Five Songs for Christmas in July

Five Songs for Christmas in July

Everyone is always thrilled when the weather starts to warm up, but by mid July, you’re probably getting a bit sick of the heat, right? Sunburn, sweat and overheating cellphones can make you nostalgic for wintertime, snow and Yuletide carols.

Popular myth has it that Christmas in July was founded in the 1930s when a summer camp in North Carolina celebrated the holiday on July 24th and 25th with cotton snow, gifts, Christmas trees, and Santa Claus. Then, with the movie Christmas in July, which came out in the 1940s, the somewhat silly holiday hit the mainstream.

So, what are your Christmas in July party ideas? Do you have some quirky decorations with Santa Claus in swim trunks drinking a margarita? A t-shirt with reindeer on the beach? A Christmas-themed cornhole board?

Whatever your plans, you’re going to need music, which is why we, at Night Is Alive, put together a Christmas in July playlist for you! Enjoy!

John Di Martino, Andromeda Turre & Wayne Escoffery – Christmas Ain’t Like It Used to Be

Even though this song is technically about celebrating Christmas without a special someone, it can also be relevant for Christmas in July, which certainly isn’t like any other Christmas you’ve probably celebrated before! Plus, there’s never a bad time to listen to the stellar vocals of Andromeda Turre!

Jonathan Coulton & John Roderick – Christmas in July

This sweet little folk tune really draws attention to the benefits of Christmas in July, like warm breezes by the shore and long days beneath the summer sky. Released in 2012, this song makes me think that maybe celebrating Christmas in Australia—where the seasons are flipped with the Northern Hemisphere—wouldn’t actually be so bad. A barbeque and gift exchange on the beach anyone?

Bill Cunliffe Trio – Christmas Is Coming

From Grammy-award-winning arranger Bill Cunliffe, this 2019 tune will really get you in the mood for Christmas in July! The fast pace, and fun, inventive melodies create excitement for the holiday. And the funky percussion gives it a more tropical feel than many other Christmas songs out there.

Night Is Alive All Stars – Merry Christmas Baby

Nothing beats celebrating a holiday with your beloved—spoiling each other with gifts and furtively glancing into one another’s eye during the festivities. And the buttery vocals and silky-smooth saxophone in this tune produce that sense of romance one often feels around Christmas. As vocalist Christie Dashiell sings, I feel like I’m in paradise.

Bill Cunliffe – Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

End the day on a whimsical note with this crisp and jaunty tune that will bring you back to the sweet and dreamy days of your childhood Christmases. The playful piano will put a smile on your face as the sun dips below the horizon and the sky takes on the pink and purple hues of the sugar plum fairy.

If you’re looking for more holiday tunes to listen to this Christmas in July, be sure to check out all of our holiday albums, which are available in our store and on all major music platforms! And if you’d like to book one of our lovely musicians, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

This post was written by Digital Marketing Manager, Jacqueline Knirnschild.

Kahlil Kwame Bell Q&A Part II

Q&A with Kahlil Kwame Bell: Part II

Last week we were lucky enough to sit down with percussionist Kahlil Kwame Bell to discuss the history of hip-hop, contemporary R&B music and the pros and cons of singles vs. albums.

And guess what? The conversation continues!

This week we are chatting with Kahlil Bell about his experiences with music education and the role of money and profit in the art world.

We hope you enjoy this fascinating discussion just as much as we did!

JK: Could you tell me about your experiences with music education?

KKB: I didn’t even want to go to college when I graduated high school. I was summa cum laude and all that stuff. I had high grades, but I knew that I wanted to study music. By the time I was in school most of the colleges were offering arts programs, but they wanted you to take three years of classical training before you took a genre of your own liking and I was like that’s whack. I wasn’t down for that. I was like, nah, I don’t want to do that. So, then my mom was like well you’re going to school, she went off. Then the guy she was dating at the time told me to look at this school and I looked at the program. It was music and art of the African diaspora. And I said that’s where I want to go. I didn’t even know nothing else. I didn’t want to read nothing else.

