Here We Come A Caroling ...

I haven't been in the Christmas spirit for quite a while now and with Christmas fast coming up, I'm still not entirely in a Christmas mood just yet. My buddy who is crazy about Christmas has been trying his best to get me into the mood, from trying to intoxicate me with 'spirits' of a different kind to dragging me for Christmas caroling.

So last night, I relented and went over to his place and followed him around with his caroling group. Now, let me tell you that it has been years since I last followed a caroling group around. In fact, I think it was way back when I was in my teens, around 18-19, which is a real long time back. But I must say that I can remember it vividly and enjoyed my days of Christmas caroling around the neighbourhood.

I remember that we had loads of fun during the practice sessions a month or so before the actual caroling rounds started. The whole group of carolers consisted of basically teenagers with a couple of adults to oversee us. And when the actual caroling rounds started, we all had such a great time singing and bringing cheer to people. It was all done old style with the guitar and harmonizing and all that. And not to be boastful or anything, we were pretty good carolers too.

Now, after what I went through yesterday, I think caroling has gone a few steps backwards since my time and my buddy who was also active with his own group of carolers in his time agreed with me wholeheartedly. We were practically astonished at how bad the organizing of the caroling went and also how horrible the singing was. Granted, both of us were probably croaky old toads too but when I say singing, it's more like how the songs were sung.

You should have heard how they modified some of the Christmas songs that we both thought was totally inappropriate and made it sound horrible. It was more like a bad outdoor karaoke session. They even had this little trolley (or whatever it's called) which had a host of gadgets like music players, an ipod and they used it to accompany the singing, which was in a way okay, BUT AT LEAST FIND CHRISTMAS SONGS THAT WERE ON MINUS ONE TRACKS, instead of songs with actual singing in it. Defeats the purpose of going around caroling I would think.

But then, I can't complain too much. These people were volunteers and they did what they thought was their best. But the fact that it was also let by a young girl barely in her teens who knew nothing about Christmas caroling (in my opinion) didn't help matters at all. To old timers (gosh, that makes us sound so darn old) like me and my buddy who have seen what real caroling is like, we were thoroughly disappointed. Half the time we were laughing our heads off in the back.

My favourite number, 'God rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' was butchered so bad I felt like crying! And that wasn't the only song that was butchered. I shall not get into more details as it's too painful to write about ... LOL! It's sad to know that caroling has lost a lot of its shine these days. Back in my time, we'd all be really enthusiastic about it. We'd agree on a simple 'costume' or dress code so that we would look the part.

Your everyday looking carolers ... pix courtesy of Adrian

The group yesterday, though I was told by my buddy that there was a dress code, came in all their normal casual wear that it looked like any normal bunch of people walking around out there. And Santa, well what can I say about Santa? We all know Santa is a jolly fat old man with a nice bushy beard, right? This Santa accompanying the carolers looked like he lost a whole lot of weight and was by far not at all jolly!

 Notice the 'jolly' Santa in the background? Foreground is by buddy's little girl.

Pix courtesy of Adrian.

But credit given to him seeing as how no one else wanted to be Santa ... siggghhh ... how can anyone not want to be Santa? And how can anyone who is in the Santa suit not be automatically jolly? I would have loved to be Santa. I even remember a time a few Christmas' back where I donned the role of Santa for my buddy's Christmas party and I enjoyed every moment of it!

Oh well, I shouldn't be complaining, it wasn't the carolers of my area and besides some houses did provide food and drinks which did raise our spirits a little ...  LOL! All in all, both my buddy and me had an enjoyable time laughing at the carolers more than the caroling itself. Yes, yes, when we're together we can be pretty nasty people. I don't think Santa is going to give us anything nice this year, buddy ... hahaha!

Thanks for trying to bring out my Christmas spirits bud :D And please ask lil Ellie if we're there yet. She'll know what I'm talking about ... LOL!
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