Okay so normally I am VERY AGAINST listening to Christmas music before Thanksgiving, but this past week Michael Bublé & Idina Menzel came out with their "Baby It's Cold Outside" music vid so obviously I HAD to watch it, and from that very moment, I have been all Christmas music all the time. Sorry Kaila.
Luckily I hadn't deleted my Christmas playlists from last year, so right after I listened to Michael and Idina sing to the heavens like the angels that they are, I dug the playlists out from my Spotify vault. I make a lot of playlists, so I had to scroll a long time to get to those babies. The two masterpieces of playlists that I have made are titled "Classy Christmas" (think lots of Harry Connick Jr, Zooey Deschanel, and Michael Bublé christmas albums up the wazoo. This is what I would play at a trendy holiday party and/or on actual Christmas) and "Turnt Christmas" (Justin Bieber Christmas album, Glee cast, Pentatonix, Mariah Carey, Destiny's Child......all of the faves. You know how we doooo). The only song that is on BOTH playlists is Where Are You Christmas by Faith Hill.
THAT. SONG.
This song, without a doubt, is the greatest, most inspirational, moving, stunning, phenomenal, and beautiful Christmas song in the history of the past 20 years probably. Written in the year 2000, this song really set the bar for Christmas music to come for the rest of the century. Originally appearing in the cinematic masterpiece How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Faith Hill out-does herself both with her vocals and also the raw emotion she depicts throughout the song.
When I started listening to Christmas music on Tuesday, Where Are You Christmas didn't come up on my shuffle until I was in my room just hanging out with my roommate Kaila. When the song came on, I literally started crying. The lyrics are just so moving and I had quite an epiphany while listening, which is what I want to share with you all today.
Let's set the mood: click HERE to listen to Where Are You Christmas, listen along as I analyze this song line by line. The lyrics are in bold, my commentary is in italics.
Where are you Christmas? Why can't I find you? Why have you gone away?
Christmas here represents youth. The singer is wondering where her childhood has gone. How did she grow up so fast? How has time passed so quickly? Where did the simpler times go?
Where is the laughter you used to bring me? Why can't I hear music play?
The singer is now reminiscing back to when she had no cares in the world. She is concerned that she can no longer "hear the music" that she used to love to listen and dance to. This is a metaphor for no longer being in touch with her inner child. She is too old for such things, though she longs to go back to the old days when she had no worries.
My world is changing, I'm rearranging. Does that mean Christmas changes too?
The singer is growing up, changing into a different person. She wonders if growing into the person she is meant to be means that she will no longer be in touch with the person she used to be. She's scared of all the changes, and is hesitant to let her old self go, even though she knows that is what she needs to do.
Where are you Christmas? Do you remember the one you used to know?
She is worried that she is now so different from who she used to be, that she won't even be able to recognize herself. She tries to remember who she used to be.
I'm not the same one, see what the time's done. Is that why you have let me go?
She's not who she used to be. Time has changed her. She wonders if because of these changes in her life, she is unable to stay in touch with the younger version of herself.
Christmas is here, everywhere. Christmas is here, if you care.
She realizes her youth is still here. The innocence, love, and ease she knew as a child can still be hers.
If there is love in your heart and your mind, you will feel like Christmas all the time.
She knows that through love, she can feel the same way she did as a child. She can feel the simplicity and happiness that she used to feel, all the time.
I feel you Christmas, I know I've found you. You never fade away.
Although she is grown up, the little girl who she used to be will always be in her heart.
The joy of Christmas stays here inside us, fills each and every heart with love.
The joy she felt as a child, when everything was simple, easy, and beautiful, is carried along with her in her heart as she grows up. She knows she will always feel love through her memories.
Where are you Christmas? Fill your heart with love.
Where is Christmas? Where is youth? Where are the old days? Things are different now, but staying full of love helps her to remember, always.
So like this was 85% a joke but at the same time, growing up is scary and hard and sometimes you just wanna go back to how things used to be, but even though things are so different, you can still be true to you if you focus on love and postivity!!! Don't let the cold scary world make you a cold scary person. As Kid President said earlier today in a tweet, "Be the reason somebody gives thanks this week. High-five."
Happiness and positivity will always make you feel better than any kind of sadness and negativity ever will. SPREAD HOLIDAY CHEER AND JUST REGULAR CHEER TOO, EVERYWHERE YOU GO. AND HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING WEEKEND FULL OF LOVE AND HAPPINESS AND GRATITUDE!
XOXO,
gabs.
Listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving. Or just wait till after Thanksgiving. Whatever you feel like. Just do you.
Baby It's Cold Outside // Idina Menzel ft Michael Bublé
The cutest song/music video ever.
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year // Pentatonix
Potentially the greatest and happiest Christmas song of them all. Pentatonix's version is fantastic. Blast this and dance around your house as you set up your Christmas decorations. Or don't. But if you do, I promise you'll have a great time.