I started when I was my youngest son’s age, when I was 10, at a school called Bloomingdale House of Music that used to be on Broadway and 106th or something like that. It was very private. They were teaching me the early classical theory and piano and I, of course, was too young to make the connection between piano and composition. It wasn’t until later on in my young adult years that I realized you could write for pretty much any instrument with a piano. A lot of musicians call the piano the bible for composition because you can write for strings, for lower registered instruments, bassoon, oboe, tuba. And that was my first exposure to music, and it was very boring; I hated it actually, and simultaneously my father was taking me to African dance classes and teaching me rhythms of the Mali Empire, so I was learning a lot of drumming from the time I was 2 years old. My father was the first one to expose me to music. My mother had no interest in the arts; she was a nurse practitioner. My mom is science all the way all day and I approach music like science. She doesn’t see the correlation and that’s cool but other people do.

JK: What do you think is the role of money and profit in the art world?

KKB: Money unfortunately validates someone’s work. And I say unfortunately because there are many genres and high-level quality things that people do that don’t get the acclaim; that doesn’t get the money. When those things don’t get that it’s a drag because you can see the quality, the beauty, the creativity in something but a lot of people miss it because they feel it’s not worthy of observing because there’s no money behind it. My youngest son has an art teacher, a private art teacher, and I put him in her class because I wanted him to do something creative that would bring him off the computer and force him to use his mind and not be pressing stuff.

With a computer, you press something, and the computer does it for you—the person jumps, something shoots, the person flies. But when you’re looking at a blank canvas, you first have to draw the background and then you have to mix the colors of the background and then you have to create the glare of the sun against the water, and you have to create the bird that flies above the water.  And he has to learn these things in her art class, and I think it’s phenomenal but the crazy thing is that I can’t get the town to enroll more kids into her class because my town doesn’t value that, and, again, they don’t value it because there’s no money behind it. Now maybe if she had a commercial on TV and she had a feature on Oprah or something like that they’d be like, oh, I know that place, I’ll bring my kid there. That’s how people move now.

It’s unfortunate because the most quality things I’ve had in my life, the most phenomenal experiences I’ve had in my life were through people who weren’t rich and didn’t have no money but gave me so much information and so much encouragement and support in regard to love and believing in me. All the people that I’ve met with money I can barely remember their names. I’ve played on people’s yachts, mansions, flown on their private jets, but when you do all of that, it means nothing if you can’t connect with that person as an individual. And when people have all of that they’re used to people only talking to them about what they have, and they don’t even want to talk to you if you have what they have or more. I remember this African scholar said, “Money can buy a spouse, but you can’t buy love. Money can buy a house, but it can’t buy a home. Money can buy you insurance, but it can’t buy good health.”

We have to learn to value other things; to reach back to the nature. Take the time to check out some trees and sand and water—things that are beyond our understanding, but we know they exist. We have to take some time to look at some ducks and geese or something. Check out some animals and see how they get down, and when we do that, it humbles us and lets us know that we’re all a part of something that is so much bigger than us and it also helps us dig into our art better.

Feature Friday with Kahlil Kwame Bell

Feature Friday with Kahlil Kwame Bell

This Friday, we were lucky enough to chat with percussionist Kahlil Kwame Bell. Born in the Bronx in 1968, Kahlil Kwame Bell plays over 1,000 percussion instruments and explores a wide variety of genres, including jazz, rock, hip hop, classical and traditional African music. He has toured extensively with many famous artists, including vocalists Roberta Flack and Erykah Badu, and is passionate about reflecting the unity of cultures through music by layering sounds and instruments. His newest solo album is Homeland, which is an exciting journey through traditional African cultures and music!

JK: What do you love so much about physical CDs?

KKB: Most record labels that I know are still putting out physical CDs and I always ask for them, even if I have to pay for them, because I’m a person who still likes to read CDs and likes to connect myself with the record. I’m older, so I’m from the era of reading album covers, and I enjoy that, so I don’t like streaming and all this other crap. It disconnects people from artists, and, in my personal opinion, people don’t really know what it is a lot of times now to listen to a whole record and go on a journey from beginning to end.

I can name at least five records off the top of my head right now that I remember from beginning to end and I don’t know many people who can do that today, not even with hip-hop records, which are pretty popular. When I talk to my children, they don’t talk about albums anymore, they just talk about individual songs, and don’t get it twisted—I love individual songs—because that’s what exposes me to new art, but when I talk to young people, I’ll ask them who’s the artist and they’ll say, I heard them on this mixtape—they never really hear an album—they hear the artist through somebody else’s record.

