//At Christmas we have not only the wonderful music but
also the films and stories that drive home this
magical time of the year.//

So true, Foxy. For the last 10 years or so, I have made it my Christmas tradition to watch the movie of the late Sir Terry Pratchett's 'Hogfather'. I know the plot and half the dialogue off by heart, but it still brings me joy.

And 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' remains the greatest version of Dickens' classic ever told. A movie the whole family can enjoy.

//'The Night Santa went Crazy' is an entirely different perspective on the traditional Christmas Carol altogether, probably not especially suitable for children either I would've thought ?//

Definitely not for small kids - older kids who are bit more cynical and don't believe in Santa anymore will probably get a laugh out of it. The juxtaposition of a kindly, loving old gent with a rampaging psychopath is a proven comedy formula, also utilised by 'Futurama'.

//Your last selection Toni, music performed by the 'Trans-Siberian Orchestra' was great in my opinion, with this well known score, and very well performed too I reckon.//

Yep, TSO do great stuff. Their version of 'Oh Holy Night' is pretty terrific as well (starts after 'Oh Come All Ye Faithful'). I do like choral versions of 'Oh Holy Night' - it's a wonderful hymn - but it sounds amazing on guitar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcMe551smvs

And for the more traditional amongst us... here's something I found when searching for the above. Apparently it's TSO doing the instrumental, but I was more taken with the singing. That Crawford fella's sure got a set of lungs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNJiSfz0_io

Hi there FOXY...

Indeed I did, apparently it was based on a real event that actually occurred during the War ? Their Officers ordered them to resume hostilities or they would libel themselves to Court Martialling, still, they failed to take up arms? My maternal Grandfather was at Ypres and the Somme with the 30thBn. AIF, and he'd not heard of the event himself?

There's something about Christmas, and Christmas Carols, that somehow soothes the savage beast in men? And I believe you're selling yourself very short too FOXY, claiming as you do to sing 'flat'! If you were as bad as you claim, why were you accepted into the School Choir in the first instance? In order to be unceremoniously removed from it? You're simply too modest is your problem? You should sing Carols to your hearts content, I'm positive all the residents at the Home would appreciate it without doubt, and that's despite your claims of being 'flat'!

Hi again Toni LAVIS...

I agree, the TSO produces a terrific orchestral sound, together with the Hawaiian guitar carrying a most unusual melody line, in your first presentation.

And Michael CRAWFORD manages to hold a note or two, in his rendition of 'O Holy Night'. Seriously Toni, you've got to have a well trained and controlled voice, to enable you to reach and sustain notes in the upper registers, without loosing the quality of your vibrato, as the note is prolonged. A pretty good test of the quality of a singer's voice, is the smooth progression through the registers, of this magnificent Carol. Not dissimilar to PAVAROTTI's version of that operatic classic; 'Nessun Dorma'. Thank you again Toni, for giving us all the opportunity to see Christmas Carols performed from a different perspective. I really appreciate it my friend.

Dear Tony Lavis,

There's so many wonderful films that I recall.
Films just like music that uplift and inspire.
I'm looking forward to seeing what's going to
be produced this Christmas Season for us. I
believe there's an excellent one coming out
on Boxing Day, a musical, along the lines of
the golden oldies of the past. We'll have to wait
and see.

Dear O Sung Wu,

Much as I love singing I can't deny the fact that
I'm tone deaf. I got into the school choir without
being tested. But when they realised I couldn't
sing - I got tossed out. However my grand-children
love my singing, as do the residents of my mum's
nursing home. They sing along with me.

Hi o sung wu,

Thanks for the kind words, but I give much more credit for good works to my partner "T" and others both here and in Fiji than anything I do.

I know we don't always see eye to eye on matters political, but I know you will totally agree with me, that we have bipartisan support that the greatest Christmas singer of all times. the greatest singer of all times, is the King himself, Elvis. Not that I would be biased or anything on that score.

A bit of music trivia, excluding the song 'Happy Birthday', Bing Crosby's classic Christmas song 'White Christmas' was at one time the most popular song played ever.

"T" sings from time to time with one of the popular Maori singers around Sydney. They did a gig last week at a club, included a good few Christmas favorites, and I must say 'Mele Kalikimaka' went down very well with the folks.

Dear Paul,

They played Bing Crosby's movie - White Christmas
at my mum's nursing home recently. It was thoroughly
enjoyed by all. Voices raised in song are so
beautiful. I can only imagine your partner's
rendition bringing so much joy to everyone. The
Melbourne Lithuanian choir recently visited my mum's
nursing home - and again the traditional songs
were song in both Lithuanian and English, and were so
well received. Good traditions are worth preserving.

Hi there PAUL1405...

You say we don't always agree with political issues, nevertheless with the most important things, I think we're all on the same page, all of us without exception! Yep, Elvis was very hard to beat, not only in the quality of his voice, but in his whole standard of behaviour, both on and off cameras and in public. The world lost his musical genius far too early in my opinion.

I don't think there would be many people who've never heard the easy listening strains of White Christmas rendered by anyone with a really good voice. Again any of the Maori singers would acquit themselves very well indeed, singing White Christmas - one in particular, who's name momentarily escapes me ? Help me out please Paul, he looks and sounds a bit like Engelbert HUMPERDINCK'? A really great voice !

Alright FOXY...

Perhaps you 'might' sing just a fraction flat, so what? When accompanied by many happy voices I'd suggest Maria CALLAS might even need to watch out ! A Lithuanian Choir would sound absolutely brilliant singing any of the traditional Carols, or anything else traditional I would think. Pardon my ignorance, but doesn't their language have a very distinctive Germanic flavour to it, I believe? Or have I got it all wrong ?

Thank you PAUL & FOXY for another excellent contribution. *I really do wish I could recall the name of that well known Maori singer, he has a brilliant voice ?