Soliloquy (suh-lil-uh-kwee)
• Noun. A dramatic monologue that represents a series of unspoken reflections (Merriam Webster)
• A literary device often used in drama whereby a character relates his or her thoughts without addressing any of the other characters (Wikipedia)
I know it’s mighty late to comment on this, but I’m kind of in love with this song right now. 🙂 Just recently, I relistened to David’s performance of “A Merry Christmas to Me” with the orchestra in Ann Arbor on November 27, 2009.
I couldn’t help but think there was something different here.
Sure, it was new to hear David sing with a full orchestra. Having an orchestral backing punctuated by French horn, strings, and flutes was something sublime indeed. Its sound had an obvious popular appeal—one could easily imagine hearing this in a big Disney production, for instance.
And then there was the song itself: with no visuals to distract me, I had a distinct picture in my mind of David in a Broadway musical, in a break from the main story, standing under a spotlight, center stage. Although the lyrics speak of a happy Christmas, there is a note of melancholy. The lyrics—not an expression of hope to someone else, as in “Imagine” or “Angels”—in this case were of someone singing to himself, finding joy in Christmas when Christmas time can too often be sad. The song is intimate, inviting us to feel what he feels, to share his joy and pain—it has highs and lows, it swells.
This “dramatic” side of David, in the sense that I am trying to express it, is something that had not quite struck me as clearly as now. As for expressing the emotion of a character, David “has it.” No one can express emotion as frightfully purely as David can. On top of everything else he can do, David could soar in a musical that was properly suited for him.
I had trouble making out the lyrics, so I wondered where I could find the words to this Christmas classic. This song, with its classic jazz-pop stylings, sounds decades old. It reminded me of Christmas songs sung by Bing Crosby and Judy Garland. While listening to this song, joined as it was with David’s voice which is oh-so-suited to this kind of music, I even got the same chills and images of snow.
But, to my surprise, I did not find a single instance of this song on the internet—it is not a classic. Far from it—it has never seen the light of day with the general public. (Perhaps this was why security was so tight?)
This song needs to be released, by somebody. Why have we not heard it again? Will it be released, and if so, who will release it? Is it still waiting in the wings?
Here is the song again. According to one YouTube commenter, it was composed by Dan Rodowicz and Phillip Keveren. Many thanks to emilyluvsarchie for her considerable ninja skills:
Thanks to the diligence of a David fan, we were able to get the lyrics directly from the sheet music. The song becomes even more beautiful. Here are the confirmed lyrics:
A Merry Christmas to Me
Rooftops laced with white,
A starlit night,
Inside by the fire we’re warming:
This would surely be
A Merry Christmas to me.
Scenes of candy canes
And shiny trains,
The echo of children laughing:
This would surely be
A Merry Christmas to me.
For hardened hearts can love again,
And smiles that have faded shine bright;
Even earthbound dreams can fly again
On a magic Christmas night.
Ribbons tied with love,
A star above,
The twinkle of lights enchanting:
This would surely be
A Merry Christmas to me.
But what I long to see won’t be under my tree,
Though my wish is most sincere:
If the spirit of Christmas could fill every one of us
And light each day of the year,
This would surely be the most Merry Christmas to me.
This would surely be the most Merry Christmas to me.
Here is yet another recording of AMCTM. Many thanks to ZanessaEfgens for posting this:
I love Merry Christmas to Me too. Thanks to Abrra and her CFTH CD, I got to hear it again, and again, and…
I am pretty sure I read somewhere that Disney of all people provided A2SO the score for David’s concert, and thought that was very interesting, not knowing how Disney had anything to do with David’s CFTH tour. Does anyone know more about this? Unless I was dreaming when I thought I read this.
Ronaldsf: Somehow, when you post about a song, you always make me listen to it in a different way. Thank you for that. This song didn’t get much of a listen from me when it first posted -- perhaps because there were so many videos posting night after night. I can really hear this as a Broadway-style number, now. Can you imagine watching David on stage in a play for several hours? Gah!
