Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do - Music - All Is Calm: A Playlist.

Hi!!!

Welcome back. Today is Blogmas Day Fourteen and I have a music related post for you today and I am so excited to write and share this. As we get closer to Christmas and we become busier, I think it's important to take even a few minutes for ourselves to recharge so we can really make the most of the season. I've picked out a selection of songs with calm but also festive vibes and put them together in a short playlist for anyone looking for fifteen minutes of less full-on time.

'Golden Slumbers' by Elbow.

While 'Moz The Monster' isn't my all time favourite Christmas advert, the song used for it is certainly up my street - my all time favourite band covering a lovely song by The Beatles? Yes to that.

I love Guy Garvey's voice - it has a really soft quality and also a really comforting feel (perhaps this comes from the fact that he maintains his accent and so it seems more familiar?).
There is a richness to this song musically, with it growing and unfolding to become a sweeping (but not overwhelming) piece of production. This richness echoes the festive season, in many ways, and so grounds the listener in a sense of both familiarity and of hope for the future.
The lyrics are like that of a lullaby, too, which adds to the calming sound the song has.

'Real Love' by Tom Odell.

Another cover of a song by The Beatles that was featured in a John Lewis advert - I promise that is not the theme of this playlist.

I love Tom Odell - he's a wonderful pianist and a great singer. The orchestral instruments elevate the piece and the occasional note played on a glockenspiel adds a charming, playful quality that brings joy to it, too. The layered vocals in the last third of the song provide that soothing, festive, choral quality.

I actually prefer it to the original - don't @ me - because I think it sounds far more sincere and because I think the lyrics really get a chance to shine in this updated cover.

'Scarlet Ribbons' by Harry Belafonte.

This is an utterly wonderful song and one that gets played every Christmas in my house. The lyrics are the real highlight of this song - they create a narrative that carries the hopeful, festive spirit with ease and creates a sense of wonder for the listener. If you believe in Christmas miracles - and you should - then this will really put a smile on your face.
There are lots of recordings of this but the Harry Belafonte one is my go-to, partly because his voice reminds me of a storyteller (is this just me?) and because musically, it is very easy to listen to, but very pretty sounding and complimentary to the lyrics.
Even if things have gotten a bit stressful and none of your parcels look set to arrive before the 27th of December, this song will remind you why you love Christmas.

Thanks for reading!

Which songs are your go-to for a moment of calm at Christmas? Do you have any other comments or suggestions for future posts? Leave a comment to let me know.

See you tomorrow for Blogmas Day Fifteen!

I hope you feel happy today.

GingerSnaps xxx

Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do - Music - Five Love Songs That Won't Make You Nauseous.

Hi!!!

As it's Valentine's Day soon, I thought I should write some kind of post. And I thought that one about love songs would be fun to put together, and could be enjoyed by everyone. I am a huge fan of a good love song but I do have very specific requirements for what I like. Therefore, this is a list of the kind of love songs that are beautiful and meaningful, and won't make you do a little sick in your own mouth (lol).

Stuck on the Puzzle by Alex Turner

This song is stunning. It's taken from the soundtrack from Submarine, which I personally think is amazing, and this is one of my personal favourite songs from it. There's a beautiful contrast between how delicate most of the music on the track is and then the percussion that guide it. The lyrics are, as we've come to expect from Turner, poetic and yet simple. It has a chilled, almost psychedelic vibe to it, which I'm naturally drawn to. It has both youthful and classic qualities, resulting in something beautiful that you can really fall in love with.

Me and You by Jake Bugg

Me and You is a track from the album Shangri-La. It was supposedly written when Jake was still at school, and while I can't say whether or not this is true, it certainly possesses youthful and innocent qualities. The lyrics are sweet - but not saccharine, it's never saccharine with Jake's lyrics. They are thoughtful. It's a track played on acoustic guitar, which adds to the appeal for me (I'm a massive fan of acoustic guitars), and it's played in a slightly faster, more upbeat way than some of the others. It is one of my favourite songs, not only of Jake's but ever.

If I Had a Gun... by Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

If I Had a Gun is very artistic and poetic. The lyrics are Romantic in all senses of the word - slightly dramatic, captivating and meaningful. Noel's voice is somewhat softer than his brother's but it still has those familiar Mancunian tones which Oasis fans will be fond of. The way Noel sings this is interesting, and makes you listen - for instance, he sings 'up' at the end of a lot of the lines - and I think this is really cool. This song is mainly guitar based, which I again love.

Hey There Delilah by The Plain White T's

Hey There Delilah has been one of my favourite songs for years and years. This is an acoustic guitar piece from the 00s, and the gentle, melodic picking of this tune is memorable and iconic. The lyrics are youthful and romantic and automatically involve the listener. The vocals are soft and simple, which is perfect for this song. It seems a simple piece, but it has many layers, and has come to mean so much to so many people, including me.

Grow Old With Me by Tom Odell

Grow Old With Me is a single from Tom's first album, A Long Way Down, which was awesome. Grow Old With Me is an uplifting song, played on the piano (as all of Tom's songs are). He has a great command of the piano, and you can see that here. Lyrically, the song is hopeful and sweet, with little moments and feelings at the centre of it all. The combination of all these elements, and the power of Tom's voice create a piece that is delicate and pretty and yet packed with power and feeling. 

Thank you for reading.

What are your favourite songs? Do you have anything else you'd like to say, or maybe suggestions for posts you'd like to see? Let me know in the comments.

Happy Valentine's Day, guys. Speak soon.

I hope you have a LOVE-ly day!

GingerSnaps xxx