HALLELUJAH! IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY - WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST & ENJOY THE LOVE OF THIS SPECIAL DAY

TO ALL VAGABONDS CELEBRATING THIS DAY -  MERRY CHRISTMAS 

Here we are - It's finally Christmas Day. Like all Vagabonds, I have memory after memory of Christmas from my growing up days to my kids' growing up days. It's the one time of year when you can just enjoy the stress and the joy of December. The gifts, the tree, the decorating - All fun! And the cooking. I've said it many many times - Without the women in our lives, it just wouldn't be worth it, and we would never have any good food to eat! But that's a story for another post on TNA. I fervently wish everyone who has listened to the music and read some of the stories on the 2022 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - A VERY VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Here is a great tune to celebrate this day - NO. 1 on THE 2022 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - ANNE WILSON & JOSH TURNER - THE MANGER.

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IMHO - The greatest piece of music ever written is from the classical work Messiah by George Fredric Handel in 1741 - THE HALLELUJAH CHORUS. Here The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings THE HALLELUJAH CHORUS with over 2,000 people from around the world virtually singing from videos uploaded to YouTube. Watch and hear the amazing sound of this classic piece of music by one of the largest virtual choirs ever assembled.

Enjoy your day with family and friends. And a Very Merry Christmas to all Vagabonds everywhere.

D.L.Stafford

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“For to us, a child is born, to us, a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” - Isaiah 9-6

CHRISTMAS EVE - NO. 2 ON THE 2022 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - WHAT A NIGHT!

 

One of the most hallowed nights of the year will be here in a few hours. It starts to bring back all of those memories we have of trying to go to sleep as we were ordered by our parents. Very tough for your basic 5 or 6 year old. 

First up today is a unique reading by the one and only Louis Armstrong. If you have little kids, make sure they see this distinctive Christmas video. NO. 2 on THE 2022 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - LOUIS ARMSTRONG - A VISIT FROM ST. NICHOLAS ('TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS).

To celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ - NO. 2 ON THE 2022 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - A compelling arrangement and video - LITTLE DRUMMER BOY.

And to wrap up Christmas Eve - One of the greatest radio personalities to ever wax eloquently over the airwaves - PAUL HARVEY gives us a different take on the BETHLEHEM INN KEEPER sometime in the early sixties.

Get plenty of sleep tonight, you're going to need it!

Merry Christmas

D.L.Stafford

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“Christmas Eve ought to be a very joyful evening to us in all its associations, in all the truths which it naturally brings to the soul…. A man’s soul is to be as the heavens were on the night when the shepherds looked up and saw them full of angels as well as stars.” – Henry Ward Beecher

ONLY THREE MORE DAYS - NO. 3 ON THE 2022 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - GREAT SINGING - GREAT DANCING

We are nearing the final days of THE CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN. I have been hard at work finding mostly new tunes with some old standards thrown in. Today, you will hear one of the greatest Gospel groups to ever grace the stage. In addition, you will hear a group I discovered when they recorded Jingle Bells with Michael Buble'. And last, but not least, is a new discovery for me - A British phenom bringing a very cool song with some very cool dancing - Enjoy!

Bottom Line - I love Southern Gospel music. It just has a feel to it. Since 1981 The Gaither Vocal Band has ensured that the spirit and sound of Southern Gospel Music remains alive & well. It has changed members many times since then, but they are always performing new innovative tunes to audiences all over the world. NO. 3 on THE 2022 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - THE GAITHER VOCAL BAND presents MARY WAS THE FIRST ONE TO CARRY THE GOSPEL.

OK - It's Friday and I know that many of you Vagabonds will be attending one, two, or even three parties or family gatherings to celebrate Christmas. So, today, we'll close out Friday with a couple of tunes that will fire you up for the weekend.

CHRISTMAS WITH THE PUPPINI SISTERS. These girls can sing!

And if this last tune doesn't get you going - Sorry - Merry Christmas anyway. British sensation -

Si Cranstoun with three backup singers and dancers performs A CHRISTMAS TWIST.

This music makes me wanna' dance - LOL!!! Christmas is only two days away. I hope you're ready.

Merry Christmas

D.L.Stafford

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“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,
Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like there's nobody listening,
And live like it's heaven on earth.”
― William W. Purkey

IT'S THURSDAY - NO. 4 ON THE 2022 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - TIME TO HEAR FROM THE BOYS !

TODAY - WE'LL LISTEN TO SOME OF THE GREATEST MALE SINGERS TO EVER TAKE A STAGE SINGING CHRISTMAS TUNES

When I hear male singers hitting all those notes, high and low, and singing with amazing passion, fast or slow, I can't get enough. Today's post features some of the truly great singers both gospel and secular. Like any male singer I have always aspired to achieve the levels of inspired singing by the artists in today's post.

First up today features one of the greatest Gospel singers to ever record - NO. 4 on THE 2022 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - Multiple Grammy winner LARNELLE HARRIS presents Sweet Little Jesus Boy with a strong Gospel Choir backing.

And then there is the one and only David Phelps, a longtime member of the award-winning Gaither Vocal Band, giving us his take on the classic OH HOLY NIGHT with the Vocal Band.

