By takeitawayGuru
Picture the scene: all is quiet, nothing stirs, you rip open the curtains and there’s a blanket of white as though a duvet has been thrown over to make a land of ice with a silent shroud of snow.
The gentle fall of the individual flakes brush against your window and, as the early dawn light filters through, it’s as though each snowflake is dancing. It’s wonderful, everywhere so white.
There were many classical pieces or instrumentals that captured the essence of falling, flurries of frozen fractals. I’ve selected a classic from The Nutcracker Suite to open up this week’s list: The Snowflake Waltz – the choral element adds to the serene scene conjured up by Tchaikovsky’s composition.
Forgive the indulgence but to further set the wintry scene I have chosen another instrumental, this time an interpretation by Isao Tomito of Dubussy’s Snowflakes are Dancing.
I peek from under the covers and the skies are grey and I Wonder If The Snow will Settle this year?
The winds of Thor are blowing and the snow fall is getting heavier, a blizzard that’ll give No Quarter!
Let’s wrap up and leave the warmth of the Song Bar’s fire and rush downstairs. Flinging the door open wide we’re trapped by Fifteen Feet Of Pure White Snow outside! We’ll have to dig our way out of this drift.
We can use it to build ourselves a snowman. That didn’t take long he’s got a corncob pipe and a button nose and two eyes made out of coal.
“What shall we call him?”
“Olaf?”
“No, we need a classic name: Frosty the Snowman of course.”
“But I like the name Olaf,” says the Landlord.
“We’ve no time to discuss this it’s freezing. Will you just Let It Go?”
“Alright but the cold never bothered me anyway.”
The snow continues to fall, twinkling, pulses of light, snowflakes with the pulse of diamonds that settle in your hair like a constellation of stars, and 7th Street’s a Wonderland this winter.
Leaving a trail of Footprints in the Snow we head towards the frozen river. The stage is set, no need for an audience as we take to the ice and skate away on this new day.
But beware as you skate fast, speeding past trees, leaving little lines in the ice you may fall through and end up trapped Under Ice.
I’m frozen to the core now. I need to retire to the bar.
Merry Christmas Everybody until The Thaw comes.
A Special Snowflake A-List Playlist:
Tchaikovsky – Waltz of the Snowflakes
Isao Tomita – Snowflakes are Dancing
Clearlake – Wonder If The Snow Will Settle
Led Zeppelin – No Quarter
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Fifteen Feet of Pure White Snow
Cocteau Twins – Frosty the Snowman
Idina Menzel – Let It Go
Songs: Ohia – 7th Street Wonderland
Dyon Parker – Footprints in the Snow
Jethro Tull – Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day
Kate Bush – Under Ice
Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody
The Bloomin' Icy B-List Playlist:
Fishbaugh, Fishbaugh and Zorn – Hint of a Freeze
Rod Stewart – Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!
Offenbach – Snowflake Ballet
Galaxie 500 – Snowstorm
Bat For Lashes – Winter Fields
Genesis – Snowbound
Fred Eaglesmith – Cumberland County
Spin Doctors – Refrigerator Car
Richard Thompson – Missie How You Let Me Down
Judy Henske & Jerry Yester – Snowblind
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Snow (Hey Ho)
Simon & Garfunkel – A Hazy Shade of Winter
Status Quo – Ice in the Sun
Frightened Rabbit – Snow Still Melting
Guru’s Wildcard:
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations from last week's topic: Slippery people: songs about snow and ice. The next topic will launch on Thursday at 1pm UK time.
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Fancy a turn behind the pumps at The Song Bar? Care to choose a playlist from songs nominated and write something about it? Then feel free to contact The Song Bar here, or try the usual email address.