Musings and a Question

[ladybug_archive]

First, the question, in order to get the attention of those whose eyes will glaze over at the second half of the entry.

Who here thinks it might be a good idea for me to do kind of a fic announcements journal? Like, posting there every time I've written and posted something somewhere, and telling what it is, where it is, and what it's for. I know several people have Friended me because of enjoying my stories, and some of you don't rely on FF.net for your info when I update, so I'm particularly thinking of that. But then again, I think all such people are in communities where I post fics, so maybe an announcement journal would be a waste of time. XD;

Though said people are not in all comms where I post fics, and fics only go to a certain comm or two as well as FF.net. So I don't think anyone would get the complete rundown on what I'm posting if they're not on FF.net.

Ever since I found an old music quiz I did, where a question was What are the five worst songs ever written?, I've been pondering over that where Christmas music is concerned. It technically went beyond five songs, but I'm randomly posting my current conclusions.

-I still cannot stand anything by Christina Aguilera. She murders every song she touches by her inability to quit traveling all over the scales on almost every note. She makes my teeth grind.

-Gloria Estefan bores the heck out of me. I thought it was only her version of Let It Snow I didn't like, but this year I have determined that it's all of her Christmas songs. XD; At least all the ones I've heard this year. There is only one exception: I adore Christmas Through Your Eyes. Which makes me think that she does better with her own originals than the standard classics.

-I abhor Last Christmas, at least WHAM!'s version. It goes on and on, the lyrics are boring, the music is boring, the way it's sung is boring.... Just ... ugh. I seem to recall hearing a female-sung version that I kind of liked, but I haven't heard it this year, and it was never played as much as WHAM!'s version.

-Little Saint Nick is one of the most overplayed songs ever. I like hearing it at Christmas, but not three or four times in a single day!

-Harry Connick Jr. is not a favorite of mine, but I can tolerate him. However, his version of Silver Bells is horrible. He sounds like singing the song is pure torture to him, especially when he starts the second verse and talks about street lights and stop lights and whatnot. And it's also torture for anyone listening.

-Barry Manilow is cheesy. I don't always mind this, I love his song Because It's Christmas. But his version of Home for the Holidays makes me headdesk. It sounds like something he meant to try to imitate big time 1940's show-stoppers stuff, but without all the bells and whistles, it just sounds really silly at the ending.


And I'll probably think of more.

Comments

[invincible1863.livejournal.com]

To answer your question: Yes, an update journal is good for those who don't go to the communities.

And OMG. We disagree on a lot of the things regarding Christmas Music. I'll tell you what. There is one Song that I play quite a lot during Christmas, and it's "I Want A Hippotatamus for Christmas" by Gayla Peevey. It drives my mom (and my family in general nuts). But "Little Saint Nick" is my favorite Beach Boys Christmas Song. My station at Christmas time actually doesn't play it as often as yours must...hmm. But yeah...and Christina A. drives you crazy? Wow. I'm not a fan of her Christmas CD, but her other stuff isn't bad.

TTFN!

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

I love the hippo song. It's so random and cute.

I like The Man With All the Toys a lot more than Little Saint Nick. I adore the Beach Boys' harmonies, but Little Saint Nick bores me when I hear it multiple times on the same day when I'd rather be hearing a personal favorite.

I've never liked Christina Aguilera. I admittedly haven't even listened to her much outside of her Christmas album. I don't like her kind of music in general and I don't like how she sings. The song Beautiful has good words, but the way she sings it makes me want to headdesk.

[amanechan.livejournal.com]

Hm, maybe you could also use the journal to mention what you're currently working on, as well? Just like, "Chapter X of Fic Y is up at such and such, and now I'm working on Oneshot B". *shrug* Just an idea. ^^;

...One of my favorite Christmas compilation albums, which my parents bought in the early 90s, I think, has this version of "Blue Christmas" and I can't remember for the life of me who it's by, but it's a female and I can't stand that song. XD I think because when I was little the song bored the heck out of me. I dunno, just the this lady slides her voice around in this song drives me crazy. And now it's stuck in my head. XD;

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

**nods.** That's a possibility, too. ^^ I really like talking about fics in this journal, but I could cross-post some of the info about what I'm working on, maybe.

