Thursday, 5 December 2013

20 sleeps to go - Bing Crosby...

All I have to do is here Bing Crosby and I think Roman Catholic Priests, not quite a rat packer, David Bowie, The Little Drummer Boy, Holiday Inn and of course White Christmas.

That eight line song paints a picture of Christmas holiday nostalgia American style and takes me back to Christmas spent in front of the TV watching Bing’s Christmas Special. I was amazed when Bowie joined him on the show, even more amazed that they’d only rehearsed once and for only ten minutes!

Of course Bing IS White Christmas. It was written by Irving Berlin, originally about a New Yorker stranded in California at Christmas time. Bing recorded it for the movie Holiday Inn in 1942 in just 18 minutes and starred in the movie with Fred Astaire. The song went on to win the Best Song Academy Award of 1942 and has become THE Christmas song.

Bing performed the song again in White Christmas, his 1954 film co-starring Danny Kaye. Fred Astaire was asked to take the Danny Kaye part but turned it down saying that he’d already done that movie once! In that film my favourite song is Snow - I just love the whole train journey scenes. Chooo Chooo!

Historically White Christmas is the biggest selling Christmas song of all time and even the biggest selling song of ALL time, going back and forth with Bill Haley’s ‘Rock Around The Clock’. And then Diana was killed and Elton John released his tribute to her ‘Candle In The Wind’ and that put paid to that.

Keep dreaming folks.

12 comments:

  1. Richard Shore on FB
    I can quite honestly say that white Christmas is the second worst film I have ever seen. Only Grease 2 is worse.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Andrew Height
    Silly boy Number 2. Take 5,000 lines.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Richard Shore
      Not even nigella could do that

      Delete
  3. Andrew Height posed the question on Facebook:
    What are you dreaming of?


    Linda Kemp electric sheep?
    22 hours ago · Unlike · 1

    Lorna Gleadell Sunshine
    22 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 1

    Sue Mcnally Roller skating
    21 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 1

    Andy B D Bickerdike baby shetland ponies.. with machine guns
    19 hours ago · Edited · Unlike · 1

    Kieran Goodwin Going home to find somebody finished off the endless wiring/plastering/DIY for me, years before I could do alone
    20 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 1

    Richard Shore white christmas
    19 hours ago · Unlike · 1

    Buffey Glandon good health
    19 hours ago · Like

    Sarah Keeler I went to Picadilly station and Simon Rimmer off the telly gave me a cupcake with Transpennine Express written on it. Except it wasn't a dream, that bizarrely actually happened this morning.
    18 hours ago · Unlike · 1

    Sandra Bouguerch Winning the Turner prize
    14 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 1

    Tim Preston a galaxy far far away
    14 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 1

    Paul Whitehouse Sex with Carol Vordermann what else?
    13 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 1

    Zee Taylor Heaven! Being there and seeing you all there
    12 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 2

    Kevin Burke Peace
    12 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 1

    Kevin Burke and quite.. Kids driving me bonkers!!!
    12 hours ago via mobile · Like

    Tricia Kitt Kites! Crikey it's windy!
    10 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 1

    Andrew Height Hi Trish?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Andy Brewer on FB
    All I have to do is hear Roman Catholic Priests and I think of Little Drummer Boys and Choir Boys. White Christmas? second best film ever behind 'It's a Wonderful Life'

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Andrew Height
      It's in my top five Andy Brewer. IAWL is obviously at number 1 although some feebs would argue Elf!!

      Delete
  5. Richard Shore on FB
    IAWL is not a Christmas film. It is a film set at Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Andrew Height
      Not like Santa's factory in Elf then? Anyway, Bedford Falls is a real place. I go there all the time.

      Delete
  6. Andy Brewer on FB
    'Zoo Zoo's petals', I'm crying already

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Andrew Height
      Yes, Zoo Zoo's petals and the knob on the stairs... boo hoo, sob...

      Delete
    2. Richard Shore
      That's not the only knob around here

      Delete
  7. Maggie Patzuk on FB
    For everyone in the Philly area today . . . and especially for Andrew Height - Anders - it's one of my favorites too! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ9cxfumEOo

    ReplyDelete