In the brilliant television series The Bear, the episode “Pisces” (2×06) sets the scene for what for many turns out to be an impeccable portrait of their Christmas holidays.
The evening of Natalesurrounded by the love (and prejudices) of our family, we are exactly in the only place we wanted to be… Just for the first 15 minutes. From the stereos of various apartments the usual repertoires of Michael Bublé, Dean Martin and Mariah Carey echo at full volume. But, without taking anything away from the three artists, we must admit that, on occasions like this, no one bothers to actually listen to them.
While someone tries to ignore the hundredth thoughtless monologue of one of the 15 dinner guests who, again this year, is asking him why he is satisfied with a poorly paid job rather than going to seek his fortune in Switzerland, someone else is escaping a brutal questionnaire on your university career. The only question we would all like is one: «Can we stop with this recurring pantomime and everyone stay at home saving petrol and energy?», but we know that no one would ever have the courage to upset the precarious balance of a family unit as solid as an ice cream cone in the scorching heat of August.
Recently, we recommended Ten indie songs to get you through Christmas and now we have reached one of the most unexpected days of the year… Unless you are under the age of around 14.
To overcome unpleasantly prying relatives and convivial situations that you wouldn't have wanted on the menu, we have thought of six international songs indie people that will make you survive the theatrical show in which you were once again forced to attend and participate.
Once the curtain closes, when everyone has left, you are free to take your headphones to listen to these songs.
Finally, breathe a sigh of relief… At least until New Year's Eve.
Happy Christmas Hunger Games and may luck always be in your favor!
No Christmas tree, no great parade… It’s just an ordinary day
Sufjan Stevens – Christmas In The Room
No traffic jams, no ice and storm
Far in the house the fire is warm
No Christmas tree, no great parade
It’s just an ordinary day
Christmas in the room is present in Silver & Gold, the collection of Sufjan Stevens which, among some original compositions and interesting reinterpretations of Christmas classics, contains a total of 58 songs. Released in 2012, Silver & Gold follows Songs For Christmas, another Christmas box set by the artist released in 2006. Christmas in the room delicately describes Christmas as an ordinary day to be spent “alone” in the company of your loved one.
Joni Mitchell – River
It’s coming on Christmas
They’re cutting down trees
They’re putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh, I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
In this 1971 song, the Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell tells of a very frequent phenomenon of the period preceding December 25th: the breakup of a couple. We are not sure that the end of the year coincides with the epilogue of multiple loves due to the strong pressures that universally loom before the winter holidays, but River it's certainly a song to find comfort in.
Jake Johnson – In The Morning
These are the gifts we keep
And this is the morning we breathe
And then we see
These moments are the only gifts we need
As the title of the song suggests, In the morning Of Jake Johnson narrates the joy and excitement of the pre-Christmas evening of some children and those who appear to be their parents. The moments that the couple and their children are lucky enough to share are the real gifts that they will discover under the tree the following day.
Mumford & Sons – Winter Winds
And my head told my heart
“Let love grow”
But my heart told my head
“This time no”
“This time no”
I Mumford & Sons they reflect on the lack of permanence of love. When we grow up, (theoretically) we mature enough to understand that, even on Christmas Day, it would be better if the ghosts of the past also known as exes did not return. Taking advantage of the banal excuse of wishing us happy holidays, these creatures find a pretext to reattach a button and patch up a worn garment for which even the best tailors would choose to lay down their weapons. If your heart has also understood what is best for you, be proud of it and celebrate by listening Winter Winds.
Please, let me sleep… It’s Christmas time
The Lumineers – Pretty Paper
Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue
Wrap your presents to your darling from you
Pretty pencils to write “I love you”
Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue
I The Lumineers ri-arrangiano Pretty Paper by Willie Nelson (1979), a musical story in which we find a silent sadness dominated by the laughter of the crowd. The protagonist of the song is a street vendor of papers and pencils, observed through a magnifying glass on Christmas Day.
Pearl Jam – Let Me Sleep (It’s Christmas Time)
Oh, when I was a kid
Oh, how magic it seemed
Oh, please let me sleep, it’s Christmas time
I Pearl Jam they recall the comfortable Christmas magic felt when you are a child which is almost imperceptible and unavailable once you become an adult.
The time has come to turn off the light: while the little ones are still daydreaming, let us sleep… It's Christmas.