Sliding! Yes, I think that's the word I'm looking for. And I hate when dumb versions of songs get stuck in your head. XD;

[candy--chan.livejournal.com]

I've never really thought about what my least favorite ones are...granted, I worked at a grocery store during the holidays while I was in college, and they played Christmas music CONSTANTLY, so unless it was a song I really liked, I usually just started tuning it out xD Or we'd joke about hearing "Run, Run, Rudolph" for the third time in one shift.

I agree on "Christmas Through Your Eyes," though. Love that song ~♥ My three favorite Christmas tunes are actually "Breath of Heaven," "O Holy Night," and "Silent Night."

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

LOL. I haven't heard that one much yet, but maybe I will before the season is out.

And I don't get why the stations don't play Breath of Heaven like they used to! ;__; I'm lucky to get to hear it once or twice lately.

[cskazaam.livejournal.com]

**snickers at the first comment** XD

Well, I usually hear from you when you post something. XD But if I didn't, I'd sure like some kind of an announcement when you do. But is it something that you'd like to keep in a separate journal, or could you just make the announcement here?

Hey, I actually recognize most of these people now! And I'm usually pretty bad at it. XD

I agree with the first three, especially Christina Aguilera. She really is awful! I've heard Gloria Estefan's Let It Snow, but I don't remember any of her others, so I'm curious to find out how bad they are. XD And I've yet to hear Christmas Through Your Eyes.

I usually don't get the chance to listen to much Christmas music during the day, though if one was as overplayed as Little Saint Nick, it would definitely get tiring! And I'll definitely have to listen for the last two songs because I'm not sure if I've heard them or not. XD But they sound pretty bad!

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

I often do make the announcements in here. ^^ So maybe doing that and having people keep track of me on FF.net is good enough. I dunno. Maybe most people interested either Watch me on FF.net or else hang out at my journal, whether they've Friended me or not.

Gloria Estefan's version of White Christmas makes me yawn. And The Christmas Song. I don't know what audience she's trying to cater to, but undoubtedly it isn't us! XD

Yeah, I haven't heard Harry Connick Jr.'s Silver Bells yet. (Just as well.) But I heard Barry Manilow's Home for the Holidays last night.

[helenbutterfly.livejournal.com]

You write so many fanfics, making a journal like that is a good idea. ;)

Haha! I love your conclusions. XD Well written, dear, really well. <3

Now, I haven't heard a single Aguilera holiday song, so I dunno. I must say I like a number of songs she sings, but I can't listen to her very long because of her voice.

Oh, and do try listening to Mariah Carey. Maybe you'll like it. ;)

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Wow, I find that amusing. XD You like songs she sings, but you can't stand it for long because of her voice.

Oh yes, I've tried Mariah. ^^ They play her on the radio a lot at Christmas, and when I used to listen when it wasn't Christmas, they played her other songs too. I really like her. Her voice is so smooth. And her vocal range is amazing.

[helenbutterfly.livejournal.com]

XD Well, you see, there is a number of songs, which I love and make me feel happy, when I'm down. But I can't listen to her album twice in a row or a song 5 times in a row. ;p

YOSH!! :D ♥ Mariah's voice is pleasant for the ear. And MC songs are healthy too. XD

[ladyamberjo.livejournal.com]

I can't not-comment on Christmas music-rants. XD

I have to agree with you about Christina Aguilera. I always thought people who could hold a note for extended periods of time were sort of...well, sexy. I don't see what the big deal is about all the weird, wiggly notes. They make my teeth itch.

Gloria Estefan...ehn, no complaints from me, really. I don't think I've listened to much of her Christmas stuff, though.

One song I'll be happy to avoid hearing is that awful song about Christmas shoes. Yay, death at Christmas, talk about downers.

I remember when VH1 used to have two days of looping Christmas music videos. I always enjoyed that...but now there're no music videos on VH1 at all. I think last time I checked for them, there was some TV special about NSYNC on. o__x;

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

It's fun to find people who can hold notes. XD Sometimes I try to sing along and see how long I can hold them, too. Then I have to gasp for breath and stop singing, and the artist keeps on for several more seconds. LOL.

I always liked The Christmas Shoes, but it really is a sad/tragic song. ;__; The book is even more so in some ways, as there's two Christmas deaths.

Man, no more music videos. That is very sad. I hate when channels take away something that was really cool and fun. Not to mention that trying to imagine a music channel without music videos is just ... weird.