{ialsolovechocolate} Saturday Sing Along Songs- Christmas Favorites!

Thanks to this year's Camp Christmas Shoots, I've been in the mood for Christmas since October!

 And finally it's here!

 

I have my favorite Christmas songs, from years gone-by 

{Sing Along Songs of Christmas' Past can be found here!}

but I'm always on the hunt for new ones to add to the mix.

Here are a few of this year's favorite discoveries.

Ahhh... The Piano Guys!  Carol of the Bells.

Jason Mraz- Winter Wonderland

Lindsey Stirling- Celtic Carol

Naturally, we have to have an Eric Whitacre masterpiece!

Light and Gold

Light, light
Light, light
Light, light
Warm
Warm
And heavy
And heavy
And heavy
Pure
Pure
Pure like gold
They sing and sing and sing
To the newborn babe.

http://lyricstranslate.com

 

And Scala & Kolacny Brothers!  

In my next life, I will be born in Belgium and perform with Scala & Kolacny Brothers when my schedule permits.  :)

Christmas Lights {by Coldplay}

River {by Sarah McLachlan}

 

 

What new Christmas favorites have you discovered?  Please share!  Please share!!

Oh and if anyone has heard the new Jewel Christmas CD, 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on it!  I have yet to listen to it!

Merry Christmas and happy singing, everyone!

Saturday Sing Along Songs- "Help Me Find It" by Sidewalk Prophets

Last Sunday, Fred, another Kim, and I had the pleasure of singing  "Help Me Find It" by Sidewalk Prophets, during our Sunday morning worship time. 

We had a unique start, with Fred needing to re-tune his guitar, on "stage".  Then someone forgot how the song started (no sheet music, just words and chords) and hoped that another someone would remember, when he started... and then well... that other someone sort of forgot how it started too!  Thankfully, the other Kim began her solo verse PERFECTLY and brought it all together!  Oh, the joys of a live performance, after two rehearsals and three days of knowing a song!  It's always exciting, that much I can say!!

Praise be to God, that in spite of some minor instrumental mix ups, the message was not muddled!

"Help Me Find It"

I don’t know where to go from here
It all used to seem so clear
I’m finding I can’t do this on my own

I don’t know where to go from here
As long as I know that You are near
I’m done fighting
I’m finally letting go

I will trust in You
You’ve never failed before
I will trust in You

[Chorus:]
If there’s a road I should walk
Help me find it
If I need to be still
Give me peace for the moment
Whatever Your will
Whatever Your will
Can you help me find it
Can you help me find it

I’m giving You fear and You give faith
I giving you doubt
You give me grace
For every step I’ve never been alone

Even when it hurts, You’ll have Your way
Even in the valley I will say
With every breath
You’ve never let me go

I will wait for You
You’ve never failed before
I will wait for You

[Chorus]

I lift my empty hands (come fill me up again)
Have Your way my King (I give my all to You)
I lift my eyes again (Was blind but now I see)
‘Cause You are all I need

[Chorus]

{ialsolovechocolate} Saturday Sing Along Songs! JJ Heller "Your Hands"

I heard this oldie but goodie in my travels, this week.

"Your Hands" by JJ Heller

Released in 2008, I was a single mom whose life was on the verge of a dramatic upswing.  {Fred}

"I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn't there
And I have asked a thousand ways
That you would take my pain away
You would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
How to walk this weary land
Make straight the paths that crooked lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

When you walked upon the earth
You healed the broken, lost and hurt
I know you hate to see me cry
One day you will set all things right
Yeah, one day you will set all things right

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

Your hands that shaped the world
Are holding me
They hold me still
Your hands that shaped the world
Are holding me
They hold me still

When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave you
When my world is shaking, heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave
I never leave your hands"



I am eternally grateful that in my loneliest days, I was never really alone. God's hands were holding me, the whole time.   :)

{ialsolovechocolate} Saturday Sing Along Songs! "Freedom"

Huge thanks goes to my friends, Mikey & Jesslyn, for sharing this song with me.  Wowza!

"Freedom" by Anthony Hamilton, featuring Elayna Boynton.

{ialsolovechocolate} Saturday Sing Along Songs! "Everything" by Tim Hughes

Fred & I, along with our "young adults" (Go ahead and giggle.  We 40ish year olds do too.) worship team sang this song in church, a few weeks ago.

God in my living
There in my breathing
God in my waking
God in my sleeping

God in my resting
There in my working
God in my thinking
God in my speaking

Be my everything
Be my everything
Be my everything
Be my everything

God in my hoping
There in my dreaming

God in my watching
God in my waiting

God in my laughing
There in my weeping
God in my hurting
God in my healing

Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me the hope of glory
You are everything

Christ in me
Christ in me
Christ in me the hope of glory
Be my everything

...

What a great reminder of how I should live every day... with God in my every thing.

{ialsolovechocolate} Saturday Sing Along Songs- Joshua James??

