'70s Coca Cola Holiday Commercial

https://oblivionfoodcourt.tumblr.com/post/189839384915/coca-cola-70s-christmas-hilltop-commercial

A Christmas Story (Re-post)

This is a re-post of a post originally appearing on December 17, 2011.

One of my recently acquired Christmas obsessions is the fun and enjoyable 1983 movie A Christmas Story. Based upon writer Jean Shepherd's semi-fictionalized account of a young boy, Ralphie, experiencing the Christmas holidays in 1940s Indiana with his parents, his younger brother, and his neighborhood friends. I love movies that convey a time period with great detail, and A Christmas Story clearly fits into this category. 

This movie contains one of the funniest scenes ever, where one of the young protagonist's friends gets his tongue stuck to metal pole in the cold of winter. The main story line, however, also full of funny moments, concerns Ralphie's ongoing quest to obtain a BB gun for Christmas, despite the objections ("you'll shoot your eye out, kid") of various adult figures, including his mother, his teacher, and a store Santa Claus.   

But I think the main reason I find this movie so enjoyable is that its a rather realistic, yet fun, holiday movie that doesn't take itself too seriously. It involves a rather average family doing their best to enjoy the holidays amidst
dealing with everyday life. Ultimately, this movie is about having a Merry Christmas with what you have, and with those you have around you.

Apollo 8's Christmas Message (1968)

The year 1968 was one when the Vietnam War was raging at its height, there were protests, riots, assassinations and unrest throughout the West, the Soviets invaded Czechoslovakia, and the US presidential election was one of the most tumultuous. Amidst the unease and unrest, a remarkable event occurred on Christmas eve: U.S. astronauts became the first humans to circle the moon, and while there, delivered a hopeful Christmas message. Its a message we would do well to be aware of as we deal with the uncertainty of the present age
.  
Here's the full inspiring message.


The voyage also produced the iconic "Earthrise" photo, which showed Earth amidst the darkness of space.

Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays to everyone on "the Good Earth."

Hall & Oates' "Jingle Bell Rock"

A very '80s Happy Holidays to all.

The Monkees: "Unwrap You At Christmas"

Here's a new Christmas song from '60s pop group/TV stars the Monkees.  This song makes me smile for a number of reasons. First, it good to see that the Monkees are still at it all these years (albeit, sadly without Davy Jones, who passed on a few years ago). Second, its a Christmas song, which is always good. And, lastly its so upbeat and cheerful.  

Holiday Songroll 2017

Its become almost a tradition on this blog that every December, I do a post with a bunch of Christmas songs. Its that time of year again, and what a better song to start with than the truly beautiful '80s Christmas song from the Pretenders, "2000 Miles."

Here's one from the late '70s from former Beatle Paul McCartney, and his band Wings, who are having a "Wonderful Christmas Time."

Heres another incredible voice from the '80s, that of Annie Lennox.  Here, she's with her early '80s synth duo Eurythmics, with their rendition of "Winter Wonderland."

U2 rocks Christmas in a very '80s style, with "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"

Another '80s rocker, John Mellencamp, does his version of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus."

And, lastly on this post, the truly memorable Christmas song with a message, Band Aid's "Do They Know Its Christmas," from 1984.

To all my readers:

Merry Christmas
Happy Hannukah
Happy Holidays
Feliz Navidad

1977 Commercial with a Message

Okay, I've posted this wonderful 1977 Coca-Cola Christmas commercial several times before, but this year in particular it's message is poignant and true. Look at the idea this clip presents, which I wish would be more true in our society: people of all walks of life and cultures together sharing the love of the holidays.

To all my readers:
Merry Christmas!!
Happy Hannukah!!
Happy Holidays!!

Three Kings Day, with Blondie and Hall & Oates

 
 Latin American cultures (which is my background) continue to celebrate the Christmas holiday season up until the day of Epiphany on January 6 (and some even after that). Epiphany in  Western Christianity celebrates the visit of the Magi (i.e. the three kings, or the three wise men) to Jesus just after his birth. (Whether this is historically accurate, I will leave for others to debate.)   It is also known, more popularly, as "Three Kings Day."

Well, as I am still celebrating the Christmas holidays, I thought I'd post an '80s-related video that connects with the holiday. The best I could do is this rockin' version of "We Three Kings" from '70s and '80s new wave group Blondie. (!!)  The song came out in 2009, and it's . . .  different.  I do love Blondie though. And Three Kings Day is here.  So enjoy!!  

(Thanks to Michael Gaylin via Youtube.)


Since my Christmas tree is still up, let me add this: Daryl Hall and John Oates doing their version of "Jingle Bell Rock."  Its from 1983, so authentically '80s! And the video sure looks it. Love that '80s quirkiness!!  Enjoy!!

