Magical Christmas Movie Music

Clockwise: The covers of soundtrack albums for 'White Christmas", 'The Muppet Christmas Carol', 'Meet Me In St. Louis' and 'The Polar Express'.

While I tend to focus on Broadway shows and performers on the blog, I have certainly never shied away from the talented singers and performers from the great movie musicals. After all, many of the great films started life on the stage. And since is is a very special week, I thought we could revisit some very special movie moments. And, with Christmas just one sleep away, I thought a look at some magical Christmas musical memories was in order. I will begin with a memory that I still hold dear. You see, I remember watching the movie 'White Christmas' with my family when I was quite young. The 1954 film starred Rosemary Clooney, Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen as entertainers and love interests. This was the second film to use the song written by Irving Berlin, the first being 'Holiday Inn' from 1942, another charming film starring Crosby. The storyline is somewhat similar, although the latter one incorporated more musical numbers and patriotism, and was shot in glorious technicolor. The following clip is from the film, with Bring Crosby singing "White Christmas" in the film to his fellow soldiers while serving overseas. This is Crosby singing "White Christmas".

If anyone caught my reference in the opening paragraph, it would reflect this next memory. While it might not be from a film more than 50 years old, it is more than twenty years old. 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' was released in 1992, a retelling of the great classic by Charles Dickens, 'A Christmas Carol'. The film was a mixture of muppets and live actors, with actor Michael Caine playing Ebenezer Scrooge, and the Muppets making up a majority of the cast. The film had original music by Miles Goodman, and the songs were written by Paul Williams. My personal favorite of the soundtrack is when Bob Cratchit, played by Kermit the Frog, sings "One More Sleep 'til Christmas". This is a charming number, as 'Bob' is closing up the office on Christmas Eve, and addresses all the best parts of Christmas. I hope you enjoy Kermit sings "One More Sleep 'til Christmas" from 'The Muppet Christmas Carol'.

That brings me to the most recent film of all four I have showcased here, the animated holiday treat, 'The Polar Express'. The soundtrack of the 2004 film featured some classic songs, like Bing Crosby singing "White Christmas", Frank Sinatra singing "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", and the Andrews Sisters with "Winter Wonderland", all of which make for a delightful listen. but it is the new song, written by Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri, that steals the spotlight. "Believe" is a soaring ballad, with such light and hope oozing out of each line, you can't help but fall in love. And it had a stellar performance by Josh Groban to complete the magic. From the film 'The Polar Express', this is Josh Groban with "Believe".

With my final clip for the evening, I was unable to resist featuring Judy Garland with a song I still love to this very day. The film was directed by Vincent Minnelli, Judy's husband at the time, and the father of Liza Minnelli. The storyline featured a family living in St. Louis at the time of the 1904 World's Fair. The film features two songs sung by Judy that could and should be considered iconic, and both were written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane. One such song was "The Trolley Song", a truly wonderful number. But the one I am including here is the stunning "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", a song that has been sung by many since being debuted in the 1944 film, but never better than by Judy. She added just the right amount of everything to make this brilliant. I hope you enjoy this clip of Judy Garland singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" from 'Meet Me In St. Louis".

Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays to all!

GLEE Redux • Pot O' Gold

Clockwise: Kermit the Frog; Katy Perry; Teddy Thompson; Christina Aguilera; and Foreigner.

Welcome to my GLEE recap, complete with the clips of the songs by the original artists.

Quinn and Puck approach Ms. Corcoran about doing some babysitting for Beth, their child adopts by Corcoran. Sue takes on the Arts in her campaign for public office, starting with the school musical, the production of West Side Story. This is upsetting for Mr. Schue, and devastating for Rachel. Kurt offers to take on the fundraising to make sure the musical goes on. Brittany has an exchange student student from Ireland staying with her family. Rory Flanagan, played by the winner of a reality show about casting for a GLEE role, Damian McGinty. He is trying to be Finn's friend, and will be spying on Brittany for Finn. It seems Finn had seen Santana talking to Mercedes about joining the other show choir, and fears Santana and Brittany will follow her. Soon we see Rory talking down the hallway, getting his fair share of ridicule from the students. The Irishman sings Kermit The Frog's theme song, Bein' Green.



Puck has started a pool-cleaning business, and is particularly fond of the cougars who enjoy seeing him working the pools, especially when his shirt is off. They are not as fold of him when he is whipping out pictures of his baby. Quinn doesn't mind, although she is busy calling child protective services on Ms. Corcoran, in an effort to take Beth back. She fears everyone else has plans and a point, and she is left standing alone. So she plants some evidence in Corcoran's apartment. Soon they are back in the Glee room, and Blaine offers to sing Katy Perry's Last Friday Night (TGIF) to remind everyone that GLEE should be fun!



Santana is annoyed that Rachel and Blaine are going to take over the Glee club. She throws a public hissy, and then goes after Rory, telling him she wants him to go all leprechaun and grant a wish. He tells Brittany that Santana has one wish, and it is that shes leaves the New Directions and join the Girl's Glee Club. Mr. Schue stops by to see Kurt's dad, Burt Hummel,to convince him to run against Sue only to find out he is going to do it, as a write-in campaign. Puck stops by to visit Ms. Corcoran to thank her for recommending him for a pool job, and makes sure to clear out some of what Quinn let behind. Beth is unsettled and crying, but calms down when he starts singing to her. He plays Foreigner's Waiting For A Girl Like You, and quiets her down.



Finn tries to talk to Brittany about quitting the New Directions to join Mercedes, and ends up insulting her, causing her to announce she is defecting to the new group. Sue is at the television station when she learns Burt is running against her, and is not amused. She sees Mr. Schue in the background, helping him. She remains unhappy. Santana, Brittany and Mercedes go in the meeting room of the new Glee club, and find Sugar Motta, and give her the beat down, telling her to get in the shadows and sing softly. They soon decide on a name, The Troubletones. They start off by singing Christina Aguilera's Candyman.



Finn and Mr. Schue sees the girls singing , and know they are serious competition. It encourages Finn to apologize to Brittany and the girls, and wish them the best. He also helps Rory out of a jam, and invites him to join Glee. At Breadsticks to have a family conference about Burt's run for office, Finn is distracted by his lack of future plans, and Kurt is worried about Burt's health. Soon Sue shows up with a quadruple burger, sure poison for Burt's heart. She does the Sue thing, throwing a few jabs. None of them really scare the family. Back in the chorus room, Finn introduces Rory to the kids, and he sings Take Care of Yourself by Teddy Thompson.



As he sings, we see the strained relationship between the conflicted glee clubs. We also see hints of something going on between Puck and Ms. Corcoran...