24 Songs of Christmas, Dec. 16: 'My Favorite Things' -- John Coltrane

First a question or two.

Why is this a Christmas song? Why, for that matter, do they screen "The Sound of Music" in December? As far as I can tell the plot takes place between spring and early fall.

I can't really explain the part about the movie/play, but I read somewhere that the winter imagery of "My Favorite Things" is what led to it becoming a Christmas song.

I mean, there are warm woolen mittens, snowflakes, sleigh bells, silver white winters and packages tied up with strings -- although I would imagine that several of those things are more common phenomena high in the mountains of Austria, winter or not.

I'll accept it as a Christmas song, though, if only because I wanted to include a nearly 14-minute jazz tune on this list.

And what does Coltrane's modal jazz classic have to do with Jesus or Santa Claus or even snow? Nothing at all.

It also has very little to do with Rogers and Hammerstein or Austrian abbeys or singing children or Julie Andrews.

But it's really, really good. Set aside some time (you'll need it) enjoy one of the masters of jazz.

Tuesday's Tune: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Past Posts

The 24 days of Christmas (songs)
Dec. 1: 'Sleigh Ride' -- The Ronettes
Dec. 2: 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing' -- Marty Robbins
Dec. 3: 'O Tannenbaum' -- Vince Guaraldi Trio
Dec. 4: 'Blue Christmas' -- Elvis
Dec. 5: 'Santa Baby' -- Madonna
Dec. 6: 'It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas' -- Perry Como and the Fontane Sisters
Dec. 7: 'Here Comes Santa Claus' -- Alvin and the Chipmunks
Dec. 8: 'Angels We Have Heard on High' -- Brian Setzer Orchestra
Dec. 9: 'White Christmas' -- The Drifters
Dec. 10: 'Do You Hear What I Hear?' -- Bing Crosby
Dec. 11: 'Carol of the Bells' -- Celtic Woman
Dec. 12: 'Jingle Bells' -- Frank Sinatra
Dec. 13: 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' -- Judy Garland
Dec. 14: 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' -- Tennessee Ernie Ford and Straight No Chaser
Dec. 15: 'What Child Is This?' -- Johnny Mathis