A NICE SPEEDY POP/ROCK TUNE ON THIS FRIDAY ABOUT CHRISTMAS IN A SMALL TOWN - NO. 23 ON THE 2021 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN

As the lead singer for twenty years fronting MATCHBOX TWENTY, Ron Thomas established himself as a great composer and lead singer. Today's tune and video show him taking on Christmas in a very powerful tune. In addition to his time with Matchbox 20, as a solo artist and in collaboration with many big-time artists such as Mick Jagger, Daughtry, Travis Tritt and Santana, for which he won three Grammy Awards for co-writing and singing on the song "Smooth". Today's tune gets us started on a nice melody about the joy and simplicity of Christmas in a small town. The images and the music remind us of the season of peace and harmony with family and friends.

So, please enjoy today's contemporary tune celebrating the special feeling for Christmas. NO. 23 on the 2021 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - SMALL TOWN CHRISTMAS. Get up and dance a little.

MERRY CHRISTMAS. Hope this tune gets you going today.

D.L.Stafford

theNOMADARCHITECT

A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TAKE ON A CHRISTMAS CLASSIC - NO. 24 ON THE 2021 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN

 

The innovative Christian Rock/Pop band for KING & COUNTRY has redefined popular gospel music with a unique combination of power and precision. The two brothers, Joel and Luke, were born in Australia and immigrated to the US, settling in Nashville as kids. 

This most uncommon band won their first Grammy in 2014 with the release of the album Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong. The tune on today's post, The Little Drummer Boy, was first recorded in 1951 by The Trap Family Singers. Today's interpretation was released in 2019-2020. for KING & COUNTRY completely reinvented this holiday classic producing a powerful driving song that completely redefines this Christmas Standard.

So please enjoy this powerful and explosive tune by this multiple Grammy winning Christian Band. The first video is a passionate presentation of this classic tune about honoring the Christ child. Please enjoy for KING & COUNTRY performing The Little Drummer Boy - No. 24 on The 2021 Christmas Countdown.

The second video is a live performance of this powerful retake on The Little Drummer Boy.

I hope this tune will bring you pleasure and joy for this season.

Thanks & Merry Christmas

D.L.Stafford

thenomadARCHITECT

IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF DECEMBER - NO. 25 ON THE 2021 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN

The first post for the 2021 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN needs a little bit of history. Today's music, with an amazing video, is produced by Coca Cola, the best-selling soft drink in the world. Coke has become known, over the years, for creating great and relevant commercials that reach far beyond their desire to sell more product. The famous soft drink was invented May 8, 1886. As COKE began to grow in popularity its stock began to grow in value. 

In the 1920's and 1930's, a banker named Pat Munroe, in the small town of Quincy , Florida about 20 miles from Tallahassee, Florida, began to encourage his customers to buy stock in Coca Cola. And many customers did exactly that. One $40 share of coke purchased in 1919 is worth an estimated $6.4 million today. As a result, Quincy became the single richest town per capita in the United States with at least 67 millionaires who were dubbed "Coca-Cola Millionaires". It's still a small town, but, in 1996 the collective wealth of residents was $375 milliion.

So, the greatest selling soft drink company in the world produced the video you can enjoy today. It's simply called - COCA COLA CHRISTMAS COMMERCIAL 2020. It captures, in an invigorating video, the importance of this great holiday season and the love that we share with family and friends. If you can watch today's video without a tear being shed, well, that's on you.

Enjoy NO. 25 on the 2021 CHRISTMAS CONUNTDOWN - COCA COLA CHRISTMAS.

I hope you got all the deals you were looking for on Black Friday. And I hope you and yours have a great season. Merry Christmas. More great music and videos are coming. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

D.L.Stafford

theNOMADARCHITECT

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL COVID WEARY VAGABONDS - TODAY - A LITTLE HUMOR ON HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

OK - First of all. Apologies are due. I have been busy, busy, busy with a lot of stuff. Plus, the whole COVID thing. So - I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry that I have not posted anything in a very long time. And I know you hang on every word I write (LOL), so forgive me and please read on. 

The love of my life and I are both vaccinated and we're getting our booster shots right after Thanksgiving. However, my kids, my niece, my nephews and most of their friends have not. It's a generational thing. When we Boomers grew up in the fifties, sixties and seventies we got vaccines for everything. But the Gen Xers, the Millennials and the Gen Zers are slowly taking over and looking at us "old" people like we are crazy getting vaccinated. I think that is truly bizarre, but, as they say, Life Goes On.

However, I am always bragging on how smart my kids are. I have had numerous discussions with many "youngsters" from age 18 to 50 and it is a waste of breath. Maybe they know something we don't. I know that they are much more techno savvy than those of us who grew up with TV as the most enlightening technology of the ages.  

