Songs of the Season
A few of my favorite holiday songs live on YouTube
Christmas is nearly upon us. I’m sure you, like me, are getting inundated with songs of the season. I love Christmas music, although there are a few tracks I can happily hear once or twice a season, and I’m good. Mariah Carey, I’m looking in your direction.
For this week’s newsletter, I thought I’d drop in a couple of holiday favorites you can watch on YouTube by the fire as you drink your hot chocolate and bask in the glow of the Christmas tree. While doing my quick search, I decided to narrow it to live performances. It just sounded fun.
I hope you enjoy these songs. You might even hear one or two that you’ve never heard before. Wouldn’t that be a nice present from me to you?
Jerry Granelli Trio - Linus and Lucy
Jerry Granelli, at the time of this recording, was the only surviving member of the Vince Guaraldi Trio who performed the original for the Peanuts Christmas special. He is, I think, in his 80s here and jamming like he was 60 years younger.
The Monkees - Riu Chiu
The four members of the Monkees only did this song once, live for their Christmas special. You may think the Monkees weren’t a real band, but they absolutely nail the harmonies here and turn a 16th‑century Spanish Christmas song about the Nativity into something amazing.
Yo-Yo Ma, Alison Krauss - The Wexford Carol
This is one of the most beautiful, most haunting arrangements of any Christmas song I’ve ever heard. It is magnificent. I love the mysticism and the Irish feel to the arrangement. Alison Krauss’s voice is perfect for this song. I can think of no singer who could have sung it more exquisitely than she does.
Bing Crosby, David Bowie - Peace On Earth / Little Drummer Boy
If you’ve never seen this, it comes from the last Bing Crosby Christmas special. Bowie is smoothly cool here. I’ve seen this clip so many times, I think I have a “memory” of seeing it live in 1977, but I doubt that’s true. Doug Helvering has a deep dive into the creation of this track.
Tim Minchin - White Wine In The Sun
This might be my favorite Christmas song of all time. I don’t remember when I stumbled upon this video, but I fell in love with the sentiment and the performance. I also love that proceeds from the single go to charity each year at Christmas. For me, it captures what Christmas means to people who are not religious in a way that is eloquent and beautiful. I listen every year, and I still cry. Every. Single. Time.
Be seeing you.
Rob Reiner Was a Quiet Titan of Storytelling
This tragedy is unfathomable. Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele, were murdered last Sunday, and their son Nick is being held without bail, with police believing he is responsible for the deaths of his parents. Is this world going to hell in a handbasket or what? Here’s a good list of his best films. Will Wheaton has a fond remembrance. Judd Legum wrote about his non-filmmaking passions. Finally, Donald Trump is a horrible human being. I know this isn’t a new development, but it can’t be said enough.
If He Builds It, Tear It Down
Hamilton Nolan has a few words about the Epstein Memorial Ballroom. “As soon as Republicans leave the White House, the next president should tear it down. It should not be torn down quietly. Its destruction should be a public event. It should be pledged on the campaign trail by Democratic candidates. The day after inauguration, there should be a fireworks show over the White House as wrecking balls and backhoes smash the white walls of the fascist hangar. Citizens should gather in Lafayette Square and the National Mall and cheer as the gaudy pillars of the insulting structure are imploded by demolition experts. Let barbecues and block parties spring up around the nation as Americans watch the event on live television. Let there be a celebratory concert in front of the pile of rubble. Let us create a historic moment of national catharsis. Let us nonviolently smash the Trump era into dust.”
Why 2026 Will Be the Year American Politics Finally Returns to Normal
Alyssa Rosenberg breaks down the chaos of 2025 and expects most Americans, and maybe the entire world, to be ready for some semblance of normalcy to be ascendant. I’m cautiously optimistic, but then I read the next story…
America Is an Unserious Country Filled With Unserious People
Three stories. Three reactions and actions. “A serious country populated by serious people is not helpless to solve its problems.”
This Is What Presidential Panic Looks Like
I did not watch the address and could not be made to watch for anything under the sun. Apparently, it was twenty minutes of an octogenarian yelling at the ungrateful American people. I knew he’d spiral into saying outrageous claims about how fantastic all the things he’s done have been and how we'd never had it better. Needless to say, the fact-checkers could barely keep up with him. Here, pointing out some of the lies are Daniel Dale of CNN and Jen Psaki of MSNOW, the channel formerly known as MSNBC. Won’t someone rid us of this meddlesome idiot?
Entirely Too Many Thoughts About Wake Up Dead Man
Leah Schnelbach, writing in Reactor Magazine, takes on Rian Johnson’s latest Benoit Blanc mystery movie. She tackles this story from about every angle and clearly has thought about the writing and these characters as much as Johnson has. I highly recommend these movies, and all three are on Netflix. Start with Knives Out.
YouTube Hands the Best Acquisition Oscar to Netflix
M.G. Siegler is insightful and prophetic. He sees the writing on the wall, and the sand under Hollywood’s feet has shifted. I’m a big fan of his Grand Netflix Hollywood Unification Theory, and I’m absolutely convinced he’s right about all of this.
Why Does A.I. Write Like … That?
I missed this earlier. It’s a good breakdown of AI writing, the style and ticks it primarily uses, and the prompts that users need more training on.
Please learn how to use your computer
A fine, fine rant. “In 2026, I’m hoping — begging, really — that we finally retire the idea that digital incompetence is an acceptable personality quirk in professional settings. Learn the shortcuts. Read the error messages. Google it (or, hell, ask the bots) before you ask someone else to Google it for you.”
Disclosure Day | Official Teaser
Here’s a movie I knew nothing about. David Koepp wrote the screenplay, and Stephen Spielberg directed Disclosure Day. It looks… interesting. Here’s the logline: “If you found out we weren’t alone, if someone showed you, proved it to you, would that frighten you? This summer, the truth belongs to seven billion people. We are coming close to … Disclosure Day.”
Regarding holiday songs, these live versions are unexpected, but I'm curious.