SILENT NIGHT is one of my very favourite Christmas carols, and there are quite a few versions available. BING CROSBY sings the first verse three times, and other singers' versions usually only have two verses; either the first two or the first and the third. JIM REEVES' rendition, however, contains all three verses, and there's a 'quiet power' in the way he sings it, especially in the third verse, which is like an energy wave sweeping over the listener's very being. (I'm not even talking about the message of the carol, but simply the way it's sung.)
At least, that's how it seems to me, but what do the rest of you Crivs think? Do yourself a favour though - link up your computer to your hi-fi, or plug in some headphones to hear it in all its majesty. Take it away, Jim!
8 comments:
My favourite cover of this is the haunting version by Sinead O' Connor.
The worst version was by her Dad, Des.
Although Des has a better head of hair, JP.
Oh dear, I'll have to disagree with John on this one as I hated that version of 'Silent Night' = Sinead O' Connor makes a horrible breathing noise at the end of every line as I remember (I haven't actually heard it since it came out in 1992). A really depressing version is by Simon & Garfunkel where they are singing over a real news report. I've got a free carols CD from BBC Music magazine (I only buy it once a year for the free CD) and it's got Silent Night on it which I was listening to this morning - on the whole I prefer carols sung by a choir rather than individuals. Christmas 1977 was my first one in Comprehensive school and in the run-up to Christmas during our German lesson we had to copy out from the blackboard the story of how Silent Night was written in 1818. I've always thought this was a bit strange as it was a German lesson but what we were copying was in English - it would have been more logical if we'd had to learn the original words of 'Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht'. In 1997 there was a TV programme all about the origin of Silent Night and they sang the full version which has loads of verses, most of which aren't used now.
Sorry to infuriate you, Col, but S&G's version is my SECOND favourite version!
Unusual of you not to answer a comment, Kid - has the eloquence, wit and sheer magnificence of my prose left you dumbfounded ?
I was merely according JP the courtesy of responding to your comment first, CJ, seeing as how you were disagreeing with him. And look, he has. There's a 'Sing Something Simple' CD of Christmas songs which I'd think you'd enjoy if you like choirs. (Although I'm not sure if that's how they'd describe themselves, but they're similar in some respects.) Very soft and relaxing.
OK, Kid - John, you obviously like unusual versions of the song ! But the absolute worst ever version was by Bros (anyone remember them ?) which sounded like a cat being strangled - they even changed most of the words if I remember.
Talking of Simon & Garfunkel, CJ, I've got their five albums on CD (and three of them on LP, too) and I quite like them. The Silent Night one is an interesting version, but it's meant in an ironic way, I think, and can't really be considered a 'proper' version of the hymn. I don't think I've heard Sinead O'Connor's version.
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