It's Beginning to Sound a Lot Like Christmas

I'm turning into an old fart.  I tire of the pop Christmas songs by artists like Mariah Carey and Justin Bieber that dominate the airwaves.  Nay, give me the good old stuff: Handel's Messiah, the original German verses of Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht, or a choral arrangement of Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming.

But there is one song that brings me Christmas cheer above all others: Leroy Anderson's Sleigh Ride.  It's the upbeat tempo; it's the use of the slapstick and other fun percussion instruments; it's the moment when the orchestra breaks out into that funky, festive rhythm.  If I were Jesus, I would totally make this my official birthday song.

Merry Christmas to you and your families!