Christmas Memories

[L Verge]

https://www.youtube.com/embed/khQN5ylb3H0?rel=0

Hope this opens up for you. It has been around before, but you know me and my love of the military. I saw my father many years in these WWII uniforms. I'm not sure, but I think this was filmed in DC's beautiful Union Station.

[HerbS]

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES!!!!

[Gene C]

That was great.
Seems like this reminds you of a song
Fantastic dance routine at the end

[RJNorton]

Wonderful, Laurie! Thanks for posting!

[L Verge]

A friend sent me several links to Christmas music done a cappella (?sp) by a group that I had never heard of, Home Free. Absolutely beautiful pieces. They are definitely a little bit country, but their harmonizing and renditions of old hymns made me cry -- especially O Holy Night. Several of the men (only five of them) simulate instruments via their voices.

I will be politically correct and not insert religious fervor here on the forum, but try to find this group on Google. The settings that they chose as backdrops are spectacular also. They have a rendition of Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA set in front of Mount Rushmore that will knock your socks off.

BTW: If the Jingle Bells video that I sent was filmed at Union Station, you are looking at the resurrected grandeur of that building from what it was forty years ago. The NPS holdings of Lincoln assassination materials was stored in the attic of the dilapidated station while the roof was leaking. Thank the heavens they survived.

[Thomas Kearney]

I'm not an a Capella fan, but thanks for sharing!

[L Verge]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO6OZIY-lYw

Sorry, can't help myself! This is just too beautiful not share. Hope it comes through.

Having been a church organist for twenty-six years in my youth, Thomas, I can only say that (IMO) a cappella performances are what distinguish the god-given voices from the sing-in-the-shower or shout-over-the-heavy-metal ones. To me, that clearly shows in this video.

[Thomas Kearney]

Josh Groban brings the house down with his rendition of that song

[Gene C]

I like them both, but I prefer the Josh Groban version too, Thomas. The instruments compliment his voice.
It's a beautiful song with a beautiful message.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zh-yR0pbmU

[L Verge]

I love everything that Josh Groban does, and his You Raise Me Up can bring tears to my eyes. But, I think he fails to add any depth and nuance to this version of O Holy Night. There's no emotion, just a standard rendition. The instruments are carrying him, where Home Free's individual voices and ranges do what Josh's orchestra is doing. Celtic Woman does a beautiful performance of this song also.

Maybe I have heard, sung, and accompanied others so many times on this song that it takes a lot to impress me. Home Free did the trick. No matter which singer(s) you prefer, however, may this song help to instill the true Christmas spirit in our fellow Christians across the world.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Sadly his last.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MbZWnRvKGg8

[Thomas Kearney]

Sadly his last.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MbZWnRvKGg8

Somethings bugging me, something ain't right. I found out we lost George Michael last night. I can't believe all the good talent has left us in 2016. Start at the 90 Second mark:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r54CqBhoIjk

[HerbS]

Thank you Eva-that was terrific!