There is a whole album of posthumous Christmas duets with Elvis. It almost makes me want to open up Audacity and record my own, except that it would be cruel to subject you to that.

Instead of a song from the aforementioned album, today’s duet selection features Elvis and Susan Boyle. I have been touched by her story since I saw her appearance on Britain’s Got Talent.

It’s Duet Week at Sara Hartman Presents Fun with Christmas Carols!

That reminds me of Big Band Theory which makes me think of Barenaked Ladies, who did a duet of “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen/We Three Kings” with Sarah McLachlan. I’m sure that Sheldon Cooper would be quick to point out that this is not technically a duet, but I’m invoking creative license to consider the band as a singular unit. (And yes I realize that is redundant. More creative license.)

BTW when I polled my family about holiday songs, the first one featured in this medley turned out to be my son’s favorite. God rest ye merry, Joseph.

Early in the month, Hanna suggested that I share this selection. It is a perfect follow-up to yesterday since (a) it is a different rendition of the same song and (b) Jim Nabors got his start on “The Andy Griffith Show.” Surprise, surprise, surprise . . . scatterbrain Gomer Pyle has a beautiful baritone singing voice.

Confession time: if I were to list Christmas carols from most to least favorite, “Go Tell it on the Mountain” would be in the bottom half, probably due to overexposure during my childhood. (We probably sang it at every girl scout outing and youth retreat that I attended.) But I must admit it makes all the difference hearing it sung really, really well.

Today would have been my father’s 84th birthday. He was an avid auto racing enthusiast (especially NASCAR), a Scrabble aficionado, and a man of deep faith. He was also an Andy Griffith fan, and in many ways reminded me of him: tall, lean and dark-haired with a hard work ethic and general down-home demeanor.

I don’t know of any NASCAR drivers who sing Christmas carols, but lucky for me Andy Griffith did. I bought his Christmas album for Dad the year he and mom finally bought a van with a CD player.

Today’s selection is in memory of my dad. It was one of his favorites and one that even after five years, I can still hear him singing along to in my head.

In seven seasons, Captain Picard never uttered the word “corn?” Fascinating. Even so, this will provide holiday cheer to Trekkies everywhere.

Who remembers the Monkees? Today’s selection is a 16th century Spanish carol from their 1967 Christmas show. Ríu Ríu Chíu is thought to be either the song of a nightingale or a shepherd calling his sheep.

Refrain
Ríu ríu chíu, riverside guardian;
God has kept the wolf from our precious lambkin.
God has kept the wolf from our precious lambkin.

Today’s carol selection, “Dona Nobis Pacem,” has been one of my favorites since junior high chorus. Its simple message – Give Us Peace – is particularly relevant considering current events here in Missouri.

The version I chose features Elizabeth von Trapp, the daughter of Werner von Trapp, aka Kurt from “The Sound of Music.” She has an absolutely beautiful voice, and stacking her vocals provides an eerily perfect harmony.

Dona Nobis Pacem. Amen.

This lesser-known holiday gem was written by Bobby Troup for his wife, Julie London. I first knew them as Dr. Early and Nurse McCall from Emergency! before discovering that he composed “Route 66,” which together with living in a flat a block away from Chippewa Street in St. Louis sparked a lasting interest in the historic roadway.

“I’d Like You for Christmas” is well-suited to London’s sultry voice and the video features an interesting assortment of photos, including London with Troup beginning at 0:46, with JFK at 1:15, and a noteworthy seasonal photograph at 1:30.

It’s December 1, which is the kickoff of Christmas music season in my little corner of the universe. Today’s selection also doubles as a lesson in basic Christmas counter-downer physics, hahahaha.