JK: Which contemporary, mainstream artists do you appreciate?

KKB: I like Kendrick Lamar. I also go into this female rapped named Little Simz. She’s from England. She sings the Venom 2 theme track.

And my oldest daughter kept telling me about this girl H.E.R. and she showed me a song—I thought the girl could sing but musically, it was putting me to sleep. But then I did some research, I went on the internet, I checked her out and I realized how much of a prodigy she was, and I said oh no, she’s the truth. She plays instruments, she studied music her whole life, she’s dope. I heard her playing piano, playing guitar and I said, oh, she’s ridiculous, she’s the bomb. I can rock with her. So, now, I’m a fan of H.E.R.  

JK: Tell me more about your interest in hip-hop.

I grew up in the Bronx when hip-hop first started, so I remember when hip-hop was at a very young age and President Reagan and other politicians were saying that it was a dying art form because it was kids in impoverished areas and no melody to it, just beats. I also remember not only white politicians saying that but black politicians saying that as well which is interesting because those were their children and grandchildren, but they didn’t dig it, which kind of reminded me of my grandmother’s era when people like Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf were laying the foundation of American music with the blues.

When they were at their prime, the blues was the popular music of America, then all of a sudden, Chuck Berry comes playing the blues but playing it a little faster and dancing with it and making it into something that later became rock and roll. It’s interesting how when he came out with that, the older blues artists like Muddy didn’t dig it, but yet, people like Chuck Berry and Little Richard established rock and roll. They made blues in a faster tempo socially acceptable to the masses and made blues danceable versus what most people considered depressing when they first heard it.

So, I look at hip-hop in the same way. When hip-hop was first made it was a very conscious music, a very informative genre. You had people like Grandmaster Flast & The Furious Five, who brought the song “The Message,” which was a key, key, key song in hip-hop. Of course, the The Sugarhill Gang came out, and that is what made hip-hop socially acceptable. But it was “The Message” that gave people of America a look into the world of impoverished areas of cities because nobody really had an idea or a clue about that.

Hip-hop came out in 1979. The pioneer of hip-hop was Kool Herc. He was Jamaican, grew up in the Bronx. When he first started playing music in a certain kind of way, it hadn’t really been heard. At that time, the last 70s, early 80s, the Bronx had just started becoming predominately Puerto Rican. Prior to that, the Bronx had a lot of Jews, Irish and Italian. Hip-hop was the first genre where you saw Blacks and Hispanics creating together.

Hip-hop came out of the Reagan administration annihilating the performing arts programs in the public school system. From my grandmother’s generation to my mother’s generation, they can remember and tell you that they had music appreciation, they had band, which allowed a child to come out of the academic mindset into the creative mindset. When you’re dealing with the arts, it allows you to create something from nothing. It allows you to take a blank canvas and totally envision something in your mind, see where it’s going and create something beautiful, and unfortunately, sometimes academics doesn’t always do that—it’s right or wrong. If you write a sentence and it doesn’t include a noun, verb, and predicate, you messed up, so when it comes to these aspects of learning it can get very intimidating to a child, but when it comes to the arts, there’s this flexibility.  

So, when, for some reason, probably for money, they killed that—no more arts, just academia in the inner city—the kids rebelled. All of a sudden you see graffiti and you see hip-hop growing. Not only did it grow but it became the language of the youth, and it became their story in existence. I grew up in hip-hop but the only reason I didn’t desire to be a rapper was because I played instruments, but in my time, most everybody wanted to be a rapper. It wasn’t making money, but it was stating your identity—I’m from Philly, I’m from Brooklyn, I’m from BK. Everybody had their little term that coined their own individual city, and that was the beauty. And we were children at that time and people are telling us it sounds like a bunch of noise, and perhaps it did, but it’s ironic that it started from that and look what it’s become today.

JK: Thank you very much for speaking with me today, Kahlil. I learned so much about the history of hip-hop! It was such a pleasure.

KKB: You’re welcome. I look forward to speaking to you again in the future!

This post was written by Blog Editor Jacqueline Knirnschild.

Five Songs for the Zoo!