No list of great male singers would be complete without the great Tom Jones. I have had the pleasure of seeing this incredible singer from his early days to a show in Saint Petersburg a few years ago. Take a listen as Jones gives us a killer version of JESUS IS HERE TO STAY & JESUS ON THE MAINLINE at the tender young age of 77 with a power choir behind him! 

Once again - Crank up the volume. These guys peel the paint!

Merry Christmas

D.L.Stafford

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• “Christmas magic is silent. You don’t hear it. You feel it. You know it. You remember it." — Kevin Alan Milne, "The Paper Bag Christmas"

NO. 5 ON THE 2022 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - HOW ABOUT A LITTLE CLASSICAL FOR MIDWEEK?

CLASSICAL MUSIC FROM A MASTER IS ALWAYS COMPELLING AND PROFOUND

I'm no expert when it comes to the music of the Classical Masters. Suffice to say - Listening to Beethoven's 9th or Mozart's Requiem gives me a sense of history and majesty that comes from the geniuses who wrote the music and the talented players who perform it. Mozart was only 15 when he wrote his First Symphony.

Today's music features one of the greatest compositions by Ludwig von Beethoven ever written. This is the longest piece of music ever posted on The Countdown. I must admit to being emotionally moved beyond myself every time I hear this powerful composition by one of the world's greatest composers. Beethoven wrote Symphony No. 9 in D Minor, Opus 125 between 1822 and 1824. 

One source states that he was completely deaf when he wrote this choral symphony.  Others say he was profoundly deaf. Ultimately, it really doesn't matter. I do hope you will listen to this Finale, the 4th Movement of the 9th Symphony. I highly recommend watching and listening on a large, big screen TV with the sound turned up high. NO. 5 on the 2022 Christmas Countdown - Ludwig von Beethoven's 9th Symphony - Finale - 4th Movement - Performed by the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra and the The German State Berlin Choir comprised of over 200 singers and directed by award-winning conductor Daniel Barenboim. 

Here's a quick movie clip about the life of the composer. This clip shows the emotion and power of Beethoven's 9th Symphony - From the film Immortal Beloved starring the Oscar winning actor Gary Oldman.  Beethoven steps up on stage to stand facing the orchestra "feeling" the music he cannot hear. Then the conductor turns him around to face the wildly applauding audience as the 9th is completed. 

I hope you enjoy this moving powerful music by one of the greatest composers in history.

Merry Christmas

D.L.Stafford

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“Consider difficulties as stepping stones to a better life.” Ludwig Van Beethoven.

NO. 6 ON THE 2022 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - A NEW GUY ON THE NOMAD ARCHITECT BLOG

CROWDER - I RECENTLY BECAME AWARE OF THIS GREAT CHRISTIAN ARTIST - HE'S ON TODAY

I discovered this talented artist after talking to one of my favorite relatives, who has very hip taste in music, about new Christian artists and he mentioned this guy and his band. So, I did a little research and checked him out. Crowder and his squad of players impress. 

CROWDER released his first record in 2014 entitled Neon Steeple and has been a force in the contemporary Christian music scene ever since. 

So here are a couple of cuts showing the evolution of Christian music with today's featured writer, performer and producer putting out some interesting new music. First up is a very cool Christmas Tune - NO. 6 0N THE 2022 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - CROWDER - THANKS GIVER

And just to show that CROWDER has a humorous perspective on Santa Claus and Christmas - THE ELF SONG.

I Hope your shopping and wrapping are nearing completion.

Merry Christmas

D.L.Stafford

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"A cynic is just a man who found out when he was about 10 that there wasn't any Santa Claus, and he's still upset." - James Gould

IT'S NO. 7 ON THE 2022 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - THE LAST MONDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS-WE NEED SOME ENERGY

TODAY IS MONDAY - YOU'RE TIRED & STRESSED - THE SHOPPING, THE WRAPPING, THE COOKING, THE PARTIES JUST TIRES YOU OUT - NOTHING MAKES YOU FEEL BETTER THAN SOME GOOD OLD ROCK & ROLL - MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

That's right! As I tell my kids all the time - Nothing is too good for my people. So today, my fellow Vagabonds, just crank up the headphones and take a listen to some great Rock & Roll Christmas tunes. Rock & Roll changed the world of modern music. And that, for the most part, has been a good thing.

First up on this last Monday before the big day is one of the greatest acapella groups to ever record. They do not generally do these kinds of songs. But this tune is rockin' and cool at the same time. NO. 7 on THE 2022 CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN - PENTATONIX PERFORMS LAST CHRISTMAS.

Second - to get you off the couch and going on what I hope will be a Happy Monday - Dave Edmunds & Bonnie Tyler performing RUN RUN RUDOLPH.

And third from a group we have featured on The Countdown before - THE TRACTORS wailin' on THE SANTA CLAUS BOOGIE!

In all honesty, I have not wrapped a single thing. I've been so busy finding great music I just haven't had time! LOL! But today, on Monday, I start.

Merry Christmas

D.L.Stafford

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• “A lovely thing about Christmas is that it’s compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together.” — Garrison Keillor