Please excuse the batter dipped face.  No one really knows what it's about.  Just close your eyes, lay flat on your back, put your feet up, and listen.  *scientifically proven {in our home} to give the best results, when listening to a new song.


*Warning- verse 2 contains an unspoken-in-our-house word.  Most songs that contain such words are skipped here.  Reeeally good songs with an unfortunate word receive loud coughs, during the {in}appropriate times.  ;)

Katie Brock introduced me to Joshua James, this week.  As if I didn't already love her enough.

Coal War.  Oh. My.

Shakefire.com describes it as such: “Coal War” begins as a simple chain gang melody and escalates into a joyous gospel and blues-rock anthem with old-school folk lyrics. 


I've always had a thing for chain gang songs.  From "The Power of One" to "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou".  I love em.  If ever I go to prison, I will be that annoying girl, rousing the other inmates to form a line, pick their parts and raise their voices in harmony, to the slip slap beat of our boots and palms.

I will most likely be roughed up for this.  But it will be oh so worth it.

*stomp*clap*

*stomp*clap*

*stomp*clap*

Sing with me now.

"Ain't cuttin' my hair till the good Lord comes..."

{ialsolovechocolate} SSAS "Musical Scrapbooks"

"Why don't you get rid of some of these CDs?" he asks, as he fumbles through the clumsy, black binder, containing outdated music that none of us listens to, anymore.

"I can't." I say.

"When I look through them, I'm taken back, to a specific time in my life.  Those discs tell my story.  It's like my musical scrapbook."

The odd thing is, it's not the happy CDs that I'm most connected to.  It's the harder ones.  The ones that would make people's heads spin, as they looked at the discs, then looked at the Kim in front of them.  It wouldn't make sense.  But there they are... representing a very dark, lonely and sometimes angry time, in my life.   And I can't let them go.  Not because I'm a martyr or masochist, but because in remembering the hard times, I also remember that God brought me through them.  That I am a stronger and hopefully wiser person, because of them.  Because of Him.

And those times should not be forgotten, even if it still hurts, in the remembering.


Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:1b-3a)    


Click the link below, to hear some of the Saturday Sing Along Songs, that were on my previous ialsolovechocolate blog.  Though not quite as transparent as my CD collection, some still cause a palpable pull, inside my chest.

ialsolovechocolate Saturday Sing Along Songs {retro mix}

*Several song links are now broken, as the songs are no longer available on playlist.com.  Also, my apologies, in advance, for the Bjork song.  ;)

{ialsolovechocolate} Saturday Sing Along Songs! "Hallelujah" by Mamuse

This is a song that clings to my folkie/pass the trailmix/it's time to harmonize side.

I first heard of Mamuse, on Pandora, compliments of The Wailin' Jennys station.  As "Hallelujah" filled the innards of my car, I was transported back in time, to my high school days, with my singing partner, Rebecca.  While we were more famous for our Yodeling song {for real}, this melody would have equally suited our voices and style.  Someday, I hope to reunite with her for a Hallelujah chorus.  ;)  But for now, I'm enjoying the trio version, with Cman on the melody, myself on the harmony and Fred vamping it up, where ever he pleases. 

This youtube version is not the best, but it's the one I'm accustomed to.  Scroll to the bottom for a clearer rendition, from their time on A Prairie Home Companion (first place winners, in the duet contest!)

Hallelujah

Written by: Karisha Longaker & Sarah Nutting

Lyrics

Every time I feel this way
This, old familiar sinking
I will lay my troubles
Down by the water
Where the river
Will never run dry

Hallelujah Hallelujah (I’m gonna let myself be lifted, I’m gonna let myself be lifted)
Hallelujah (I’m gonna let myself be lifted)
Bye and bye
I will lay my troubles down by the water
Where the river will never run dry

It’s been said and I do believe
As you ask so shall you receive
So take from me these troubles
Bring me sweet release
Where the river will never run dry

Hallelujah Hallelujah (I’m gonna let myself be lifted, I’m gonna let myself be lifted)
Hallelujah (I’m gonna let myself be lifted)
Bye and bye
I will lay my troubles down by the water
Where the river will never run dry

There is a river
In this heart of hearts
With a knowingness
Of my highest good
I am willing
I will do my part
Where the river
Will never run dry

Hallelujah Hallelujah (I’m gonna let myself be lifted, I’m gonna let myself be lifted)
Hallelujah (I’m gonna let myself be lifted)
Bye and bye
I will lay my troubles down by the water
Where the river will never run dry

Where the river
Will never run dry
This river
Will never run dry

The PHC version.

{ialsolovechocolate} Saturday Sing Along Songs!

For Christmas, we gave Cman- Coldplay's Greatest Hits CD & Coldplay "The Singles & B-Sides" piano/vocal/guitar book. 

He's a fan.  I'm a fan.  It is what it is.

I thought that I had heard all of Coldplay's best work.  I was wrong!  I'm now officially hitting repeat-peat-peat-peat on disc two, track 4.

Coldplay- Glass of Water - Give it a listen.

