Songs of the season... Can you believe it? Were already on the Seventeenth Day of Christmas! Time is flying so fast. In just three short days, winter will end: the decorations, the tree, the fireplace will all be packed into their giant plastic bins and placed back in the storeroom under the stairs. And we well get on with the year. I might even start listening to the news during my commute--something Ive not done since October, when I started listening to holiday music--though Im a bit reluctant. Ive quite enjoyed filling my drives with holiday cheer--the sounds of Thanksgiving hymns, Native American flute music, klezmer tunes, Yuletide instrumentals, and Christmas carols. Ive quite enjoyed disengaging from the world of current events. I still get news from the Internet, but in much smaller, faster doses. I would suggest everyone do similarly at some point: disengage and redirect your focus to things that bring peace and joy. Im always sad to see the winter go--just as I was sad to see autumn go. And here in Malaya, the Land of Eternal Summer, (artificial) spring has, as if at the flip of a switch, replaced (artificial) winter in shopping malls and other public spaces. Pussy willows and peonies and cherry blossoms, pastels of pink and purple, are now everywhere--as are cute-cute goat decorations to help welcome in the Year of the Goat. Santa and reindeer and snowmen are distant memories. However, my weather desktop gadgets on my work computer are a constant reminder that there are those of you, my family and friends, who are still in the grip of winter--and will be for some time to come. Frosty the Snowman certainly is reigning supreme (a Frosty thats clearly been taking...er...performance-enhancing substances). And heres one of my favorite versions of this wintertime classic, as performed by one of my favorite Malaysian singers (a Sarawak girl), Zee Avi. The slow tempo and minor key give a certain Malay sensibility to the piece. Very melancholy, echoing the Sad Nature and Serious Underlying Message of the tale. Frostys gonna die. Full stop. Period. Nothing lasts forever, especially the things we create with our hands. Seasons change. So bundle up, yall in the North Country. Hold close those near and dear to you. Appreciate these moments. And watch for the coming of a spring thats not artificial. ;-) _______ Frosty the Snowman Frosty the snowman was a jolly happy soul, With a corncob pipe and a button nose And two eyes made out of coal. Frosty the snowman is a fairy tale, they say, He was made of snow but the children Know how he came to life one day. There must have been some magic in that Old silk hat they found. For when they placed it on his head He began to dance around. O, Frosty the snowman Was alive as he could be, And the children say he could laugh And play just the same as you and me. Thumpetty thump thump, Thumpety thump thump, Look at Frosty go. Thumpetty thump thump, Thumpety thump thump, Over the hills of snow. Frosty the snowman knew The sun was hot that day, So he said, Lets run and Well have some fun Now before I melt away. Down to the village, With a broomstick in his hand, Running here and there all Around the square saying, Catch me if you can. He led them down the streets of town Right to the traffic cop. And he only paused a moment when He heard him holler Stop! For Frosty the snow man Had to hurry on his way, But he waved goodbye saying, Dont you cry, Ill be back again some day. Thumpetty thump thump, Thumpety thump thump, Look at Frosty go. Thumpetty thump thump, Thumpety thump thump, Over the hills of snow. youtube/watch?v=hYAraU01oZ8
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 07:40:42 +0000
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