Five Songs for the Zoo!

From Apple Gifting Day to National Whipped Cream Day, it seems that just about every day there is some sort of obscure holiday, and—in case you missed it—July 1st was American Zoo Day! The celebration which marks the opening of the first zoo in the country, the Philadelphia Zoo, to the public in 1874.

What better way to celebrate this little-known holiday and piece of history than by going to the Zoo? You can take your kids, grandkids, nieces, and nephews, or just go with a friend or special someone. Since Night Is Alive is based in Akron, our favorite zoo is definitely the Akron Zoo, which has been recognized for its excellence in diversity and marketing!

No matter who you go with, the truth is that the zoo really never gets old. Regardless of your age, seeing zoo animals will always spark a sense of amazement in you. A lioness prowling around the enclosure, a baboon swinging from branch to branch, an elephant drinking water with its trunk. These are the wonders of the animal kingdom!

So, to get you in the mood for the Zoo, we compiled a few songs for you to listen to during your drive!

The Tokens – The Lion Sleeps Tonight

Did you know that this 1961 doo-wop song was actually an adaptation of a 1939 song written by a South African musician named Solomon Linda? The original, titled “Mbube,” was written in the language of isiZulu, which is spoken by the Zulu people in parts of South Africa.

Solomon Linda – Mbube

Mbube means lion but it also refers to an a cappella style of singing created by the Zulu people and made popular by a group called the Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Vocalists sing in rhythmic unison to produce intricate harmonies and textures—essentially using their voices to take the place of what an instrumental band may do. The part of the Tokens’s song that goes weeheeheehee dee heeheeheehee weeoh aweem away was inspired by mbube style a cappella.

Seven Wild Men & Harry Reser – I’m Just Wild About Animal Crackers

This fun novelty song from the roaring twenties is precisely the song to get you excited to go to the zoo or circus! The swinging style of this 1926 tune evokes carnivals, fairs, elephants being led through hoops and penguins balancing balls on their beaks. It’ll make you want to do a jig all the way to the zoo!

Elvis Presley – Hound Dog

With the new Baz Luhrmann movie about Elvis hitting theaters now, it’s a great time to listen to one of the most instantly recognizable pop songs in history. But did you know that Elvis’s 1956 hit is actually a rendition of Big Mama Thornton’s 1952 R&B song? Since his rendition was so popular, many people often mistake it for an Elvis original.

The WJ3 All-Stars – Can’t Buy Me Love

Even though this song technically doesn’t have anything to do with the zoo or animals, the fast-paced melody will make you smile and look froward to the wonderful day ahead of you. The soft touch of the piano, and the stellar sax solo, also make this brand new 2022 instrumental release one to remember and listen to again and again!

If you’re looking for some more snazzy jazz tunes that’ll evoke the memories and dreams of childhood, please check out our newest album, My Ship, which is available in our store and on all major music platforms today!

This post was written by Digital Marketing Manager, Jacqueline Knirnschild.

Feature Friday with Jeremy Pelt

Feature Friday with Jeremy Pelt

Fourth of July is right around the corner! How are you celebrating? Barbeque and fireworks? Going to the lake house? Long weekend out of town? I don’t know about you, but to me, it sure feels like I have been craving a vacation for a while now, so I am really looking forward to a long weekend with family and friends. We could all use a break to relax and recharge, and what better way to get the festivities started than with a Feature Friday?

This week we are speaking with one of the most preeminent young trumpeters in the jazz world—Jeremy Pelt. Voted by Downbeat Magazine as a rising star on the trumpet, Pelt has performed with some of the biggest names in jazz, like Cliff Barbaro, Keter Betts, Bobby “Blue” Bland, and Ravi Coltrane. His latest release is Soundtrack, which Apple Music calls sublime and soaring in its harmonic imagination.

Now, you’re lucky enough to get to learn a bit more about this fiery and lyrical trumpeter …

What motivates you?

That’s a hard question to answer, as my motivation changes daily.

 What games did you play when you were a child?

Monopoly.

 What was your first job?

 My first job was a student! Alongside that, I was very entrepreneurial and to that effect I had a car washing business in my neighborhood where I would travel with a pail and sponge and wash people’s cars. I called it “Jeremy’s Jolly Car Wash.”

