it isn’t christmas season until i walk into a grocery and hear this over the PA system.

(what the hell is going on at 2:44 in the video, though?)

between sometime in 1973 and 1975, sir elton john could do no wrong on the pop charts. even his albums that were less-than-loved (like one of my true guilty pleasures, rock of the westies, which i love in spite of the fact that critics everywhere panned the hell out of it) went platinum in nanoseconds.  songs that will spend eternal life on both classic rock stations and lite elevator stations got their start during these years.

i suspect sir elton, overwhelmed by his crushing success  (goodbye yellow brick road) in 1973, composed this lovely ode to christmas.  one reason i love it so much is while it is completely a-religious, it is about being thankful. sir elton realizes that he has made a mountain of money doing what he loves best, and it’s only because people applauded and bought his music that he could continue making music.

a mystery: how the hell does one step into christmas? just like one falls in love?

but no matter. the song rocks; it’s cheery and peppy but never sacharrine.

to those of you who celebrate christmas, happy christmas to you all. to my fellow red sea pedestrians — have a groovy chanukah, however you spell it. and for everyone who celebrates other days or a combination of them (as we do in wreke-land), i ill quote my best bud murph with what she wishes me every year:

appropriate greetings!

love,

wreke

p.s. yes, i had glasses like those, too.