Advent song for December 18: White Christmas

Ten advents ago, in 2013, we had twenty-four versions of White Christmas but since there are [checks] around 2,000 versions, we had to skip a few. One which we shouldn’t have missed out, except that in having done so I have an excuse to include it today, is from the Godmother of Gospel, Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Her Wikipedia page tells me that she’s also the Godmother of Rock’n’Roll, having directly influenced Little Richard, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and, um, Eric Clapton.

Clapton aside that’s an impressive line-up and while I’m going to say that this isn’t necessarily among her best recordings (you can go here for those), what it lacks in badass rock’n’rollery it more than makes up for in charm.

Advent song for December 2: Happy Christmas, Lindsey

I’d never heard the full introduction to White Christmas before, but when Lindsey nominated this song she specifically mentioned it, so I searched out this version and I’m glad I did, because it’s lovely – and, I think, more interesting and a little bit more wistful than the Bing Crosby version we all know and love.

I don’t know Lindsey very well, but she’s one of those people I immediately fall into conversation with whenever I see her, because she’s such witty and entertaining company that I can’t help it. She’s the sort of person you might accidentally confide in, but it wouldn’t matter because she would keep your secrets and make you laugh at the same time.

Happy Christmas, Lindsey!