 What was your most beloved song as a child and why?

I didn’t have any beloved songs in my childhood but, interestingly enough, there are old songs that I hear to this day that take me back to my childhood, and then that’s when I remember the songs fondly. But it’s filtered through an adult lens.

Feature Friday with John Di Martino

Feature Friday with John Di Martino

Summer is really heating up—finally! I don’t know about you, but for a while there, when we were having fifty-degree mornings and evenings, it didn’t really feel like summer. Now, though, with the sound of the ice cream truck around the corner and the sweat slick on the back of my neck, I’m ready to turn on some country music, take a dip in the pool and crack open a beer!

Country music is the sound of summer in America, and there’s really not a hotter country album out right now than Cryin’ In My Whiskey, which offers jazzy renditions of your most favorite country classics, like “Whenever You Come Around.”

And this Friday, we get to chat a little bit with composer, arranger, and pianist John Di Martino, who is featured in Cryin’ In My Whiskey, and who journalist Mark Ruffin described as “one of the most inventive small group arrangers in NYC.”

What was your most beloved song as a child and why?

“Once in a Lifetime” by Anthony Newly.

What is your favorite country song (that is not included in Cryin’ in My Whiskey)? 

“El Paso” by Marty Robbins.

What was it like rehearsing and producing this album? 

I really enjoyed producing and arranging this project. Kathy Salem and I are thinking about making another country music CD featuring a male singer!

Our album Cryin’ In My Whiskey is available on all major music platforms now and in our store.

Serene Songs for Painting Parties

Serene Songs for Painting Parties

Are you looking for something to do outside with friends this summer? Maybe you’re not the outdoorsy type and you’re more interested in artistic stuff. Well, no problem. If hiking and kayaking sound exhausting to you, and drinking and dining outside have gotten a bit boring, how about hosting an afternoon of painting en plein air? I’m sure that you and your friends will love being able to explore and challenge yourselves creatively, while also getting to chit chat and enjoy the beautiful weather!

And with all the new painting products and techniques out there, you’re sure to find something that fits your interests. Whether it be hiring an instructor to teach watercolor for beginners, using watercolor pencils, Winsor & Newton watercolor pallets, or painting landscapes or portraits, there is a plethora of fun options out there!

By now, you’re probably wondering, what songs should you listen to during your painting party? Don’t worry—since music is our game at Night is Alive, we’ve got you covered!

Louis Armstrong – What a Wonderful World

Kick off your watercolor painting party with this classic song from 1967 that everyone is sure to know and love. Be like Vincent Van Gogh and capture the feelings of nature around you. Like Armstrong sings, paint pictures of the trees of green, red roses too and the skies of blue and clouds of white.

Hudson River Wind – John DiMartino, Joe Magnarelli & Wayne Escoffery

With the hot weather we’ve been having lately, there’s nothing like a nice river wind to cool the sweat on the back of our necks, and that is the exact sensation that this beautiful song portrays. Let the saxophone refresh and revitalize your energy and creativity as you splash colors onto your canvas!

Nat King Cole – Nature Boy

This 1948 tune is one of the lesser-known ones from the great Nat King Cole, but by no means is it less enthralling. The lyrics tell the story of a “very strange, enchanted boy” who wandered “very far over land and sea” and told the speaker that “the greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return,” which I think is a wonderful message to keep in mind as you paint the enchanting world around you. Maybe your finished painting can be given to a loved one as a gift!

The WJ3 All-Stars – Wave

This beautiful lowkey jazz instrumental provides the perfect backdrop for a peaceful day of watercolor painting. Let the soft melody of the trombone and the rhythm of the drums carry your imagination away into a dreamy, blissful landscape.

Lorca Hart Trio – Blues Alliance

There’s nothing more enjoyable to paint than the sky and the setting sun, and this song will inspire you to capture all those stunning shades of blue in your painting.

If you’re hosting a watercolor painting party and you’re looking for some more relaxing instrumentals to set the mood, I would definitely recommend our new albums, Old New Borrowed & Blue and My Ship, both of which merge the musical artistry of new songs with jazz classics. Colors of Jazz would also be a great one since each song represents a different color and emotion. These albums are available in our store and on all major music platforms today. Also, if you’d like to book one of our lovely musicians, please contact us today.

