Something low-key and reflective for today; I’ve returned to work and my brain isn’t necessarily up for any heavy lifting beyond that right now, to be honest. Be kind.
All is Calm, All is
From the Guardian:
Lisbon, Portugal: A homeless man listens to his radio in Figueira square. Photograph: Rafael Marchante/Reuters
There’s something about the composition and colors in this that I really appreciate; it feels like a painting in some way.
366 Songs 360: Jesus Christ
This may be my favorite Christmas song, and it’s almost entirely devoid of all the cliches that have built up around the genre (There are sleigh bells in the mix here, but that’s about it). Instead, it’s just a song about what Christmas originated as, performed in a sly but sincere way. There’s little as fun about Christmas music as when Alex Chilton drawls “And we’re gonna get born now.”
Merry Christmas, whoever is reading this.
366 Songs 359: Christmas Eve
366 Songs 358: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
366 Songs 357: Christmas Time Is Here
366 Songs 356: The Christmas Song
Another of those songs that you hear so much in childhood that they sound eternal, as if they’ve always existed. Nat King Cole’s version in particular. The Nat King Cole Christmas album was something that my mother adored; she’d make a point of putting it on as we decorated the tree, if possible, to try and complete the experience for her.
They Fly So High
From the Guardian’s Photo Blog:
Children and adults participate in a Santa Claus parade organized by the Town Hall of Famalicao, an initiative that marks the end of the European year for Active Ageing and intergenerational solidarity in 2012, in Famalicao, northern Portugal, 21 December 2012. EPA/ESTELA SILVA
There is nothing I don’t love about this picture. Just total joy.
366 Songs 355: River
Night Breezes Seem To Whisper
From the Guardian’s Photo Blog:
In this long exposure image visitors to the Big Sandy Machine Gun Shoot firing their weapons as flares and tracer fire light up the night sky outside Wikieup, Arizona. Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA
Oddly beautiful, especially the colors of the sky.