*Warning: the chorus may make you involuntarily drive fast.  Not that I know that from experience or anything...

Any suggestions for good Blogger-compatible music players/playlists?  I was a playlist.com user, but they require you to listen on their site now and the selection is limited.

{ialsolovehocolate} Saturday Sing Along Songs- Les Miserables "Bring Him Home" Encore

TWO Les Miserables happenings happened, this weekend!

1) Fred was brilliant and gave me the Les Miserables, 25th Anniversary Concert DVD, for Christmas!  Yay!!  Woohoo!!  Applause!!  Applause!!!

And 2) We saw Les Mis in the theater today!  Yay!!

In honor of these, today's- better late than never Sing Along Song is "Bring Him Home" the Encore version, from the 25th Anniversary Concert.

According to Wiki: For the encore, four Jean Valjeans sang "Bring Him Home": Colm Wilkinson from the original London cast, John Owen-Jones from the 25th Anniversary touring production, Simon Bowman from the current London cast, and Alfie Boe, who sang the role in the concert.

*Colm Wilkinson also played the role of the priest, in the Les Miserables, 2012 movie.   Ahhh... I love full circles.

And, let's just do one song more. 

"One Day More"  Polish flashmob style.  :)

{ialsolovechocolate} Christmas Break- A thing of the past!

I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas!

With seven celebrations in nine days, our family... OK I, was poised for a stressful time of year.   Thankfully, an insightful radio show helped me put things into perspective, before the craziness began.

A simple change of words has given me a renewed spirit.  Instead of calling it a "Christmas Break", which conjures up images of rest and relaxation, I'm thinking of it as the "Christmas Visiting Season". 

oooOOOOOoooh...  Why didn't I think of this years ago?? 

Now I'm excited about prepping for parties and seeing people that I don't get-together with, often enough!  Rest and relaxation may happen here and there, but this year, the emphasis is on the people we will get to see.  And I'm hoping that this will be enough to make the crazy... feel crazy good.  :)

Ask me next week, if it worked!  haha


...

And now a bonus sing along song!

We heard this for the first time, on Christmas Day.  It was a really interesting to think of the birth of Jesus, from Joseph's perspective.   Enjoy!

{ialsolovechocolate} Saturday Sing Along Songs! "At the End of the World"

I couldn't resist.

In my defense, I really am a huge fan of Ingrid's and this song.  ;)


"When the sun runs out  
And there's no one to save you  
Will you go to our favorite place  
And try to say goodbye?"

I asked my hubby about our favorite place to say goodbye and the conversation went something like this:

Me: So, if the world was ending and we didn't have phones or any way to communicate, where would our favorite place be, to meet and say goodbye?

Fred: Mohonk

Me: Well, yes it's a favorite place, but... {it's about 4 hours from our house}

Fred: Cape May

Me:  Oh another good one, but I was thinking of someplace more practical.

Fred: Home Depot!

lol

Really?

Fred: Folklore.  Oh... also not a bad idea.  But...

Finally, I gave him some hints- I was thinking someplace romantic and within 20 minutes of our house.

Fred: The Star Barn!

Yess!

Not counting your home, where would YOUR favorite place be, to say goodbye?

{ialsolovechocolate} Saturday Sing Along Songs, the Christmas Playlist!

One of my favorite repeat themes on the old "ialsolovechocolate" blog was Saturday Sing Along Songs.

Typically, I would add one song, per week and accumulate a nice little selection of tunes, by the end of the year.  But since we're really close to Christmas (aahhh!!!) and I want to post a collection songs, I'm adding a link to a pre-filled,  playlist.

Click here to hear some our family's favorite Christmas songs.

Sadly, playlist.com is missing some KEY songs.

If you like "outside of the box" or unique songs, I strongly, strongly urge you to also give a listen to the following favorites!!

For Seabird fans (Don't you know you're beautiful) -

 Seabird- Joy to the World  (exactly 1:07 seconds into the song is joy to my ears!)  You'll need to buy it to hear it all, as I can't locate it on the internet, anywhere.  :(  Be warned- this is not your mama's "Joy to the World".


Priscilla Ahn (creator of the song "Dream", that plays on my pro site) gives a beautifully, haunting rendition of Silent Night.

Straight No Chasers (male vocals, tight harmonies, exquisitely executed), Christmas Can Can-  (Cman's Favorite)-

Jazz fans, check out Harry Connick Jr's Frosty the Snowman-

I'm still not sure if this is officially a Christmas song or not, but I first heard it on a Christmas disc, so ...?  Oh Happy Day, by The Edwin Hawkins Singers-

*Note to my family members- this is a "must have" for my future funeral.  In fact, I think having it blasted at the grave site, as the casket is carried to the hole, so people can sway & clap without intimidation, while they walk to the site... yes... that seems appropriate.  I'm. not. kidding.*


And the most sweet and sassy version of Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer, you'll ever hear comes from Jewel:

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?  And what should we add to our playlist, for next week?!