Under Covers 11: New Year's Songs
posted in: Features
It wasn’t until attempting to change a car tire on the side of the highway in the single digit weather this morning that I realized winter is here for good. It’s about time, as far as I’m concerned. Whether it’s due to my childhood indulgence in all things snow or simply looking forward to reuniting with family, I’ve always had an affinity for the wintertime. Conveniently, this fondness usually peaks around the holidays and start of the new year then I start to get sick of the permafrost and dead things. Still, my adoration for cold things, relaxation and looking ahead has been shared by many a recording artist over the decades, even by some here on OurStage.
Perhaps the most well known wintertime pop standard in this country is Winter Wonderland. Originally written in 1934 by composer Felix Bernard and lyricist Richard B. Smith, the piece has been recorded hundreds of times by such names as Bing Crosby and Bob Dylan. With these two artists in mind, it goes without saying that the various renditions are quite diverse, and that goes for OurStage interpretations as well. Pete Hopkins and his band have redone the song with warm acoustics and the ubiquitous sleigh bells percussion, not to mention a nicely-crafted solo and confident vocals. With multiple modulations and all, the song is unavoidably cliché but in that charming holiday kind of way.
I originally set out with the intention of dedicating this post to strictly New Year’s songs. It wasn’t long before I realized there are very few songs traditionally dedicated to the coming age. In fact, there’s really only one: the 400-year-old Auld Lang Syne. The song’s heartwarming lyrics and infectious melody are the two main reasons why it’s become New Year’s tradition in English and American culture. Having mastered her talents through the top echelon of musical theatre on Broadway and International Stages, Racquel Roberts is the perfect candidate to perform an uplifting makeover on a ridiculously-aged song. With piano, slide guitar, brushed percussion, strings and cozy harmonies, Roberts’ version teeters into the open-hearted soul realm, in a sense emphatically answering no to the question of whether or not old acquaintances should be forgot. She even infuses sound bytes of a conversation between two lonely singles with no plans for the holidays, a dreaded scenario many of us are all too familiar with. In good company or alone, Racquel’s rich rendition is bound to make you feel warm and fuzzy inside.
Check out these songs and more on the OurStage Holiday Channel! The winner is being selected soon so make sure to get your vote on before it’s too late!