Last night I got my Christmas present (yeah, I know; it's not December yet!). We went to the Mannheim Steamroller concert in Raleigh. I enjoyed watching the various instruments (especially trying to figure out the different parts of the clarinet family!), and I have always loved their music. But what took me by surprise was the videos to the Christmas hymns HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WORDS AT ALL!!!
For example: God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay. Remember Christ your Savior was born on Christmas day to save us all from Satan's power when we had gone astray. Oh, tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy. Oh, tidings of comfort and joy. There are so many ways that could be depicted in video. Guess what they had? A merry little feast (okay, they got the merry gentlemen not being dismayed by anything right) in a medieval setting.
And the Little Drummer Boy - it's a war clip about a boy who got a drum for Christmas, grows up, falls in love, and goes off to war. Not exactly fulfilling the song's meaning of a poor person using their talents (all they have) for God since they can't afford a gift.
So when it got to the Hallelujah chorus, I was a bit thankful they didn't have video. I closed my eyes to the blinding lights and pondered what the shepherds felt like that night as bright lights appeared around them with music.
I still like Mannheim Steamroller's music, just not with quite as much intensity as before. Feelings and warm, fuzzy thoughts are great, but when the meaning of those thoughts lose their source of heat, you're just left with fuzzy feelings. Feelings and nostalgia aren't bad things, but I happen to like the "oomph" the words to the songs invoke. I'm a little weird that way.
For example: God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay. Remember Christ your Savior was born on Christmas day to save us all from Satan's power when we had gone astray. Oh, tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy. Oh, tidings of comfort and joy. There are so many ways that could be depicted in video. Guess what they had? A merry little feast (okay, they got the merry gentlemen not being dismayed by anything right) in a medieval setting.
And the Little Drummer Boy - it's a war clip about a boy who got a drum for Christmas, grows up, falls in love, and goes off to war. Not exactly fulfilling the song's meaning of a poor person using their talents (all they have) for God since they can't afford a gift.
So when it got to the Hallelujah chorus, I was a bit thankful they didn't have video. I closed my eyes to the blinding lights and pondered what the shepherds felt like that night as bright lights appeared around them with music.
I still like Mannheim Steamroller's music, just not with quite as much intensity as before. Feelings and warm, fuzzy thoughts are great, but when the meaning of those thoughts lose their source of heat, you're just left with fuzzy feelings. Feelings and nostalgia aren't bad things, but I happen to like the "oomph" the words to the songs invoke. I'm a little weird that way.
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