Thursday, December 17, 2009

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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26 comments:

  1. "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."

    Oh I know exactly what you are talking about! And I hate when they do that!

    But I dont think you could ever be a nasty person! And Im glad you are getting into the Christmas Spirit.

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  2. Well, hope you'll have a very Merry Christmas anyway.
    God that everyone try to be in the spirit, bad carolers and all. :D

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  3. I hope I dun hear to ppl butchering xmas songs. Anyways, aren't caroling suppose to be like acapella thinggies? @_@ I mean like in the movies? o.O?

    *blinkie eyes.

    But then again, I guess it's not only the xmas, I think most of the celebration seems to have lost its sparks. T_T

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  4. Meleah - I don't know, maybe it's the new generation and this is the way they like their songs but I belong to the older generation and I think Christmas songs should be sung the way it was meant to be ...

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  5. Lina - Thank you, I am getting a little into the spirit so hopefully it comes along just Christmas actually comes along :D

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  6. Maslight - That's what I thought too. I'm seriously not liking it when people modify classic Christmas numbers badly.

    Yeah, Christmas this year is a joyful as the previous years.

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  7. Maybe you should be the Santa instead, haha!! leave the carolling to the youngsters, whether they are singing it nicely or horribly! : )

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  8. Anyway, I'm in total Xmas mood! Listening to Xmas songs 24/7! Haha!

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  9. Merry Christmas to you, Nick! : )

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  10. Foong - But the youngsters are ruining the Christmas songs, how can I keep quiet la ... LOL!

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  11. Foong - Well, good for you pal :D I'm still slowly trying to find that Christmas spirit ...

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  12. Did you sing Silent night, my clothes are too tight, next doors curtains are a sight...!

    Glad your bud has been trying to bring out your Christmas spirit.

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  13. The World According To Me - LOL! No they didn't sing it quite that way.

    He's one of my closest friends and he's doing a good job of digging out that Christmas spirit for me :D

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  14. Hahaa! Glad that no one threw tomatoes or eggs on all of you. I think it's becoming like this in the Ph too when it comes to caroling. It was better before, with the whole band with trumpets and drums.

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  15. Buddy!! Apart from the leader they were not that bad...and her problem was she was an over-enthused 15 year old. I guess she did the job that no one wanted and tried to inject some life into the traditional songs...totally destroying some of them in the process. Some song were good though. You should have come the second day it was much better...Cheers bub!

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  16. Marlene - I think people are too polite to say what they really feel :D

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  17. Adrian - It was bad but I'm comparing it to the older days, which is not fair actually.

    I guess it was in the spirit of Christmas and all that but to be really honest, the caroling tradition is really going down the drain. Call me a sentimental old fool but I like Christmas caroling the way it was back then :D

    But thanks for inviting me to join you guys, I had a great time hanging out with you though.

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  18. Festive spirit diminishes with age, I'm afraid... Glad that your buddy managed to bring back some of it, though... Merry Christmas, Nick :)

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  19. Terra - You're absolutely right but I love Christmas and it's strange that I'm not into it this year.

    Merry Christmas to you too, Terra :D

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  20. Ho ho ho! How come not in the Christmas mood Nick? :)

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  21. Maybe u should give me a pressie to get you in the mood for Christmas and gift-giving he he he!

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  22. i havent heard any caroling around the neighborhood here. in fact, i havent been hearing one in 3-4 years. only during christmas eve then i'd be able to listen to the christmas cantata before the mass starts.

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  23. Carol - Same here la. The place where I live, well lets just say that you wouldn't even be able to tell that it was Christmas!

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