There are basically four universally-beloved animated Christmas TV specials from the mid/late 60s that I’ve looked forward to seeing each year since they originally appeared their, um, advent*: A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (which I wrote about here), Rankin-Bass’s Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, and Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (also R-B, actually from 1970). Of these, it was really Rudolph that I loved best of all, and still do. In fact, it’s the only one of the four that I still regard as a must-watch every year.
Now, Rudolph features several really nice songs—Burl Ives singing “Silver And Gold,” to name but one, has become a true staple of the season. Since I seem to have a thing for piano arrangements of the classic Christmas tunes, and since Rudolph has meant so very much to me since my misspent youth…well, I ask you, how could I possibly NOT include this lovely rendition of what in my not-so-humble opinion is the best of a very fine lot from the special, “The Most Wonderful Day Of The Year,” on Christmas Eve?
What a pretty, pretty thing, no? Nice 3/4 time, relaxed waltz-tempo, with a turnaround so achingly beautiful you can almost hear your heart cracking inside your chest from it.
A very merry Christmas to all you CFers and your loved ones, this and every year. In light of the awful situation I was in last Christmas, I consider myself fortunate indeed to have you all along with me for this crazy ride, and can’t even begin to express the depth of my gratitude for that. May your days be merry, and bright.
*Heh; see what I did there? Don’t know how it is I didn’t think of that earlier.
Mike, we’re glad you made it through what must have been a real ordeal. I can’t imagine it. But I’m happy that your spirits are good and another Christmas is here!
Merry Christmas Mike and all who come here through the ages to commiserate in and celebrate this wacky thing we call our Lives.
May your Fury always be Cold but may you always have Warmth underneath in your Heart.
Merry Christmas!