a musical trip back in time Christmas style, then you've come to the right place and the right blog. What selections did I make for this one? You're about to find out!

--- Wayback Wednesday: How it Works ---

Welcome to Wayback Wednesday on John's Blog Space!

Most of what I select for "Wayback Wednesday" primarily consists of music videos. Rather than share with fans, I usually share YouTube videos among friends in my Facebook profile. Most of what I share are selections based on a certain group of songs I want to feature. I want to label it as "Wayback Wednesday" for the sake of hashtag usage. The proper person in me knows it is "Way Back Wednesday" rather than "Wayback Wednesday." The main criteria element is that the material must be at least five years old. So as of this blog post, all Wayback Wednesday features material from 2009 or earlier. Nothing from 2010 or later will be featured. All Wayback Wednesday selections go in chronological order from earliest to oldest. So more recent material is featured before going to least recent material. For example, a song from 2003 will be shown followed by a song either from that same year or before 2003.

Here's the quick rundown:
• material that is at least five years old is featured.
• selected material is from more recent to less recent.
• not every selection is music.

This is a sample post:

Wayback Wednesday: (Month Day, Year)

(song arist - song title, or title) (year)
(description)
(link to video)

I decide to post just a link to the video rather than slow down the performance of my blog with embedded YouTube videos. Links to some videos may or may not be available all the time. You're basically clicking at your own discretion in this sense.


Depending on traffic and other considerations, I may start this as a common feature of my blog. Having said all of this... let's begin!

--- Wayback Wednesday: Selections ---

Here are the songs I've selected for this Wednesday. Click on the links to view the YouTube videos associated with the individual songs. NOTE: Certain restrictions may apply to some of the material I've selected- such as (but not limited to) age restrictions. Be wary of this if you decide to click on any of the provided links to this post.

If you like to comment, feel free to let me know which songs you like from this list I selected.

Wayback Wednesday: December 24, 2014

Merry Christmas! :) I've tried to find the best possible versions for each song.


• Amy Barbera - Love at Christmas Time (2009)
First off, I begin with the inspirational singer Amy Barbera. This song is moving with what is being expressed here. Feel free to enjoy this positive and uplifting song from Amy Barbera. Welcome to 2009, everyone!


• Charlotte Church feat. Billy Gillman - Dream a Dream (2000)
Charlotte Church's third album featured all Christmas songs. Perhaps the best of these songs was this one, which you can hear by clicking on the above link. It is called "Dream a Dream" and features country singer Billy Gillman. Billy Gillman was a little boy while Charlotte was still a teenager. Anyhow, enjoy this 2000 song to the max.


• Vanessa Williams - Do You Hear What I Hear? (1996)
The original song was done by Noël Regney and Gloria Shayne Baker in 1962, but Vanessa Williams did a fabulous rendition of this song. You can hear it now by clicking on the provided link.


• Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Carol of the Bells (1995)
You can't make a Christmas song with a rock music edge. Apparently, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra didn't get the memo. Enjoy the synergy of classical music and rock music in one amazing Christmas package. This song will take you back to 1995. Where were you in 1995?


• Mariah Carey - All I Want for Christmas is You (1994)
This may be one of the most popular non-traditional Christmas songs. All Mariah Carey wants for Christmas is you. How popular is this song? According to YouTube, this song has over 101M hits as of the time of this blog post! You can add to that by clicking on the link above.


• Boyz II Men - Let it Snow (1993)
While this 1993 song is not the traditional "Let it Snow," it is a masterpiece of Boyz II Men. Feel free to enjoy the amazing vocals of Boyz II Men with this song.


• Wham! - Last Christmas (1984)
Not everything from the '80s sucked. This song is proof of that. "Last Christmas" may be the most popular Christmas song sung in the 1980s. As much as I love Taylor Swift, Wham! did this song MUCH better than Taylor Swift's rendition. Hear this original by clicking the link above. Welcome to 1984!


• Elmo and Patsy Trigg Shropshire - Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (1979, 1984 video)
Poor grandma... that's all I can say about this classic Christmas song. :) It's 1979. Enjoy this funny song.


• Donny Hathaway - This Christmas (1971)
In our household, it ain't Christmas until this song is sung by Donny Hathaway. A favorite of my mother's, welcome to 1971!


• The Temptations - Silent Night (1970)
This song is another one of my mother's favorite Christmas songs. Let The Temptations give you some Christmas loving with this 1970 song.


• José Feliciano - Feliz Navidad (1970)
"Feliz Navidad" is "Merry Christmas" in Español. My Portuguese-speaking friends would say "Feliz Natal." Here is some 1970 love for you from Puerto Rico's José Feliciano.


• Vince Guaraldi Trio - O Tannenbaum (1962)
In my opinion, you CAN'T have Christmas without songs like this one. So from "A Charlie Brown Christmas," here is one of many classic Christmas songs from this classic cartoon. Welcome to 1962!


• Dean Martin - Let it Snow (1959)
Though this song dates back to 1946, Dean Martin's rendition came in 1959 and re-recorded for 1966. Get ready for a trip back to 1959 with Dean Martin and "Let it Snow."


• Bobby Helms - Jingle Bell Rock (1957)
Bobby Helms wanted to offer some rock and roll to Jingle Bells. In today's music culture, somebody probably would have come up with some screaming, grungy, gritty, hardcore version of "Jingle Bells" and call that as "Jingle Bell Rock." What you're getting here is a classic Christmas tune. And if you're among the hardcore types, this was hardcore before hardcore was cool. This is 1957, and this is "Jingle Bell Rock." Enjoy!


• Eartha Kitt - Santa Baby (1953)
The late Eartha Kitt provides the sultry vocals to this next song. This may be one of the most romantic Christmas songs ever. Romantic, yet tasteful. Somebody today would have given this song a raunchy makeover. Anyhow... welcome to 1953, folks!


• Gayla Peevey - I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas (1953)
Let's get one thing straight- this may be one of the funniest Christmas songs ever sung! Funny since this girl wanted a hippopotamus for Christmas. You'd be looked at crazy even in this day and age if you said you wanted a hippo for Christmas considering what everybody else usually wants for Christmas. This song dates back to 1953, and the singer, Gayla Peevey, was only ten years old when she sung this song. Enjoy this funny song and welcome to 1953!


• Gene Autry - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1949)
What you're getting is the classic song, the original song, done by Mr. Gene Autry. You're going WAY back on this one- like, 1949 way back. The great Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is honored and immortalized in this classic song.


• Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer - Baby, It's Cold Outside (1944, 1949)
It may be cold outside, but this song is surely hot. Please enjoy this song and welcome to 1949. Enjoy your stay!


• Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song (1946)
Ready for Christmas? Nat King Cole definitely is. You're going to love this one if you've never heard it before (where have YOU been?). Get ready- 1946 about to hit you here! Since this song dates back to 1946, this is a new record for my "Wayback Wednesday" posts for one of the oldest songs I've featured and found online.


This concludes another "Wayback Wednesday" post of mine. To check out the latest posts in the "Wayback Wednesday" category, click this link: Wayback Wednesday.

--- Special Announcement... ---

It's been fun doing these "Wayback Wednesday" posts. Unfortunately, I want to say that next Wednesday will be the last one of my "Wayback Wednesday" posts either for a while or ever. I want to thank everyone who read these posts of mine and don't mind me posting these things either on Facebook or here on "John's Blog Space." Again- the last of my "Wayback Wednesday" posts here on "John's Blog Space" will be next Wednesday.





If you observe Christmas, allow me to wish you and your family and friends a happy and safe and merry Christmas. Thank you for reading!

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