Jingle all the way
Sing Jingle Bells three different ways, with a piano and two bands (bells not included)
Every year we record our own versions of Christmas songs and then send them out to friends and family instead of a Christmas card. It’s a lovely way of bridging the distance between our adopted country of Switzerland and our home country of Australia.
We’re adept at taking something you probably know and love and giving it our, shall we say, personal touch. Think tango or metal or swing or bluegrass or whatever the carol or song usually isn’t, and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what we love to do.
This will be our sixteenth year, and it it all started with Jingle Bells when our daughter was three-years old. It’s a sweet rendition complete with misheard lyrics (‘making chirits bright! Oh Mcfun it is to ride!), a little heavy breathing, and her own exhortation for everyone to sing along with her:
Jingle Bells is now one of the most popular songs in the world. Written in 1850 by James Lord Pierpont in Massachusetts, USA, it was originally called The One Horse Open Sleigh’ and wasn’t written with Christmas in mind at all.
But gradually it’s become synonymous with not only snow but all things Christmassy, until here we are, driven crazy by it in supermarkets everywhere. But that’s not to say it’s not fun to sing, right?
Theory and practice: Jingle Bell style
So now it’s your turn. (I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether or not you’re going to sing ‘Oh Mcfun’).
Piano
After the intro you’ll hear me play the melody of the verse, so jump right in and join me.
Jazz Swing
I’ve included two versions.
With vocals:
This one has me singing a bit of the verse so you know where to come in and how fast to sing, because the feel of it is much slower than the original.
Without vocals:
And here it is with the jazz band only. Don’t forget the introduction, and don’t forget to click your fingers ;-)
Glam Funk, because why not?
You’ll hear me count it in and then the introduction (same length as for the jazz version). It’s the same speed as the swing version and I’m not singing, so you’re on your own. Go for it!