Vermeer: I read, also, that Disney was the sponsor for the AASO concert series. I think it was about more than just David, but I can’t be sure. Something to chase down.
Ronaldsf: I am so glad you posted this. I had never gone back and listened to this song since the Ann Arbor show, even though I loved it then. I remember reading the program that night and I assumed this was going to be one of the songs with just the orchestra. What a thrill it was to see David walking back out to sing! This song just has a “certain something” to it, hope we get to hear him sing it again next Christmas!
RONALD -- some background of AMCTM: Yes the commenter is correct, the words & music of this wonderful holiday song are by Dan Rodowicz and Phillip Keveren.
Based on what I have gathered, the reason we have not heard of it is because it was originally recorded as an instrumental . It is from The Phillip Keveren Series Piano Solos “Jingle Jazz” published by Hal Leonard, way back in 1993.
It was also featured in an album, if am not mistaken “Happy Holidays”
I have a copy of it somewhere — have to check my collection but am running late — am going out tonight so perhaps I will get back to you later when I get back home. but I hope the initial info I gave could lead you some trax out there. There is am sure of it!
Ciao!
ronaldsf, I am glad you chose to call attention to this song. It does show a side of David that I don’t think we had seen before. Even though that bootleg audio is not the ideal format, his performance is so beautiful that it brings tears to my eyes.
I have returned to that song several times since Christmas, and I recommended it to Karen Wyman’s ex-aunt in a YouTube message I sent her a couple of days ago. After listening to it, she responded that although she has not yet been completely won over by David’s voice, she could see in David’s singing the quality that I like: “that velvety soft and ‘romantic’ thing” -- her words.
Thank you Ronaldsf for this post. This was one of my favorites from the Ann Arbor concert but I hadn’t heard Emily’s youtube posting and was delighted to find it on Abrra’s Christmas tour cd. It wasn’t performed at any of the other concerts that I know of. As you said, “This song, with its classic jazz-pop stylings, sounds decades old. It reminded me of Christmas songs sung by Bing Crosby and Judy Garland.” and I think for that reason it sounded very familiar that evening. You are right that it needs to be released but not by just somebody…by David. I wish you could hear the way it sounded live.
Indeed, this beautiful song was one of the highlights of the Ann Arbor concert. It seemingly came out of nowhere and left many of us asking each other if we had ever heard the song before and of course we hadn’t. I still feel so blessed to have been there. This being early in the tour I thought it was going to be added to the remaining concerts and we would be able to enjoy Youtubes of David singing it again and again. But no — in fact, I believe someone requested the song at a later VIP and David said he wouldn’t be singing it again. Now, ‘there’s a riddle for ya.’
Add me to those thanking Emily for recording it and Abrra for including it on her tour CD.
stenocruiser, if David said he wouldn’t be singing it again, then I must thank emily_luvs_archie a million times for having recorded it! You are seriously the most amazing Archu-ninja.
It’s not too late to write about Xmasy things Ronald. We just had the “galette de roi” at my school on Friday -- those lovely marzipan delicacies that celebrate when the three kings finally arrived to honor the baby Jesus.
I actually had never listened to this song and it is delightful. Definitely has a Broadway musical vibe to it. Jazzy rhythms and a melody that jumps around playfully. I can see David singing this as a reflective moment in a musical. What a lovely thought to ponder!
Just heard this song very loudly for the first time, and… gah! It’s chockful of Davidisms, that I can only imagine went beyond the call of duty of the original composer.
Specifically, his runs at 0:40-0:43 (“to me…”) and 2:50-3:00. To hear his style match with this classic musical form is pure bliss—as well as new and exciting.
Let’s try to piece together the lyrics, shall we?
