A Christmas Confession

A Christmas Confession – I really do not care for the holiday, or the extended celebration of consumerism. For years I’ve tried to follow my own rule of allowing only two Christmas-related activities prior to Thanksgiving: making travel arrangements for the holiday and bemoaning how Christmas sales have encroached into other holidays.

Last week, however, I broke my own rule. I attended a Christmas-themed record release party hosted by the Glasgow High School Swing Choir. The group proved why some rules are meant to be broken.

Presenting recordings of four original songs created under the tutelage of Luree Green-Chappell, these impressive students wrote and recorded four original Christmas songs. The release party kicked off with “The Star is Real” of the sacred genre. Clearly inspired by traditional Christian hymns, it was a beautifully reverent song, evoking memories of hard wooden pews and soft Christmas lights reflecting off stained glass windows.

“Christmas Chaos” was up next, drawing inspiration from classic Christmas comedies such as National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. The catchy tune captured the ups and downs the holidays can bring, both lyrically and in the tempo. One could hear the laughter in the song.

The alternative genre song, “In Frame” on the other hand, revealed a far sadder side of the holidays. The mournful, longing lyrics underscore the hope holidays offer and the inevitable disappointment many feel as a perfect ideal remains out of reach.

Closing out the showcase was the big band/jazz inspired “A Special Time of Year.” This song is nostalgia. Picture a family watching old home videos while sipping apple cider surrounded by discarded gift wrappings, and you’ll have a good feeling of this song.

The creativity shown by this group was inspiring. All involved in the process should be proud of their efforts and talents. Green-Chappell is an amazing asset to the school and community. Having such talent showcased locally is a gift we should all be thankful for.

The Swing Choir will be performing Monday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium. I cannot recommend strongly enough putting this on your holiday calendar. Working in retail, with the endless tortuous loops of Christmas music had killed any desire to ever listen to those songs again. Yet the Swing Choir has created Christmas music that may just break through to this grinch.