TUNEAGE TUTELAGE - "Jingle Bells"

Sparks Of Insanity By Vinny "Bond" Marini Thursday, December 20, 2007



TIME TO DONATE SOME RICE TODAY!
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OK...16 Voters yesterday
And the winner was...
well..the Winners Were, we should say
Frank Sinatra and The Drifters tied with 50% of the vote each

Shania & Otis each had 31.3%

We will tell you, we LOVED the version by THE DRIFTERS

We are liking this feature and will bring it back every so often after the New Year...we already have a list of songs and artists we will feature.

We will wrap this week's round with one more tune. Then tomorrow our last post until next Wednesday as we are off to San Antonio to visit Brother Richard and his family for Christmas. Will be missing Matt as we not spending our first Christmas together EVER...

Next Wednesday, we will give you a more complete Tuneage Tutelage on all of our winners and their performances of the songs from this week...

The last Christmas song is a fun song...the one many people most associate with Christmas and one we all as little kids sang with alternate lyrics...

"JINGLE BELLS"
Also known as "One Horse Open Sleigh", is one of the best known and commonly sung secular Christmas songs in the world. It was written by James Lord Pierpont (1822–1893) and copyrighted under the title 'One Horse Open Sleigh' on September 16, 1857.

Various stories of the song's origins give the place of composition as Savannah, Georgia, Boston or Medford, Massachusetts. An oft-repeated story is that he wrote it to be sung at a Thanksgiving program at his church in Savannah or Boston, but because of its instant popularity, it was sung again at the Christmas program. The copyright was granted in 1857, when Pierpont was serving as the organist for a Unitarian congregation in Savannah
  • A plaque commemorating the "birthplace" of "Jingle Bells" is placed on the side of a building in the center of Medford Square in Medford, Massachusetts.
  • In Savannah, Georgia, there is a marker commemorating the the composition of "Jingle Bells" in a Church there where Pierpont served as music director.
"Jingle Bells" was the first song broadcast from space, in a Christmas-themed prank by Gemini 6 astronauts Tom Stafford and Wally Schirra, December 16, 1965. They sent Mission Control this report:

"We have an object, looks like a satellite going from north to south, probably in polar orbit... I see a command module and eight smaller modules in front. The pilot of the command module is wearing a red suit..."

The astronauts then produced a smuggled harmonica and sleigh bells and broadcast a rendition of "Jingle Bells"

Go on pick your two favorites:

FAITH HILL


FATS DOMINO


TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA


GEORGE STRAIT


KORN


ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS



And because we can not let this one go..a bonus version for all y'all



And Finally...the children's version we alluded to above:
Jingle bells, Batman smells,
Robin laid an egg;
The Batmobile lost its wheel,
And the Joker got away!



We were tagged by our good friend TUG with a new meme she was tagged to do by Fantastagirl


1) Post a note about a blogger you would like to see something wonderful happen for. Maybe one whose posts have touched your heart in one way or another. Include details as to why you admire them and what you wish for them. Be as supporting and affirming as you can.

This one is not as difficult as it may seem. We all have one friend in the bloggosphere who is going through some incredibly difficult times and I think it would be incredible if something wonderful would happen for KYRA, THE 108, and her family.

Kyra and her family are going through trying times, yet her posts continue to show the love they all share. Sometimes you have to read deep into her posts as her writing is real and raw.

She is a young mother of four children and anyone who has one or two children knows it can be a whirlwind each and every day. Turn that into four children in a home where finances are very tight and the husband is going through a stressful situation at work and it can be a formula for implosion.

Recently, it was suggested to Kyra that she ask her four children to select ‘wish-lists’ from Amazon.com as it looks like there might not be any Christmas otherwise.

Kyras’s first reaction was not to do so, as she is strong and proud, but eventually she acquiesced and the wish lists were published. You can find them HERE. My wish is that those who are financially able go over and select a treat for one of her incredible children.

2) Post your favorite memory around selflessness, giving, or doing for others. Something that has actually changed you.

I am sitting here thinking and the one memory that keeps coming back may not seem like much to some, but for me it was an incredible 14 days.

It happened a few years back when our Little League was hosting a big tournament. Now as some of you may know, I ran the concession stand back in those days. Matt had already left the league, but I stayed around to keep running the concession.

The tournament was 14 days long and I spent every day in front of the grill. On the weekdays I left the house at 6:00 am and traveled into NYC, working until about 2:00 pm. I then jumped on the train and hit the grill from about 4 until midnight.

On the weekend I was there at 8:00 am and left at midnight. All of this was done to help the kids of our league. At the end of the 14 days I was able to report to our board that we had earned $11,000.00 in net profits which helped to finance an indoor batting and training facility for our league.

Over the next few years, until we moved to Memphis, when we walked into that facility and saw kids from 5 to 17 working out, we got a chill knowing all that time was spent helping to make that dream come true.