Jazz Songs for Juneteenth

Jazz Songs for Juneteenth

Maybe you’ve seen the Juneteenth flag—the white star atop blue and red—and wondered what this holiday is all about? Well, it is celebrated on June 19th to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. It was first celebrated in Texas, where in 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay and declared that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state were free by executive decree.

If you’re a history buff, you may know that the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863, so why, you may be wondering, did it take two more years to official free all of the enslaved people? Well, that is because the proclamation was not able to be implemented in places still under Confederate control—like the westernmost Confederate state of Texas. Therefore, slavery wasn’t completely abolished until Juneteenth.

As early as June 19, 1866, the formerly enslaved black Texas began celebrating with festivities. But it was not until June 17, 2021, that President Joe Biden signed a bill that made the day—also known as Freedom Day or Jubilee Day—into an official federal holiday.

On Juneteenth, you may also see people flying the red, black, and green Pan-African flag, which was adopted by the Universal Negro Improvement Association in 1920 and represents the blood, soil and prosperity of Africa and its people.

Now that you have an introduction to the holiday, why don’t we take a closer look at a few songs that have played a huge role in the fight for civil rights in America.

Billie Holiday – Strange Fruit

Just because slavery was officially abolished in 1865 with the Thirteenth Amendment, doesn’t mean that equality was instantaneous. In fact, far from it. As we all unfortunately know, the struggle for racial equality still persists today.

Following the Thirteenth Amendment, many racists, and racist organizations, like the Ku Klux Klan, retaliated in the form of lynching.

In 1939, a Jewish-American man named Abel Meeropol wrote a poem that protested against lynching, such as those in Indiana during the 1930s. As many photos from that period show, racially motivated violence was far from over.

Meeropol made the poem into lyrics with music and his wife performed it at venues in New York City. Then, legend has it that the founder of the only integrated nightclub in New York City—Café Society—introduced Meeropol’s song to Billie Holiday, who performed it for the first time in 1939.

The song, which compares the Black American victims of lynching to the fruit of trees, was named by Timemagazine in 1999 as the “Best Song of the Century.” And activist and scholar Angela Davis said that this song is “the most influential and profound example of a continuing site of music and radical social consciousness.” It has been thought of us a declaration that began the civil rights movement.

Nina Simone – Mississippi Goddam

“Mississippi Goddam,” released in 1964, encapsulates the Simone’s response to the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing, and the racially motivated murder of the Emmett Till in Mississippi. In case you aren’t familiar with these atrocities—in 1963, a white supremacist bombed a black Church in Birmingham, which killed four people and injured over 14. And in 1955, a group of white men abducted, tortured, and lynched a fourteen-year-old boy named Emmett Till.

They keep on sayin’ ‘go slow,’ Simone sings in the protest song. To do things gradually would bring more tragedy. Why don’t you see it? Why don’t you feel it? I don’t know, I don’t know. You don’t have to live next to me, just give me my equality!

Happy Father’s Day — 5 Songs to Make Dad Smile!

What are your plans for Father’s Day this year? Are you grilling? Golfing? Going to a car show? Maybe you’re just relaxing on the couch drinking beer with your dad and watching ESPN. No matter what you’re doing, the most important thing is to show your dad that you care, and what better way to do so than with a curated playlist?

My dad always said that it’s the thought that counts, so this Father’s Day don’t worry about finding that “perfect” gift for dad or spending a lot of money on some fancy present, just give him something from the heart. Say, something like a mixtape or burned CD full of his favorite tunes!

To help you out, we put together a few songs that your dad is bound to enjoy!

George Strait – The Best Day

This sweet country tune from 2000 tells the story of a father and son who share a moment right before the son is about to get married. The father reminisces on the times when they used to go camping together and then the song closes with the son recognizing that he’s learned so much from his parents about how to act in a marriage.

Ugh, if this song won’t make your dad tear up, I don’t know what will!     

Chrisette Michele – Your Joy

This 2007 soul ballad is really popular at father-daughter dances because the lyrics are so poignant. Michele’s strong vocals stunningly deliver a beautiful, heartfelt message that is sure to pull at your dad’s heartstrings. No one can compare to the way my eyes fit in yours / You’ll always be my father, oh, oh / And I’ll always be your joy.

