Tag: Christmas

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“Angels We Have Heard On High” by The Piano Guys

Wait…. this is uber-cool. Watch The Piano Guys as they perform/create “Angels We Have Heard On High” on ONE piano.

Great arrangement, and really cute, creative video.

Congrats guys on entertaining and creating great music with joy.

From The Piano Guys: “We wanted this to be a fun music video full of “Christmas Spirit.” While the video primarily presents the “fun” side of Christmas (complete with cameo appearances by Christmas icons which “helped” us film), we wanted the music to portray what, to us, is the true meaning of the Holiday season.”

Check out our other videos by The Piano Guys here.

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Ellen takes on Hallmark for “Don we now our FUN apparel”

Ellen Degeneres took on Hallmark and their recent fumble as they introduced an new Christmas tree ornament with a popular holiday lyric – BUT they changed a word: “Don we now our FUN apparel.”

Several people feel the greeting card giant made an unusually political statement by changing the lyric.

The company, which is more known for apolitical greeting cards wishing a boss a happy retirement, issued a statement to media outlets explaining the history of the song dating back to the 1880s, a time “when “gay” meant festive or merry.”

“Today it has multiple meanings, which we thought could leave our intent open to misinterpretation,” the statement said. “The trend of wearing festively decorated Christmas sweaters to parties is all about fun, and this ornament is intended to play into that, so the planning team decided to say what we meant: “fun.” That’s the spirit we intended and the spirit in which we hope ornament buyers will take it.”

Check out Ellen’s take below:

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Christmas ad – “The Bear and the Hare”

Ok, so we’re not to Christmas yet, but you’ve got to see this holiday ad going nuts on YouTube today – an ad from Britain’s John Lewis department store chain.

Watch the new John Lewis Christmas TV advert and see Hare give his best friend Bear a Christmas he’ll never forget.

Set in a beautiful forest, poor Bear is the only animal that never gets to celebrate Christmas because he has to hibernate every year. However, this year is different. This year Hare has a brilliant idea.

The commercial uses a unique animation style that combines traditional 2D hand-drawn animation, stop frame, and 3D model made sets. The story is set to a cover of Keane’s ‘Somewhere Only We Know’ performed by Lily Allen.

(h/t JMG)

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Christmas morning movie – 1st showing of Les Miserables


At the very first screening if Les Miz movie in Las Vegas with Michael and John G.

Very excited to see it 🙁

One movie going comment though: I’m amazed at how many people but so much at the concessions stand. Folks are walking in here with trays full meals of food. Just kind of a lot it seems.

Plus eating distracts from the movie. At least it does for me.

Anyway, the movie’s starting and I’m happy. I guess if all that food makes it better, then pop that corn.

Happy happy, kids!

p.s.  Movie is over.  And it’s fabulous.  Audience ended up being packed.  And I’ve rarely heard an audience be so visibly moved.   Definitely a must see, folks.

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Dolly Levi on my Christmas mantle

A couple of years ago, I reunited with my “Hello, Dolly!” buds from the 1995 revival and we did a number at Gypsy of the Year with Carol Channing.  Great, warm, wonderful time.

At that event they sold special “Hello, Dolly!” Christmas tree ornaments – so, of course, I had to have one.

Carol sits on my mantle overseeing all the holiday activity, much like ‘Dolly’ making her magic at the Harmonia Gardens restaurant.

Makes me smile.

Merry, merry everyone.

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Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta answer your questions on LiveStream

Fun Q&A with Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta in December 2012 while promoting their holiday CD “This Christmas.” I was at the studio during the event, and afterwards both Olivia and John remarked that it had been one of their favorite promotional appearances. Said Travolta, “We actually got to take all the time we wanted to answer questions fully, and laugh and enjoy it.” I’d never heard of LiveStream before, but I think it’s a great way for people to interact with fans. The “live” aspect made being there exciting, and the fact that it’s available to be watched again later is a big improvement over Google Hangouts. (For the life of me I can’t figure out how to watch a Hangout once it’s over…) You can order their holiday CD “This Christmas” on Amazon by clicking here. p.s. and, of course, you know this isn’t Olivia’s first trip to the Christmas music rodeo…

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Broadway’s Natalie Toro debuts her new holiday single “Just In Time For Christmas”

Candi & Randy discuss being home for the holidays.

Plus, we welcome Broadway’s Natalie Toro to the show to debut her new Christmas single “Just In Time For Christmas.”

Do you travel home to see family? Does the family travel to see you? How do you plan for either? How do you handle entertaining, feeding, keeping visitors busy….? Tune in to find out our tips.