"Merry Christmas" Songs
It is chilly outside, yet people, jolly as always, frolic in the cold air, oblivious of flu or cold the weather can cause them. If these young people, mostly undergraduate students at CYCU, are microcosm of Taiwan, it is safe to say that the Taiwanese are generally happy and fun-loving people. Today is two days before Christmas and I can actually hear some of them, particularly the girls, sing some familiar western Christmas songs. Listening closely to their “rendition” of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing makes me chuckle because they can’t pronounce some words in the lyrics well and they’re mostly out of tune. I’m not even sure if they understand every word that leaves their voice boxes. Theirs are the kind of voice that you’d wish be boxed and sealed inside it forever. It is fun listening to their shrieking voices, though.
Silent night, hoholy night…
Yes that’s I how I heard it. There’s no typo error.
No matter how good or bad a Christmas song becomes when one sings it, as long as he enjoys singing it, not minding others’ derision, the song will still simply be a good symbol to convey what the season means. In my opinion, however, the Christmas songs should be Christmas songs with lyrics conveying Christmas – happy and full of hope. Children carolers merrily sing these songs to the top of their voice, with invented lyrics in place of those that they can’t pronounce, and, surprisingly, they’re never annoying. Gary V’s Pasko Na Sinta Ko is a beautiful but sad song, which for me is not a Christmas song. WHAM’s Last Christmas is so pop but unfortunate. Their only association with Christmas is the word Christmas or Pasko in the lyrics. In addition, there have been many highly commercial songs, disguising as Christmas songs, recorded and sold locally and internationally.
Silent night, hoholy night…
Yes that’s I how I heard it. There’s no typo error.
No matter how good or bad a Christmas song becomes when one sings it, as long as he enjoys singing it, not minding others’ derision, the song will still simply be a good symbol to convey what the season means. In my opinion, however, the Christmas songs should be Christmas songs with lyrics conveying Christmas – happy and full of hope. Children carolers merrily sing these songs to the top of their voice, with invented lyrics in place of those that they can’t pronounce, and, surprisingly, they’re never annoying. Gary V’s Pasko Na Sinta Ko is a beautiful but sad song, which for me is not a Christmas song. WHAM’s Last Christmas is so pop but unfortunate. Their only association with Christmas is the word Christmas or Pasko in the lyrics. In addition, there have been many highly commercial songs, disguising as Christmas songs, recorded and sold locally and internationally.
Sa May Bahay (Ang Aming Bati), O Little Town Of Betlehem, Pasko Na Naman, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Joy To The World and other world’s traditional Christmas songs have been always “making the season bright” here and the rest of the world. Now, if you want "Ang disyembre ko ay malungkot pagka't miss kita..." on the chilly air waves, go for it. Happiness is, after all, a decision.
Comments
I love the "...hoholy night" in Taiwanese! hahaha.
...but haven't you heard the Filipino version of "Joy to the World"?
"Joy to the Lord the Word has come, Berting, Berting, Berting. In every hart, prepare them room...
Aniver watsu see (2x). aniver, aniver, watsu see!"
Who is Berting anyway? Maybe it's Jesus' pseudonym. We never know.
hahaha.
Nice piece of writing sir alv!