Today is my first post since last Christmas as I prepare for the ninth edition of THE TOP 25 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN FOR 2021.  So, in one week I will begin the 2021 Countdown. I have searched everywhere to find some great new Christmas tunes. Plus, there will be some always great tunes that I just can't get enough of.

Today - a preliminary post as we approach December. Please enjoy one of the hottest comedians performing today on holiday traditions - The one and only, very funny Jim Gaffigan doing HOLIDAY TRADITIONS 1.

So - Happy Thanksgiving. Just eat, laugh and love friends and family. I hope today's post and the coming Christmas Countdown will make your holidays better.

Thanks

D.L. STAFFORD

the NOMADARCHITECT

Buon Natale - Joyeux Noël - Frohe Weihnachten - Feliz Navidad - Kala Christougena - Feliz Natal - Wherever You Happen To Be - Merry Christmas!!

 The Most Blessed Day Is Here

First, let me say - We wish every Vagabond at home, on the road or just enjoying the day in a place you've never been - MERRY CHRISTMAS! This has been a most trying year dealing with the Covid Virus, the masks, and the "Experts", in every language, trying to tell us all what to do. Today, however, is the day we come together with family and friends to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. We will also happily watch the little kids, the older kids and the kids that just can't let it go get things they wanted and things they will return or stick in the closet. And, of course, we will enjoy great food and listen to Nat King Cole sing The Christmas Song for the five hundredth time! As we celebrate this great day, I hope you have enjoyed the songs I have put on The Nomad Architect.

Today, I selected one of the greatest classical works of music ever written. Ludwig van Beethoven only wrote nine symphonies. The Ninth Symphony was the first symphony ever written using singers. The final movement is called  Ode To Joy.  I hope you enjoy this powerful piece of music - Beethoven's Ninth Symphony - Fourth Movement - Chorale - Ode To Joy performed by The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchrestra and Singers and conducted by the ninety three year old Herbert Blomstedt. Seeing the pure joy on his face as he conducts this powerful composition shows us the true beauty of great music.

And, at the end of this very busy day, you can rest. Putting all the "stuff" away can wait. Just enjoy sleeping as you hear the beauty of peace and quiet from a tune written by John Lennon to his son - The Beatles - Good Night sung by Ringo Starr. God Bless you All.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All!

D.L.STafford

THENOMAD ARCHITECT

IT'S CHRISTMAS EVE!!! NO. 2 ON THE 2020 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 CHRISTMAS EVE IS MAGICAL FOR KIDS FROM  ONE TO NINETY-TWO

Today, Christmas Eve brings us all closer to our families and our friends, especially this year. There's something about this day of expectations for Christmas. The Christian World begins earnest preparation for giving and sharing as we celebrate the birth of Christ. I found an impressive tune celebrating Christmas Eve. Ryan Stevenson gives us a great fun song celebrating the beauty of this day as he sings  This Christmas Eve.

I found this Coke commercial, of all things, showing the beauty and love of Christmas. Very appropriate since coke is my favorite soft drink - ENJOY!

Who better to spread Christmas Cheer than The Prince of Wales and a talented group of British Actors reciting the best known Christmas Poem ever written - in support of the Actor's Benevolent Fund- Prince Charles and a fine cast of supporting actors bring us  'Twas  The Night Before Christmas.

It is my fervent hope that you and yours have a fabulous Christmas Eve!

D.LStafford

theNOMADarchitect

GOTTA HAVE SOME MORE JAZZ ON THIS WEDNESDAY - THREE DAYS LEFT - NO. 3 ON THE 2020 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN

I've said it many times before, I grew up listening to and loving jazz. Old school to new school, jazz is a uniquely American musical invention. First on today's Countdown, listen to  one of the greatest jazz pianists to ever sit at a keyboard, Dave Brubeck. My wife and I had the distinct pleasure of hearing Mr. Brubeck perform twice - first, in 1969 not long after we met at The Atlanta International Pop Festival and later at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Saint Pete, Florida in 2013 at the tender young age of 93! Utterly Amazing! 

Please enjoy today's first Countdown Tune - Dave Brubeck and his two sons performing Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.

Up next is a passel of amazing horn players bringing us some great jazz recorded around the world. I don't know how they did it but they did it right - The  Trumpet Bells of Christmas with a spectacular medley of Christmas Classics.

And for today's Bonus Track - Have a listen to one of the greatest jazz quartets to ever step on a stage - The multiple Grammy Award winning Manhattan Transfer performs two great Christmas Classics - Santa Baby and The Christmas Song.

I hope this music will jazz up your plans for Christmas.

D.L.Stafford

theNOMADarchitect