A Gift From the Monkees

Riu Riu Chiu is a beautiful Spanish Christmas villancico. It is often performed acapella, but has also been released by some acts with musical accompaniment.

My favorite version of this song is by the Monkees from a holiday special in 1964. I have always been a big fan of theirs but had never heard this song until I picked up an old Billboard holiday compilation album with this on it. Loving music as I do, I immediately appreciated the talent in their performance of this song. As a long-time Monkees fan, one of the things this version reminds me of is how underestimated they were as musicians by the networks and even their fans, and how frustrating this was for the group members and how it ultimately led to their undoing (more on that another time). But mostly, I am glad someone put those four guys together and they made some fun music and entertaining sit-com episodes (for their time).

So at this time of year, I am wondering who might I be underestimating? What needs revisiting with fresh eyes, and how can I appreciate the gift of each person and each situation?

How about you?

The Most Wonderful Time of The Year

This holiday classic is another of my favorites. I have some wonderful college memories associated with this song of a spontaneous evening which included goofy dancing, pantomime sleigh rides, and other late-night antics.  I was joining a sorority and this started out as a late-night blow-off steam gathering with a fraternity that lasted til the wee hours- it was just plain fun!  The good feelings those memories bring me revisit each holiday season when this song hits the airwaves.  I am reminded to appreciate the moment- my family and friends, our health and our precious time together.

Beyond that, I’m reminded to just “go with it” sometimes. This past weekend while I was on Facebook, I inadvertently clicked on an ad which took me to the page for  Zepplin Hall, German restaurant that I’d been to once before. They  were featuring an early set of music on Saturday night. It caught my eye and I mentioned it to my husband.  Our kids had committed to a birthday party on Saturday afternoon, but if that went well, we thought they would enjoy the trip to the restaurant. Once the party was over, everyone seemed in a good mood (and not too hopped up on pizza and chocolate cake) so we decided to take the drive to the restaurant- it was a little out of the way- but so worth the trip! It wasn’t crowded and the band was a 4 piece um-pah group the Ja Ja Jas. The kids LOVED dancing to the acordian & brass Christmas carols, and playing with the other youngsters on the dance floor -it seems several other families had the same idea. While “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” wasn’t in their repertoire MY heart was glowing as I watched my kids having a fantastic, spontaneous time (at least as spontaneous as you can be with 2 preschoolers)!

These days ‘just going with it’ does not usually mean I show up at a neighbors house with party supplies in tow, but I do try to make the most of opportunities in front of me…Where can you you step back and appreciate someone or something, or what can you let go of and just enjoy in the moment?   I hope your holiday is full of both!

PopLeadership Is Off and Running…

This is my first foray into blogging in earnest- Between now and the end of the year, I’ll focus on the music of the holidays- my favorites to be exact-

Do They Know Its Christmas is definitely one of my top 3 Christmas song of all time. Someone said “Start where you are, use what you have and do what you can” As a teen when it was released, the pure excitement of the project and the acompanying message of selflessness was, and remains, a powerful message for each of us. A reminder that there are many who suffer every day to meet the most basic of needs (not only in Africa) is a message that we would all do well to remember the other 11 months of the year ….. – so my question is, where are you…what do you have…and what can you do?