CMT Blog: Archive

I was salivating over the holiday sweets in Williams-Sonoma over the weekend, when the voice of Dolly Parton singing “Hard Candy Christmas” clawed its way into my brain and stayed there ALL DAY. In the song, Dolly has just been dumped and doesn’t see how she’ll ever get through the holidays. To wit: “Maybe I’ll clear my junk. Maybe I’ll just get drunk.” Not too merry. Still, she won’t let sorrow bring her down. The song rivals George Michael’s “Last Christmas” as one of the most crushing Christmas songs ever, yet so easy to sing along with. In this song, he gives his heart away, only to find out that it was “regifted” the very next day. The nerve! He spends the rest of the song convincing himself that next year he’ll find someone even better under the mistletoe.

The singer Leigh Nash, formerly of Sixpence None the Richer, released a digital EP last year covering both of these songs, and it’s a special treat. I’m wary when artists sing “O Holy Night,” because as much as I love the song, only a few people can belt out that big note with conviction, but still sound reverent. Nash’s take on the hymn is rather subdued, and very sincere, and it’s the spiritual highlight of the project. Along with “Wishing for This” (the title track, which she wrote), Nash offers lovely renditions of Ron Sexsmith’s “Maybe This Christmas” and Kate York’s “Eternal Gifts.” All three songs suggest that there’s always room for self-improvement, and that the holidays are an ideal time to turn things around. That’s a Christmas gift that keeps on giving.

However, being sort of crotchety, I must warn you that the first song is “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” which is undoubtedly my least favorite Christmas song ever. The woman gives every possible explanation why she couldn’t dream of spending the night -- and yet SHE WON’T LEAVE!! The art of flirtation is lost on me, I guess. Besides, like Dolly, I have better things to do around the holidays. Maybe I’ll hit the bars. Maybe I’ll count the stars until dawn. Me, I will go on.