faithMile

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfYcMREC2eQ[/youtube]

A Joyous Song – Boyz II Men

Here is the second Boyz II Men entry from the 1983 LP, Christmas Interpretations. This song, like the rest of the LP, gives me that “by the fireplace on Christmas morning” feeling. It’s not traditional, but it should be a classic. Like Share Love, it combines the joy of being with family with the joy of humanity in a chorus that celebrates life and thanks God for it. It truly is a joyous song.

Lyrics courtesy of lyricsmania.com:

Love over flows around this season
Our hearts find pleasure in the simplest of things
It brings joy to a child
When he sees all the decorations hanging all around
The birthday of our king
We sing praises to you
People gather around to see a tree
Light up the sky for all of the world to see
Of all the holidays that exist
None makes more happier than this one

I see love all around this world
In every man, woman, boy, and girl
The time is so right and I’ll say
Thank you Lord
It’s so great to be alive
Because it’s all about love

As we sit around the fire place
Windows fill with snow as it flutters down and gives the ground a glow
I feel your kisses
Your warm embrace
Kneeling as we pray
To thank our Lord for what he’s done for us
Time stands so still
As I touch your hand it says things to me words never will

I feel it (it’s easy to feel) peace all the way inside
Joy from a stranger as he walks by and says
Hi, Merry Christmas to you and yours
May you receive everything you wish for and more
I see love

I see love all around this world
In every man, woman, boy, and girl
The time is so right and I’ll say
Thank you Lord
It’s so great to be alive
Because it’s all about love
(repeats five times)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neQ5Va5HiAg[/youtube]

Veni Emanuel – The Vatican

I ran across this beautiful version of O Come Emmanuel in Latin – performed by the Vatican choir. Not only is the music sublime, with echoes of the song’s Gregorian origins, but the scenery is amazing as well.

When I visited the Vatican, I went there to see Michelangelo’s pieta in person because it was the most beautiful statue I had ever seen in a book. Little did I know that the beauty of the pieta is dwarfed by the majesty of the building it sits in. Here, you see just a small part of the main chapel. In the video, you will notice that the people look incredibly small. To give you an idea of the scale of the Vatican, the statues you see ensconced in the walls are 6 feet tall. So is the circular golden rim of fire around the clock, as well as the letters and roman numerals rimming the base of the ceiling.

About.com has the lyrics to Veni Emanuel. It is even more beautiful in Latin.

Veni, veni Emmanuel!
Captivum solve Israel!
Qui gemit in exilio,
Privatus Dei Filio,
Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
Nascetur pro te, Israel.

Veni, veni o oriens!
Solare nos adveniens,
Noctis depelle nebulas,
Dirasque noctis tenebras.
Gaude, gaude Emmanuel
Nascetur pro te, Israel.

Veni, veni Adonai!
Qui populo in Sinai
Legem dedisti vertice,
In Maiestate gloriae.
Gaude, gaude Emmanuel
Nascetur pro te Israel.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjjlzBtI1AY[/youtube]

O Come Emmanuel – Jamie Finch

This was a difficult song to find. Oh, there are several versions online, but I love this song and wanted to find a solitary voice with a little flair but not too much stylistic change. That was difficult to find. I had almost given up when I ran across Jamie. I have no idea who she is, but I like her rendition of the song, so that’s the one I included. So, in a sense, the internet gave us YouTube, which allowed Jamie to give us this performance, which allowed me to share it with you – in the perfect spirit of Christmas.

She only sings two verses of the song, but the lyrics are here in their entirety, courtesy of carols.org.uk.

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times did’st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.