Tag: Merry Christmas

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Merry Christmas from Sounds of Oz

By the time you read this, I’ll be very comfortably situated at my sister’s place, probably on my second beer, celebrating Christmas. Whether you celebrate the holiday or you’re simply enjoying the time off, I hope you’re having a marvellous time. I hoped to share another new Christmas song with you, but they’ve been a little thin on the ground this year! So instead I thought I’d rewind a couple of years to Kav Temperley’s “Christmas Lights”. As an album track from his brilliant All Your Devotion album, it probably didn’t get the love it deserved. But it’s a magic track, just perfect for your Christmas evening. Enjoy, and merry Christmas!

Image credit: Nick-K @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Merry Christmas From Sounds of Oz!

I’m feeling very lucky to be enjoying a little normality right now. It’s been on hell of a year, and up until a couple of days ago I wasn’t sure I’d get back home for Christmas. I’m still very aware of the potential for even greater COVID numbers in Greater Sydney. Honestly I’m writing this ahead of time, so the numbers might already be through the roof. But right now, I’m refusing to think about it. Instead I’m thinking about the family who’ll be around me as this post goes live (all from a responsible social distance of course), the bubbles we’ve got chilling, and the presents under the tree. I am very conscious of the fact that many of my readers don’t get such a normal Christmas, whether it’s due to lockdowns, border closures, or household restrictions. I hope that if you are impacted by this virus right now, you can still carve out a little merry for yourself.

I’m sure I’ve posted Tim Minchin’s “White Wine in the Sun” before. If I haven’t, what an oversight. Regardless of the fact, I think it feels extra poignant this year. Much love to you all!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Merry Christmas From Sounds of Oz!

It makes me feel old to say it, but every year Christmas seems to roll around a little faster. As a kid I used to count down the days, yet now there never seems to be enough time to buy and wrap presents and make all the food for the big celebration.

I know I’m pretty lucky to be able to head to Newcastle every year to hang out with my family. There’s always plenty of wine, food, and daggy Christmas music, at least until we wrestle Mum’s Peppermint Candy Kids CDs out of the stereo. But many Aussies aren’t so fortunate. Alison Newman, a singer-songwriter from Mount Gambier, touches on what Christmas is like when you’re missing someone with her recently released Christmas song “It’s Not Christmas Without You.” Her voice has a beautiful bluesiness, and honestly something fresh goes down pretty well after a month of the same old Christmas fare.

No matter what you’re doing today, I hope you have a wonderful Christmas! May it be filled with good tunes and whatever else makes you smile.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Merry Christmas!

I’m sure after several Carols broadcasts and hours spent in shopping centres, you’ve reached your limit of schmaltzy Christmas songs. So this year I’ve decided to accompany my Christmas post with “One More Christmas (There’s More to Christmas Day),” the latest single from Melbourne band Third Earth.

This is actually the fourth Christmas song the band has released over the last few years, so these guys know what they’re doing. However, they don’t make a Christmas song quite like anyone else. This track explores how easily we can get caught up in our own lives, but reminds us that there’s so much more going on every December 25.

Whatever you’re doing this year, I hope it’s a happy one. I hope there is good wine, superb company, delicious food, and of course great music. Enjoy it Sounds of Oz readers!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Sounds of Oz readers! I hope that like me you’re lucky enough to be spending the day with family, some good booze, and pork crackle. All the essentials. Thanks for allowing me to share my passion for all things on the Aussie music landscape with you for another year.

I always like to share a Christmas song with you on December 25, but I was feeling like I’d already showed you all the best ones, until Rage played this last Saturday morning. I was a wee young thing in 1985, so I actually don’t remember The Incredible Penguins. Apparently this Aussie supergroup, featuring John Farnham, Angry Anderson, Jim Keays, Brian Mannix, Colin Hay, Bob Geldof (gee he loves a charity single doesn’t he?), and so many more superstars released this cover of “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” to raise funds for fairy penguin research. I just love listening to a version of this song that doesn’t have Yoko warbling all over it. The mullets are also incredible.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Merry Christmas with a Little Paul Kelly

Merry Christmas Oz Music Scene readers! I hope you’re having a wonderful day full of family, friends, good food, even better booze, presents under the tree, and of course some fabulous music. If you don’t have the latter, I sympathise. My mum swears it’s not Christmas without carols sung by The Peppermint Candy Kids. In an effort to ensure you don’t have to suffer the same fate, here’s Paul Kelly with the Australian Christmas classic “How To Make Gravy.” Happy holidays everybody!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Merry Christmas from Oz Music Scene

Merry Christmas everybody! I hope all my readers have a wonderful Christmas Day spent with family, friends, lots of presents, and plenty of good food. I figured I’d leave you today with some of my favourite performances from Carols by Candlelight. Play them loud, sing along, and have a very happy Christmas.

Here’s one of the finest voices in Australia, Guy Sebastian, singing one of my favourite carols, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” This clip makes me miss that afro just a little bit.

So simple, so beautiful. Olivia Netwon-John shows why vocal acrobatics are overrated with her rendition of “Silent Night.”

I had to round out the list with my absolute favourite festive tune, “The Christmas Song.” This version by Anthony Callea is just beautiful.