Faith Hill – There You’ll Be

This is another country classic that illuminates the power of a loved one to show up, no matter how much time has passed. You probably know that this 2001 ballad was the theme song of the movie Pearl Harbor, but did you know that it was actually first offered to Celine Dion? I bet she regrets turning it down …

Dolly Parton – Daddy Come and Get Me

You can never go wrong with Dolly Parton. And this 1970 song is no exception. It tells the story of a woman whose husband locked her into a mental institution, and who is desperate for her dad to come and get here. Because when times get rough, you know that you can always count on your dad. 

The WJ3 All-Stars – God Bless the Child

Slow things down with this smooth instrumental rendition of Billie Holiday’s classic song. The delicacy of the piano will provide a nice backdrop for a heartfelt conversation with dad. Don’t forget to tell him how much you appreciate everything he’s done for you!

We at Night is Alive know that it can be very challenging to come up with a unique Father’s Day gift idea, but with our many jazz albums, getting a gift for dad doesn’t have to be so difficult this year!

If you enjoyed the WJ3 All-Stars tune, I recommend checking out their newest release My Ship, which explores the dreams of our childhoods. Nothing beats reminiscing on Father’s Day, right?

Or, if your dad is more of a country fan, he might like our album Cryin’ In My Whiskey, which puts a jazzy twist on many country classics!

Patriotic Songs to Listen to on Flag Day

Patriotic Songs to Listen to on Flag Day

Did you know that at the start of the American Revolution in 1775, regiments all fought under their own flags? A flag was then made to unify everyone—the “Continental Colors.” Only problem was that the flag had a Union Jack in the corner and therefore was much too similar to the British flag. Finally, in 1777, what we now recognize as “Old Glory,” or the Stars and Stripes, was created. Legend has it that the upholsterer Betsy Ross made the first American flag, but there is actually no historical evidence of this.

In 1885, a teacher from Wisconsin named came up with the idea to have a holiday that honored the American flag, and then in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson officially established June 14th as Flag Day.

So, now that you know a bit more about the history behind the holiday, it’s time to celebrate, right?

We gathered up some songs that pay tribute to “Old Glory,” and honor our American and revolutionary history. Invite your relatives over for a BBQ, or a dip in the pool, and enjoy!

Johnny Cash – Ragged Old Flag

A spoken word monologue set against a backdrop of the snare drum, this 1974 song tells the story of an old man who is mighty proud of the flag hanging in his small town. You see, we got a little hole in that flag there when Washington took it across the Delaware …

Cash released the album Ragged Old Flag following President Richard Nixon’s resignation. He seems to have wanted to reunite Americans those during difficult times. The song suggests that despite the negative moments throughout history, hope will persevere, and the flag will still continue to fly.

Dolly Parton – Color Me America

This lesser-known song from living legend Dolly Parton is definitely worth a listen. As usual, her vocals are stellar, and the delivery is direct and strong.

The ballad comes from Parton’s 2003 album For God and Country, which sought to provide comfort and solace to the nation following the 9/11 attacks. The lyrics certainly don’t shy away from the ugliness present in our country, but they also manage to still drive home the message that love overpowers all: I see red when evil speaks spilling red blood on our streets and I feel blue from grief and sorrow that it brings but the white and light of love God’s own spirit like a dove lift’s us up and hands to us an olive branch.

Billy Murray – You’re a Grand Old Flag

Talk about an oldie but a goodie—this patriotic march was written in 1906 for a musical titled George Washington, Jr and is now stored in the Library of Congress. With all of our technology today, this spirited march may not seem like much to you, but shortly after it was originally performed on stage, it became the first song from a musical to sell over one million copies of sheet music!

Another interesting fact: the song title was inspired by an encounter the writer had with a veteran who fought at Gettysburg in the Civil War. The vet had an old flag carefully folded up that he referred to as “a grand old rag.” There were many objections, however, to the song title because some people didn’t feel comfortable referring to the American flag as a rag.

Although Night is Alive is yet to produce an American-themed album, we do have an album of country jazz, called Cryin’ in My Whiskey, which is available in our store and on all major music platforms today.

This blog post was written by Blog Editor, Jacqueline Knirnschild.