First of all, from what I can hear, he is singing “This would surely be a merry Christmas to me.” It’s not talking about now -- he’s saying a wish. *sniff*
This is what I have so far. Comments and suggestions, please email me at [email protected] (I’ll repost what we come up with later):
With ___ laced with wine
The starlit night
Inside by the fire we’re warming
This would surely be a merry Christmas to me.
___ the candy canes
And shiny trains
The echo of children laughing,
This would surely be a merry Christmas to me.
For ___ love again,
And smiles that f___ shine bright
___ dreams ___ again
__ magic Christmas night
__ with love
The star above
Twinkle of lights enchanting,
This would surely be a merry Christmas to me.
What I long to see
WIll be under my tree
___ wish is most sincere
It ___ of Christmas
And fill every one of us
And light each day of the year,
This would surely be the most merry Christmas to me.
oh ronald, thank you so much for re-gifting us this song! I too had gotten caught up in all the videos during the Christmas tour and forgot all about it…and wow, it is bliss! I keep playing it over and over.
“No one can express emotion as frightfully purely as David can.”
He really nails the wistfullness, a reflection and yearning.
Boy, this one makes your imagination do all kinds of crazy things with hopes and wishes that his endless talents can all somehow be showcased.
Some of those words are tough to hear. The only one I kinda got was I think he says “and smiles that fade, shine brightly.”
This is my first time hearing this beautiful song! Wow!! Can’t believe I missed this one!! Thanks so much for posting.
“Earth-bound dreams will fly again…”
Hi.. just want to share
here’s another audio …
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With “cup”?___ laced with wine
A starlit night
Inside by the fire we’re warming
This would surely be a merry Christmas to me.
“SCENES OF” candy canes
And shiny trains
The echo of children laughing,
This would surely be a merry Christmas to me.
For HARDENED HEARTS ,love again,
And smiles that FADED, shine bright
AND EARTHBOUND dreams CAN FLY again
ON A magic Christmas night
__ with love
A star above
Twinkle of lights enchanting,
This would surely be a merry Christmas to me.
What I long to see
WIll be under my tree
MY? wish is most sincere
IF THE SPIRIT of Christmas
WOULD fill every one of us
And light each day of the year,
This would surely be the most merry Christmas to me.
Someone has secured the sheet music and sent me the lyrics. Many thanks -- this is a fanbase full of wonderful ninjaness!
I have updated the post, with these confirmed lyrics!
The song becomes even more moving -- the wistful, yearning quality to the song is not just in how it sounds… you’ll see what I mean. 🙁 *sniff* There’s a key difference in the actual lyrics for the final portion of the song.
Thank you Joan, for that link -- I have added it as well.
Hi Everyone,
This is the first time I’ve commented on DC! Because I’ve been lazy and haven’t registered,
haha! Oh and by the way ODD stands for (Obsessive David Disordered) although
you probably already knew that!
Hi Ronaldsf…
First time I have posted here, but I come by a lot and read. You guys write about David so beautifully!
Regarding the sheet music..do you mean a piano sheet? If so, do you think you could send me a copy? I would love to learn to play it.
Welcome ODD Maddy and joan! So glad you posted.
Yeah, we know about ODD 😉 Glad to have another one join the ranks. It’s a crazy but wonderful affliction!
Joan, what instrument do you play? I would imagine that the sheet music is an orchestral score (a single part for each instrument).
I can make out the melody notes, and the chords during most of the song, but there’s some jazziness going on so I might mess it up. (If someone’s good at this, please jump in! :))
Hi Ronald
I just play the piano.. well, i try to…lol
vermeer #1, I recall reading somewhere (FOD?) that Richard was contracted by Disney to work on the arrangements for Ann Arbor. I even recall people praising Richard for the great job he did.
Off topic, a poster on souldavid.wordpress.com found the book chapter titles for “Chords of Strength”:
Authors/contributors: David Archuleta; with Monica Haim
Content: Pure beginnings — Hit with inspiration — School of American idol — Bumps in the road — Hope rises — Be careful what you wish for — Stepping it up — Divine frequency — The joy in sound — Staying true — Dreaming on.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/462902872&referer=brief_results
Joan, apparently this song HAS been published and that there is a piano arrangement out there… I’ll get back to you!
