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This version of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” in blues rock style opens with a deep solo electric guitar riff. After twice through the riff, the guitar is joined by rock organ and drums on a syncopated beat.The vocal embellishments follow the seventh chord progression that is typical of a blues. A gospel choir joins in each refrain, beginning in the first refrain around 1:10. A single backup singer enhances the verses here and there, starting at the end of Verse 2. The lead guitar and organ have wonderful solo moments throughout. There’s a neat drama point around 2:41 featuring nearly a capella vocals, with some echo on the vocal processor and just a hint of tinkling on the organ, finishing off with a power moment when the bass guitar kicks a rich sustained note at 2:53. Then the rest of the band kicks back in for the last chorus and outro.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel:
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear

O come o come thou wisdom from on high
Through of all things far and nigh
To us the path of knowledge to show
And cause us in her ways to go

Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come for thee, O Israel

Enjoy:

This ain’t your traditional drummer boy. This drummer boy boasts a multi-piece drum set featuring everything from the kick drum to the crash cymbal. He’s accompanied by driving electric rhythm guitar, a wailing lead guitar solo with tremolo at 1:55, and edgy rock vocals.

The Little Drummer Boy
Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That’s fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.

Enjoy.

After yesterday claiming to pick songs for the music first, the lyrics of my Day 2 entry actually weigh heavily in its selection. But it still comes back to the music. The delicate piano and melody evoke imagery of the tiny, fragile baby in the manger, and the overall arrangement emulates the powerful simplicity of the birth of Christ. At first glance, the song is only a lullaby, just like the Savior’s birth is only a humble beginning. On reflection, both are so much more.

The song is “Welcome to Our World” by Chris Rice.

What you’ll hear:

1. Pretty, delicate piano.
2. A single, gentle voice on a simple melody throughout. No pop flips or other frills. No harmony.
3. Strings added in verse 2 for dynamic interest, but still very simple.
4. A bit of a of a percussive moment for the strings at 1:20, the most complicated part of the song.
5. A modulation (key change) in verse 4 for more dynamic interest.
6. In the last verse, strings mostly drop out so that the song ends as simply as it started.

Welcome to Our World
Tears are falling, hearts are breaking
How we need to hear from God
You’ve been promised, we’ve been waiting
Welcome Holy Child, welcome Holy Child

Hope that you don’t mind our manger
How I wish we would have known
But long-awaited Holy Stranger,
Make Yourself at home, please make Yourself at home

Bring Your peace into our violence
Bid our hungry souls be filled
Word now breaking Heaven’s silence
Welcome to our world, welcome to our world

Fragile fingers sent to heal us
Tender brow prepared for thorn
Tiny heart whose blood will save us
Unto us is born, unto us is born

So wrap our injured flesh around You
Breath our air and walk our sod
Rob our sin and make us holy
Perfect Son of God, perfect Son of God

Welcome to our world.

I maintain a blog at a writing website, and I’m counting down my top twelve favorite Christmas songs. In a site full of writers, it shouldn’t surprise me that the majority of participants are selecting songs based on lyrics. But I’m a musician first, and my selections are all based first on the music. Where appropriate, I’ll give a nod to the lyrics as well.

My first choice is “God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen” by Jars of Clay.

Here’s what you’ll hear:

1. A gorgeous classical guitar riff that carries steadily throughout the piece.
2. Rich baritone vocals on the lead line, beginning with verse 1, “God rest ye, merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay…”
3. A mournful violin and ting on the TRIANGLE (your fave preschool instrument used in real, published music) kicking off Verse 2.
4. An incredibly unique chord progression created by the vocal harmonies of a high tenor through the second verse.
5. The most awesome bass walk of all time at 1:29. It’s even better than “Let It Be” which is arguably the most famous bass walk of all time.
6. A wistful classical guitar and violin duet around 1:35, joined by a clarinet at 1:40 and cello at 1:47. CHILLS.
7. Another ting on the triangle at 2:12. Oh yeah, baby. Eat your heart out, Jimmy Fallon.
8. Clever vocal “percussion” on beats 2,3,4 throughout the third verse.
9. The haunting clarinet soaring over the violin, cello, guitar, and vocal awesomeness until the last note.

Since I’m a writer too, I can’t ignore the lyrics. Could you ask for a more poetic proclamation of the birth of Christ? Excepting, of course, the nagging sexism, which I would be remiss not to mention. But this arrangement is so musically compelling that it remains one of my top twelve favorites, and I just like to pretend us women should also let nothing us dismay. We are all saved from Satan’s pow’r when we’ve gone astray, regardless of our gender. :-D

God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen

God rest ye, merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay!
Remember Christ, the Savior, was born on Christmas Day
To save us all from Satan’s pow’r when we had gone astray.
O, tidings of comfort and joy!

From God our Heaven’ly Father, a blessed angel came
And unto certain shepherds, brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name.
O, tidings of comfort and joy!

Cheers,
Michelle