Holiday Post, Part II: Season of Smiles

Merry Christmas!  =D

Here's the 2nd part of the holiday posts... finally!  =P  The original plan was to post it maybe a couple of days before Christmas.  But this and that happened, and I had some important things to finish.  So, better late than never!  =P  
Christmas was yesterday here, by the way.  But it's still Christmas in other parts of the world so maybe this isn't that late.  =P
Besides, I had to make the video!  =P  It's not much.  Hehe.  Just a simple lyric video.  I just thought I'd try my hand at making videos.  Might be useful someday, you know!  =P  So anyway, please bear with the video below, it's my first one.  =)

Closeup's Season of Smiles Closeup & Christmas Albums

The idea for these holiday posts actually came to me when I listened to some old mini-cds I have (and I mentioned this briefly in part I) earlier in this year's Christmas season. 
They are the Season of Smiles Closeup (red) and Christmas (green) albums (see picture on the right).  They came out a few years ago as promotional materials for Closeup, a brand of toothpaste.
That is to say, they came free with a certain size box of their products at the time.  And I'm generally a sucker for freebies when I happen to see them.  =P  So I grabbed these.
Both cds have this song (Season of Smiles) as their carrier single, so to speak.  And each album has four other songs.  The red one has songs that I think they used in their commercials.  And the green one has other Christmas songs as performed by some local bands. 
These two songs - My Grown Up Christmas List and Season of Smiles - were my favorites.  So I thought I'd make a couple of posts and share them with you.  =)

So moving on to the song.  Season of Smiles by ItchyWorms. 

The song is set in the Christmas season, but I think it has a message that can apply to any time of the year. 

(When) you're feeling down ...
One smile will take away your frown
One smile will turn your day around

That's true!  It has happened to me a lot.  Whenever I see something that makes me smile or laugh, it lifts my spirits up even when I'm feeling really down at the time.

So try it!  Smile!  And pass it around.  =)

Holiday Post, Part I: Grown-Up Christmas List

No more lives torn apart

That wars would never start

And time would heal all hearts

And everyone would have a friend

And right would always win

And love would never end

This is my grown-up Christmas list.

This song was originally recorded by David Foster (music composer) with Natalie Cole, but has since been recorded by numerous other artists.  I, for one, heard it first (I think) a few years back as a song included in a promotional mini-cd that came free with a certain toothpaste package... (more on that in part 2, maybe.)

Anyway.  It's a nice song.  Although I always thought of it as a sad song.  Because if you have wishes such as these, then that means the reality is: that there are lives torn apart, that there are wars, that there are wounded hearts, that there are those without friends, that right loses, that love ends...

But then again, I guess, if your mood is a little better, a little lighter, you may see it as a song of hope.

And so to everyone, whether you are Christian or not, or whether you celebrate Christmas or not - it was meant to be a Christmas song but I think everyone would wish the same - I hope the song will send a message to your hearts. 

1 2 3 4 by Plain White T's

Here is a song of love.  I am happy for those who have someone to sing this to.  For those who have none, perhaps our time will come.  =)

However, even for those who have someone special, this song might be a bit too ideal. For most people, it's probably not as easy as 1, 2, 3, 4 as the song says, or at least not that easy all the time.  All relationships have their ups and downs.  It is something that people should constantly work on together and nurture.  Those who forget this, those who take the relationship for granted and expect that it will take care of itself, might eventually find themselves drifting from each other and suffering from heartaches and pain.

Three words, the song says.  Three simple words that have a great meaning.  Saying them is important in a relationship.  But more important than saying the words, is showing it... in all those little ways mentioned in the song, and more.  So say them often! And better yet, show it always!  =)

I Love You!  <3





1 2 3 4
by Plain White T's

Music Is For All

"I have my own particular sorrows, loves, delights; and you have yours.  But sorrow, gladness, yearning, hope, love, belong to all of us, in all times and in all places.  Music is the only means whereby we feel these emotions in their universality."
- Harry Allen Overstreet


Music is for all of us.  We relate to it.  It speaks to us, or of us... of something we have, or something we yearn for.  It lifts our spirits, and inspires us... it makes us forget our problems and numbs the pain.  It makes us smile, or laugh, or cry.  It shows us we are not alone.