Alright, here’s the skinny:
A piano arrangement of “Merry Christmas to Me” appears in the Christmas music book HAPPY HOLIDAYS, published by Hal Leonard.
It is available on their website: http://www.musicdispatch.com/product/viewproduct.do?itemid=310909&lid=3&keywords=happy%20holidays&subsiteid=105&
The song has a copyright date of 1992. The words and music are by Dan Rodowicz & Phillip Keveren. Also, the 2nd edition of this same book, for Easy Piano, does NOT contain this song.
(A million thanks to Steve for finding this information.)
In sum, this song has never been a hit, and never would have gotten much recognition were it not for David. It’s not a brand new song, so it would seem that it is not lined up for an imminent release by some artist.
I would LOVE for David to release this song in the future. Who’s with me? 😉
ronaldsf,
Although your question was probably rhetorical, I’ll go on record:
I, too, would LOVE for David to release this song in the not-too-distant future.
I would love for David to release this song. And I have thought all along that I had heard that song before, but couldn’t and still can’t remember or figure out where I might have heard it. It seems like it might have been some grocery store Christmas CD -- you know, “The Best of Christmas” by the Alonzo Fonzo singers and the Swing Symphony? 😉
Ronaldsf#23 I would LOVE for David to release this song in the future. Who’s with me? 😉
ME ME ME!!!
And ME ME ME too!!! (ronald #23)
Oh yeah! I’m all for David recording “Merry Christmas to Me”. Heck, a February release works for me! 🙂 Thanks ronald for bringing that song to the fore in your article.
And ronald -- from previous thread #106 -- OMG, could that be the original singer?? Or is he just lip-synching with that soundtrack? Either way, I still practically wet my pants every time he hits that 2:15 note! hahahaha!!!!
desertrat -- Ooh, interesting chapter titles. Can’t wait to hear what he says about “Divine frequency”, which is audible on every note that he sings! How does he do that? I wouldn’t have imagined that could be articulated, but if anyone can… (you know how that sentence is completed!)
OMG -- off-topic, but this is hysterical….
Highervibe, the original artiste is Steve Mauldin!!
Here he is:
Look what Brooke posted:
http://twitpic.com/xml9d
desertrat, #21 interesting! Well good for Richard.
Also thank you for bringing here the info on “Chords of Strength”. I’m loving the chapter titles! Can’t wait!
Liz, LOL!!! hysterical and adorable!
Ronald, LOL!!! That guy did the best job of lip synching. I saw a couple of others after you posted the vid in the last thread, but this is the funniest for sure. And I saw the “original singer” video too. Funny. And #23, ME ME ME three!!! 🙂
Wait! Someone’s got a Christmas tour CD?
FSteven -- our dearest ABRRA & some generous Archies have this tradition of coming up with the best of the best from David’s Tour as a way of sharing the love.
🙂 We’re such a spoiled fanbase 😉 I suggest you contact her. Goooooooooo
David Archuleta Heads To Central America For Charity
January 11, 2010 by Tim Saunders
Pop star David Archuleta has used Twitter to reveal that he is heading to Central America for charity.
“Hey guys, tomorrow I’m heading out to Central America for the week for some charity work, and don’t know how my phone service will be while I’m there. I’ll try to keep you posted and will get a blog up in a couple of days! Sorry that I haven’t made one in a while, but I’m stoked! I should have someway of tweeting you guys still, don’t worry lol. If not I’ll find a way! Even though I’m not all too interesting lol.”
Source
NOT INTERESTING? -- Yeah right, people just cross oceans and mountains multiple times to see you perform the same set of songs for the nth time. Not interesting -- funee guy that David Archuleta LOL