(Thanks to hallandoatesVEVO.)

Annie Lennox, "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"

OK. You may be thinking . . . "Another Christmas post?? Isn't Christmas over?" . . . Well, not quite yet.   As of the time of this post, New Years Day hasn't come yet. Also, I'm of Latin American background, and in Latin cultures, the Christmas holidays continue until Epiphany, also called Three Kings Day, on January 6.  And, Hannukah and Kwanzaa are still going on.   So, I figure a holiday post is still fair game.

Besides, I just couldn't resist posting this wonderful and amazing version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" by Annie Lennox, from 2010.  So etherial and magical, and so evocative of the season.  Check out the strangely beautiful video too. Enjoy!

Memories, Peace, and Happy Holidays

 

Here's two video clips which I've shown on this blog before. In fact I was considering whether I should re-post it yet again. But I opted to bring them out again, like worn but beloved Christmas ornaments, because of at least two reasons.  First, they both bring back strong memories from my Christmases past. Second, because they both represent that spirit of love, peace, and compassion we need today.

 Above is the classic commercial which Coke ran during the late '70s of young people creating a Christmas tree, and singing "I'd Love To Teach The World To Sing."  I remember this 1977 commercial so vividly from my childhood. It has a very special place in my memories, and represents an innocent ideal of what Christmas is supposed to be about. I feel like just jumping in and joining this wonderful bunch of young people and sing along with them.

And here is another 1977 item: the duet between Bing Crosby and David Bowie of "Little Drummer Boy/ Peace on Earth." I think this video is particularly poignant this year, as we lost David Bowie. The lyrics speak for themselves.

                   To all my readers, of every faith and belief:

                                 Merry Christmas!!
                                 Happy Hanukkah!!
                                 Happy Holidays!!

When '80s Bands United For Charity

Its Thanksgiving, and the holiday seaon is upon us. Since charity, music, and fun are important parts of this time of year, its a good time to remember when all three of those elements combined for a series of wonderful charity records back in the '80s. This starts around Christmas time, with a beautiful effort by a bunch of musicians. 

In 1984, a group of primarily British and Irish musicians united to collect fund for famine relief in Africa. A project initiated by musicians Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, they called themselves Band Aid, and they released a memorable Christmas single called "Do They Know Its Christmas." Band Aid was literally a "whos who" of the '80s British music scene, and included, among others, such names as Boy George, Sting, George Michael, Phil Collins, David Bowie and members of Bananarama, Duran Duran, and U2.

"Do They Know Its Christmas" went on to become a major holiday song in 1984, and a wonderful memory of that year. 


The Band Aid effort ultimately led to additional efforts at famine relief. In January of 1985 there was USA for Africa, a similar effort by American musicians. This group put out "We Are The World," a song written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and featuring, in addition to those two musicians, also Cyndi Lauper, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Kenny Rogers, Tina Turner, Paul Simon and many others.



The charitable spirit was catching.  Shortly after, in February of 1985, a group of Canadian musicians got together as Northern Lights, and put out the song "Tears Are Not Enough."  This single also collected money for African famine relief, and included Anne Murray, Geddy Lee (of Rush), Mike Reno (of Loverboy), Joni Mitchel, Corey Hart, Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, and Burton Cummings (of the Guess Who), among many others.


Not to be left out, heavy metal musicians also put out their own effort to help famine relief. It was called Hear n' Aid, and they put out their charitable single "Stars," a song written by Ronnie James Dio, and which included contributions by members of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Quiet Riot, Motley Crue, Twisted Sister, and many others.

These collective efforts culminated in the enormous Live Aid concert in 1985.

Happy Thanksgiving, and a blessed holiday season to us all.

Holiday Hope: Merry Christmas to All

It's around this time of year that we remember the ideals so many of us believe in, and the hopes for peace and a better world that are at thr root of the holiday. Here's a clip that I post almost every year: a 1977 Coke commercial I remember fondly from growing up.  All types of people, each a candle in the darkness, forming a Christmas tree. 

And here's a memorable duet from two unlikely singers: Bing Crosby and David Bowie.   Peace on Earth. A beautiful hope.  

Merry Christmas everyone.

Band Aid "Do They Know Its Christmas"

Here's a classic '80s Christmas song that I just have to post every year.  In 1984, Band Aid put together a large number of '80s era British musicians for a charity single to help African famine relief.

Paul McCartney "Wonderful Christmas Time"

Nice holiday song from Paul McCartney and Wings

Bob Dylan "Must Be Santa"

Here's the great Bob Dylan with his wackadoo version of this Christmas song. 