3) As a postscript, name one thing you will actually do for someone in your life before December 31 that is born out of joy..

I guess the only thing that fits this category is being able to give a gift to Matt this year for Christmas. Because of our job situation the last 3 years, he has gone without anything from me.

This year, we received a small bonus for our work in Memphis when the entire team was named “Enterprise Group of The Year.” My small stipend will go to Matt to help maintain his car.

Yes, unlike normal posts here we used personal pronouns…we felt it was important for this meme

As it is the holiday season, we will offer you all the gift of this meme….snatch it if you’d like…

Finally...hope we did not disappoint Tug...and thanks for thinking of us when you chose your tags.




19 Of Your Sparks

  1. Oh my god, Vinny darling... you are so sweet and always such a great friend. The greatest gift I have and the only reason I make it through all the stress is because I know I have friends like you to reach out to for hugs and support. I love you so very much, doll.

     
  2. Anndi Says:
  3. Chipmunks.. almost like squirrels! Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!

    Love the doggies... hehehe... Mine sang along!

    Woooooooooof and hoooooooooooooooooowl!

     
  4. Anndi Says:
  5. Tineage??

    and um, Tidbits are important... :)

    Excellent choice ... Kyra and her family need a break.

     
  6. Schmoop Says:
  7. I'll put aside my typical sarcasm and just say well done Vinny. Cheers!!

     
  8. 108: KYRA...that was so easy my dear friend...I only wish I could help at this time...but remember...if the wealth ever comes, you get the full photo hook-up..Love you to K

    ANNDI: Almost like squirrels...yup yup...

    let the doggies sing it loud and clear...

    Sheesh...will you please take the job as editor...how many times have I asked LOLOL

    MATT-MAN: WOW...now that IS a first..and TY Sir

     
  9. RW Says:
  10. I gott'a go with Alven & the munks!! Also gott'a go with fats!! Thanks for the bonus song Vin that was great!!

     
  11. I told you you were a good man, Charlie Brown. You just confirmed it.

    I'll be back later to listen and vote. I have to get ready for party time at the kids' school. It's where I live when I'm not home, you know.

     
  12. Twyla Says:
  13. Can you guess which one I voted for?? LOL

     
  14. Julie Says:
  15. Well.....i find most of these picks quite irritating. But I chose nevertheless....TY for the TSO and of course the "bonus"!!

    Kyra is a most interesting person..real and raw....yup! That's our Kyra isn't it?

    Great post Vinny...except for some of those irritating clips.

     
  16. Wanna stop over and play a game with us?

    It's "The Great Amazon.com ridiculous customer review game"

    LOL.

     
  17. katherine. Says:
  18. Faith and TSO

    nicely played Vincent!

    (and they don't have computers in Texas?)

     
  19. Travis Cody Says:
  20. Jingle Bells has never been one of my favorites, but I luv me some TSO.

    Excellent meme.

     
  21. ROGER: Glad you enjoyed the bonus ...

    SONGBIRD: ah shucks...hope the party was fantastic!

    TWYLA: As I posted Korn, I thought of you! LOL

    JULIE: Not sure most were irritating...but a couple were...but I can not judge, it is my job to post em...real and raw --when i typed that i smiled knowing it is so true, and it is one of the reasons I Love her...TY dear friend

    108: KYRA...know we will!

    KATHERINE: TY Ty TYVM....They do..I drive there Saturday...never really post on the weekends anyway. Monday will be spent cooking with my SIL for Christmas Eve (I have actually been told it will be my responsibility- LOL) then Tuesday is Christmas and I said i would post Wednesday! LOL then drive back on Thursday (12 hours each way)

     
  22. Rainbow Says:
  23. My picks - Alivn and the Chipmunks and TSO...only wish I could see the fantstic light show of TSO!

    I don't know Kyra, but 4 children who may not have a good Christmas...well that is unacceptable...will visit the wish list and see what I can do to help.

    HUGS!

     
  24. Tug Says:
  25. Very well done my friend, as I knew it would be when I entrusted it to you.

    I'll be back later to listen & vote!

     
  26. SUEANN: You are an angel dear friend

    TUG: Ah TY so very much

     
  27. Tug Says:
  28. AGAIN I'm picking the top & bottom.

    Things that make you go hmmmm...

    ;-)

     
  29. TopChamp Says:
  30. My boyfriend has a funny story from this year at the Garden Centre:

    A customer came in complaining about a toy mouse she had purchased. This toy mouse should play 'jingle bells' when you squeeze it's paw. HOWEVER when you set the toy off it SOUNDS as if it's singing "paedophile, paedophile....". Not ideal! Aparantly they have checked it and it really does sound like "Paedo".

    So I voted Alvin & chipmunks on that basis ONLY.

    Hope you have a lovely holiday. I'm heading away on Sunday I think.

     
  31. Unknown Says:
  32. I take that back about Shania...I'd like to apply it to Faith Hill now.

     

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