Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

If Everyone Cared

We close each year of blog posts with a plea for the coming year. From hunger to inhumanity and the environment to runaway government, we've been sharing these songs since 2006.

There are those moments in which songs mysteriously shuffle forward, as if there is an invisible force directing your next move...and that happened yesterday in the shower, listening to my new waterproof bluetooth speaker. I had pretty much decided on a track earlier in the week...but shifted gears upon hearing a song I certainly hadn't expected to fill the room.

This year, it's our wish for the world to care from Nickelback.

And as we lie beneath the stars,
We realize how small we are.
If they could love like you and me
Imagine what the world could be.

Imagine, indeed. 

Best wishes for a caring New Year....and we look forward to catching up on the other side.

New Year's Eve

As I've said before...my town hasn't a clue on how to celebrate New Year's Eve. At least not for us.

Over the years, we've had to travel to find a party that provides a funky, sweaty dance floor with a pumpin' dance band. Minneapolis. Oshkosh. Chicago Southland with the Noodles.

We can't be the only ones...but this year, we're without options. So we'll be home...and cranking this concert from Prince's Paisley Park.

And dancing our asses off.

Cause that is what NYE should be.

Joy Joy Joy

Happy Christmas from the Rend Collective.

Christmas Eve

Nothing much more to say. This track from Hannah Kerr says it all.

Merry Christmas, y'all.

Little Drummer Boy

There is the classic version with Bing and Bowie. And there is for King & Country. And the Bethel Kids.

But on this Christmas Music Friday, I'm digging Alex Boye and the Genesis Choir.

Enjoy...and the happiest of holidays from us to you.

Santa's Coming

During the years I spent programming an FM Rocker in the shadow of Chicago, my two eldest daughters (the other joined our family as I moved into the Destination Marketing space) enjoyed being turned onto to artists before their friends had a clue. When a friend would ask if they were into to the new Bangles song, they'd just snort and ask back about album tracks.

Liz was an instant fan of Karla DeVito (the on stage foil for Meat Loaf on "Paradise by the Dashboard Light"). And, when she heard her Christmas single, she was mesmerized. 

I think we may have featured the track in a previous year...but this year (not unlike Bryan Adams), Karla and Robby threw together a music video.

So, here it finally is, Liz..."Santa Claus is Coming to My House."

Something About Christmas Time

It was 1985...and everybody was releasing Christmas singles. Hall & Oates, Springsteen, Wham, Jon Anderson and a bunch of others. The one that stood out for me (regardless that it was issued on green see-through vinyl) was from Bryan Adams. There was no video produced (though the B-side got visibility on an MTV Holiday Special).

A couple years ago, Bryan decided to give the song a video treatment...and, thus, here it is, as we count down to the holiday weekend.

This is "Christmas Time" from Bryan Adams.

Enjoy.

What I Need

Staying retro, here's another Holiday find from a TV talk show from the first decade of the 2000s. This is Amy Grant (hanging with Vince Gill) with an original that speaks volumes this time of year.

This is "I Need a Silent Night." And don't we all?

Winter Wonderland

In my love of Holiday Music, I'm most attracted to artists that take classics and offer unique twists. From taking major chords to minor and shifting traditional tempo to calypso or reggae...that's what powers our speakers at the DMOproz compound this time of year.

Here's one I discovered last year from their appearance on the Today Show in the winter of 2003. It's Bobby Lamm and Chicago with "Winter Wonderland."

Happy Holidays, y'all.

6 Degrees of Kevin

By now, most should know of the 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon...a drinking game in which players can connect Kevin to any other actor in 6 movies or less, based on the ensemble movies in which he's appeared. And, should it now be the 4 Degrees of Kevin Bacon? Because he just entered the Marvel Universe.

Not sure why there needed to be a "Guardians of the Galaxy" Holiday Special...but Kevin features prominently in the plot line and leads a backing band of aliens (the Old '97s) in a rocking Christmas song called "Here it is Christmastime."

Wanna go deeper? The Old '97s (as aliens) rock out on "I Don't Know What Christmas Is (but Christmastime is here)."

And...here we go into Holiday Beast Mode.