Christmas
compilations are cool. It's a chance to get a bunch of bands and
artists together to give their own unique perspectives on the
holiday. For bands that wouldn't usually put out an entire album of
merry songs, compilations allow the opportunity to test the icy
waters of Fa-La-La-Land and to accompany other equally-festive
talents.
A couple of years
ago, Target put out a string of commercials to celebrate their winter
sales and products. Accompanying these commercials were original
songs from bands like Guster, Bishop Allen, and Blazer Force. Whoever
at Target decided it could be advantageous to release these songs, in
full, to the public was a genius. This is possibly one of the most
bizarre, scatterbrained collection of Christmas songs ever, but it's
also one of my favorite. I don't think Blackalicious and Jenny O.
would ever belong on any other compilation together, but I'm glad it
happened here.
b) “Christmas Party,” “A Benihana Christmas,” and “Moroccan Christmas” from The Office (US)
First, my
obligatory rant that the early seasons of the US version of The
Office were the strongest, even though this final season is
shaping up to be a decent send-off to the series. I can't fully
explain why pre-wedding (even pre-relationship) Jim and Pam were
better and how the degradation of the characters into gross
caricatures wasn't the best route for the show to take. I don't
want to be the person who says, “I liked the show before
everyone started watching it,” but, hey...
Anyways, the
first few Christmas episodes were always interesting because they
were about something else, every season. Season 2's “Christmas
Party” was about Michael trying to throw the best Christmas party
ever, no matter how many people he upsets along the way. Season 3's
Benihana episode was all about spite: Michael attempts to rebound
from Carol while Pam and Karen throw their own party after Angela
shoots down all of their ideas. And Season 5's “Moroccan Christmas”
is a thinly-veiled but highly-funny intervention episode.
The strongest of
the three is obviously “Christmas Party.” Jim's whole conundrum
of his gift ending up with the wrong person is perfect and let's not
forget that this was one of the first episodes that really started to
flesh out the background characters and what they gave each other
through Secret Santa spoke volumes about their interpersonal
relationships. Toby got Angela a creepy baby poster because he knows
she likes that kind of thing. Oscar gives Creed a shamrock keychain
because he doesn't know anything about Creed except that he might be
Irish, maybe? Creed got Jim an old shirt in a plastic because he
forgot about the whole thing. Michael got Ryan an iPod because he's
got some weird crush on him and because he got a big bonus from
Corporate (“Three thousands G's...”). And Kevin got himself a
footbath because that's just what he wanted.
In a sense, we
all have that problem. It's not enough that you have to buy gifts for
people. There's a stigma to know what the receiver wants, to get to
the core of someone else through commercial means. It's tough,
frustrating work to know all of these other people so deeply. Maybe
we should just all be Kevin.
Then again, maybe
we should take the iPod...
c) Salvation
Army ringers
Today was the
first time I ever gave to the Salvation Army. Well, it's the first
time I've ever really given to charity in general. Sure, I've given
a couple of dollars to homeless people throughout my years (to
support the drugs and alcohol market), but this was the first time
I've given a conscious thought to giving back. My contribution:
$3.46 made up of change I had in my pocket.
Now, this may
not seem like much coming from someone clearly as well off as I am.
I mean, I'm a college graduate. Of course I'm just rolling in the
dough right now (which reminds me that I should apply for a job at
Panera tomorrow and really get some mileage out of this writing
degree).
I can't help
but feel for those guys, standing out front of Wal*Marts and
Meijers with their dinky bell and their buckets, freezing and
ringing away. They really have nothing to do besides tell entering
customers “Merry Christmas” and tell exiting people “Fuck
your selfishness” (under their breath). It's a totally thankless
job and I can't imagine many ringers go to bed and think “I made
$12 for someone else after standing around in the harsh weather
for eight hours. Worth it.” I like the underdogs, though, so if
getting rid of the three pounds of coins I was carrying around
will help with... something... I'm okay with that.
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