Category: MTMS Blog Posts

What would a 12 Days celebration be without “12 Days” by Straight No Chaser? This men’s a capella group features witty twists on classic songs, bad choreography, amazing harmonies and gorgeous vocal tone. Watch for cameos of the following songs:

“Santa Claus is Coming to Town”
“Deck the Halls”
“The Boar’s Head Carol”
“Carol of the Bells”
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
“I Have a Little Dreidel”,
…and “Africa” by Toto!

Here’s a snippet of the hilarious “Africa” lyrics:
Nine ladies dancing, they were dancing for me
Eight maids-a-milking, they were milking just for me
I had Christmas down in Africa…

Enjoy!

This foot-tappin’, hip-shakin’ modern classic featuring the vocal stylings of Mistress of Pop Mariah Carey needs no further introduction. Go ahead and set your player on repeat. You know you want to.

Enjoy.

This version of “Joy to the World” begins with improvised gospel piano and organ and the gorgeous tone and amazing vocal embellishments of Natalie Grant on the first verse. I especially love the waterfall sound made by the piano at 0:44. After the freestyle introduction, a descending piano progression ending with two steady quarter-note chord hits kick off the upbeat portion of the song, featuring the addition of trumpets, bass, drums, and of course, a gospel choir. There are some fun chord changes throughout that make the arrangement unique compared to the tradition carol; for example, at 1:38. At the beginning of the second verse, around 2:11, there’s a dramatic moment when everything drops out on the downbeat and comes back in the syncopated beat.

If you don’t find yourself wanting to dance to this one, you’re probably dead.

Joy to the World
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
Let heaven and nature sing

He rules the world with truth and grace
He makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love

Enjoy:

This version of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” in blues rock style opens with a deep solo electric guitar riff. After twice through the riff, the guitar is joined by rock organ and drums on a syncopated beat.The vocal embellishments follow the seventh chord progression that is typical of a blues. A gospel choir joins in each refrain, beginning in the first refrain around 1:10. A single backup singer enhances the verses here and there, starting at the end of Verse 2. The lead guitar and organ have wonderful solo moments throughout. There’s a neat drama point around 2:41 featuring nearly a capella vocals, with some echo on the vocal processor and just a hint of tinkling on the organ, finishing off with a power moment when the bass guitar kicks a rich sustained note at 2:53. Then the rest of the band kicks back in for the last chorus and outro.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel:
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear

O come o come thou wisdom from on high
Through of all things far and nigh
To us the path of knowledge to show
And cause us in her ways to go

Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come for thee, O Israel

Enjoy:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=ev85WChdGh4

This ain’t your traditional drummer boy. This drummer boy boasts a multi-piece drum set featuring everything from the kick drum to the crash cymbal. He’s accompanied by driving electric rhythm guitar, a wailing lead guitar solo with tremolo at 1:55, and edgy rock vocals.

The Little Drummer Boy
Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That’s fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.

Enjoy.