This came out just a few years ago.

Very fun, just like the season should be.

Repost: A Christmas Story

This is a re-post of a post originally appearing on December 17, 2011.  This is one that I've re-posted a few times around the holiday season, kind of like bringing out an old Christmas decoration that youve enjoyed many times before.

One of my recently acquired Christmas obsessions is the fun and enjoyable 1983 movie A Christmas Story. Based upon writer Jean Shepherd's semi-fictionalized account of a young boy, Ralphie, experiencing the Christmas holidays in 1940s Indiana with his parents, his younger brother, and his neighborhood friends. I love movies that convey a time period with great detail, and A Christmas Story clearly fits into this category. 

This movie contains one of the funniest scenes ever, where one of the young protagonist's friends gets his tongue stuck to metal pole in the cold of winter. The main story line, however, also full of funny moments, concerns Ralphie's ongoing quest to obtain a BB gun for Christmas, despite the objections ("you'll shoot your eye out, kid") of various adult figures, including his mother, his teacher, and a store Santa Claus.   

But I think the main reason I find this movie so enjoyable is that its a rather realistic, yet fun, holiday movie that doesn't take itself too seriously. It involves a rather average family doing their best to enjoy the holidays amidst
dealing with everyday life. Ultimately, this movie is about having a Merry Christmas with what you have, and with those you have around you.

'70s Christmas Songs

I posted several '80s-era Christmas songs. Here's some from the '70s.

Elton John "Step Into Christmas"  This one's a well-remembered classic. Very catchy and inviting. It really does make one want to step into the holidays.

John Denver and The Muppets "The Twelve Days of Christmas"  This one is so wonderfully '70s, and always puts a smile on my face.

The Carpenters "Merry Christmas Darling"   A happy memory from a classic '70s duo.  Very traditional and homey, and Karen with her wonderful voice.

Slade "Merry Xmas Everyone"  A fun Christmas song from the Glam part of the '70s. This is more well known in the UK than in the US.

Greg Lake "I Believe In Father Christmas"  And from the Prog side of the '70s, this song which is an interesting combination of Christmas song and protest song. One does not have to agree with all of the lyrics to find it compelling. 

'80s Christmas Songs

Every year I always celebrate the holidays by blogging about Christmas songs, especially from the '80s. So let's start this holiday season with my latest Christmas song post.  All of these were posted before on my blog, but its become a holiday tradition on this blog, so here they are to enjoy. To all my readers:

Merry Christmas

Happy Hannukah

Happy Holidays

Billy Squire, "Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You."  This song is so cheerful, it just picks you up for the holidays.

Wham, "This Christmas." I always say that this is the most 80s-esque song and video of the season, from '80s faves Wham. Check it out and imagine youre in 1985.

U2, "Baby Please Come Home."  From '80s rockers U2, a classy yet very rock n' roll Christmas song.

John Mellencamp, "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." From the same guy who gave us "Hurts So Good," and "Pink Houses." Mellencamp gets all family for Christmas.

Great Gift Ideas: '80s Books

As Christmas approaches and the Holiday Season continues, here's two possible gift ideas for your friend who loves '80s culture. One is a book called Mad World: An Oral History of New Wave Artists And Songs That Defined The 1980s.  Its a book that takes you on a memory trip back to the new wave era of the '80s. Each chapter of the book discusses a single well-known '80s song and the group that did it. Songs dealt with include "I Melt With You" by Modern English, "The Metro" by Berlin, "Girls On Film," by Duran Duran, and other similar beloved songs from the '80s.

 

This book just came out and it's really a wonderful trip back in time for the fan of '80s music, the groups that made the songs, and the times when it all occurred.

Here's a great companion book that came out about a year or two ago, called Talking To Girls About Duran Duran by Rob Sheffield. In the book, Sheffield gives a great account of growing up as a teen in the '80s decade. Ironically, this book is set up in a similar fashion to Mad World, in that each chapter is named after a specific '80s song which in some way connects with the youthful topic or incident that the chapter deals with. The real stories brought up in this book will bring up instant memories for those of us who grew in that era.

 

I think it says a lot about the '80s that both of these '80s related books are structured around specific songs . . . the '80s indeed were an era where memories seem most closely tied to specific songs, perhaps more so than other decades. It was indeed, the last great era of pop.

"Last Christmas" in the '80s and Now

After a few '70s related Christmas posts... now back to our regularly scheduled decade.  Wham's "Last Christmas" has always seemed to me to be one of the most '80s Christmas songs, both in its style and in its very '80s  video.  Here's the original from 1986.

And here's Taylor Swift with a more recent version of the same song. Still great.