A musical journey - December

So it's December, and yet I've been quite lazy and not done a musical post, or have I cunningly waited till later in the month? No the first note was right I've just been lazy. But it is December so all should be forgiven. So at the risk of being cheesy, this months theme is if course Christmas!

I love Christmas, the family, the films, the weather (if it snows that us) the food, the TV, the drinks, the decorations and of course the music. Some places overkill it by starting too early, now I am by no means a Scrooge but I like to try keep Christmas to December. I like Christmas songs in December. I love all the traditional carols etc, and I love all the main songs we here like most wonderful time, wish it could be Christmas, etc etc but in this post I'd like to celebrate a few songs that might not be as famous/newer songs, so here goes....

Orba Squara - what I want for Christmas
I first heard this song a few years ago. I remember it was used on a sky movies advert. I instantly loved it, it's was soft and different for a Christmas song, It for me is a welcome change to all the other songs played traditionally at this time of year. It is kind of like my hidden gem, but I'm happy to share with you keep it quiet though...

Bo Selecta - Proper Crimbo
This is actually a contender for one if my favourite all time Christmas songs. It's just fun, pure and simple. And isn't this wheat this time of year is about fun? Avid Merrion dies a great job and the video is a laugh too, now come along sing with me...

The Killers - Happy Birthday Guadalupe
The Killers release a Christmas song every year. That's some fear, and every year it's a great song. Of there Christmas songs this us one of my favourites. It's quite a warm song and I quite like the video it's different, like the Orba Squara song has a different feel and a welcome change to all the other festive songs....

The Killers - Don't shoot me Santa
Ok Ok so I've put 2 Killers songs on, but it is meant to be about less celebrated different songs for Christmas and what could be more different than the idea if killer Santa who shoots people? Again a great song enhanced by a great video showing a psychotic Santa who has kidnapped Brandon Flowers, oh no!

Train - Shake up Christmas
Of all the songs on this list this to me sounds the most festive. Train are one if my favourite bands and ok they have sold out a bit doing a coca cola song, but it's Christmas and the Coca Cola truck whether you like it or not is now kind of a tradition of Christmas, after all Coca Cola is the reason why Santa wears Red. But back to the song, a very festive sounding Christmas jingle, again quite a recent song too, it always gets a smile on my face...

A Musical Journey - September

Ahhh so September has come and gone, the summer is properly over and the nights start getting darker, the mornings are colder, and the mood of music grows darker as we say goodbye to summer anthems and hello to winter warmers. This months 3 bands that's I've been listening to are a mix of hearty warm ballads and powerful story telling rock songs.

1: The Killers - they released their new album this month, Battle born. Named after their own studio in their home town of Las Vegas where they recorded the album. A band that has often been confused with sounding British but are actually American. There 4th album is great and to me sounds a lot like their second album tone, Sams Town. Very Springsteenesq with the story telling aspect if the songs, intertwining with the melodies and guitar rifts. Their new album has lots of great songs from the opening track, Flesh and Bones to the last track Prizefighter (which is on the deluxe version which is worth buying for Prizefighter alone) the band have came a long way since their first album, Hot Fuss, and this album only goes on to cement their status as one of the biggest and best bands around. A lot quieter in places when compared to their last album but the quality as opposed to the volume is there for all to hear. Runaways had may be over played by myself of recent, as I've been using it in my classes...

2: Mumford and Sons - another band who have released a new album this month, Babel is again taken in the same vain as Mumfords first album, sigh no more. When I hear Mumford and sons songs I instantly think of winter, curling up by a fire place with a roaring fire on display, a pint if warm cider, and a wooly jumper on. Maybe I'm getting old with those kind if thoughts, but for some reason that is what I think no matter what Mumford and sons song I hear. I saw them at Leeds Festival in 2010, they were a great act to watch, and one I'd gladly see again. I've only managed to listen to the album twice fully yet, partly because I've been so addicted to the Killers new album, but I'm sure once I get time I'll love it as much as there first. However the song I have shared is one from their first, and probably my favourite song if there's.....

3: Sick Puppies - ok, so I have infact only been listening to one of the Sick Puppies songs, ok, in fact I only know 1 Sick Puppies song, maybe. I first heard this song in 2011, when Liverpool played Wolves, it was the song Sky sports used to close out the programme. I liked it and downloaded it. This past month I've heard it quite a few times, as I've been using it in my classes on my playlist. There's not much to say about it, it spurs me in when I workout and that's what I try to do when I make my playlists for my teaching, choose songs I feel will spur people in, enjoy and ignore their workout and push harder. However most the time, they end up being rock songs, as that's what I prefer, so enjoy, I might try find more of their songs....