A Little Holiday Music...

Merry Christmas to all my friends and family members around the world!

Thanks to my friend Lauren and her blog The Bumblebee Protocol for giving me this idea for posting Christmas music!  I wish I had thought of it sooner!

Norad tracks Santa Claus as he travels around the world!

There are so many good (and bad) holiday songs I can not possibly name them all!  There are also some very good (and bad) versions of Christmas songs.

Some of my favorite Christmas songs:

Michael Crawford 'O Holy Night' (His version is absolutely my favorite one!)

Another source for Michael Crawford 'O Holy Night'

Josh Groban 'O Holy Night' (Josh has a beautiful voice, but he doesn't hit the notes the way Michael does.)

Bruce Springsteen 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town'

I think this is the version we've gotten used to hearing Bruce Springstseen sing on the radio. It was done at CW Post College back in 1975. I did see him do it live once, at a concert November 25, 1984 at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas.  I love it!

Band Aid 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' (Enough said!)

Bing Crosby 'White Christmas', also here! (From the movie 'White Christmas'!)

But the song was introduced in the movie 'Holiday Inn':

Bing Crosby and David Bowie 'The Little Drummer Boy' and 'Peace On Earth'

Gary Hoey 'Ho, Ho, Hoey', 'The Twelve Days of Christmas', and 'You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch'. (Trust me, his guitar version of the Grinch is awesome!)

The Little Drummer Boy by a local band, and also by Neil Diamond.

I've always said I would love to see a good rock version of 'The Little Drummer Boy', with an awesome drum solo. One was done a number of years ago, but I can NOT remember who sang it, so I can't really even look for it.

Gene Autry 'Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer' (his was the original version); and Burl Ives version here!

Jimmy Durante sings 'Frosty the Snowman'

A Soldier's 'Silent Night'

Another Soldier's 'Silent Night'

And 'A Soldier's Christmas'

I heard a punk rock type version of 'Silent Night' about twenty five years ago. It was great, but again, I can NOT remember who sang it, so I really can't even look for it!

Luciano Pavarotti 'Adeste Fideles'

Believe it or not I learned this song in Latin back in the Dark Ages.  But I doubt seriously if any of us even came close to sounding remotely like Pavarotti!

Andrea Bocelli 'Noche de Paz' ('Silent Night')

Boney M 'Mary's Boy Child'

Bonus Holiday Videos:

ADAM SANDLER - CHANUKAH (HANUKKAH) SONG [PART 1]

Adam Sandler: The Chanukah Song Part 2

ADAM SANDLER - CHANUKAH (HANUKKAH) SONG [PART 3]

U2 'New Year's Day'

Dan Fogelberg 'Same Auld Lang Syne'

Barry Manilow 'It's Just Another New Year's Eve'

Happy Holidays from the Arizona Diamondbacks!  There's a video!

D-backs Tie Record With Four Straight Home Runs

D-backs Tie Record With Four Straight HRs
By Jordan Schelling / MLB.com


08/12/10 12:50 AM ET

MILWAUKEE -- Back-to-back-to-back-to-back.

With one out in the fourth inning of Wednesday's 8-2 win over the Brewers, the D-backs connected for home runs in four consecutive at-bats, the first time in franchise history.

Arizona is just the seventh team in Major League history to have four hitters in a row connect for home runs. The feat last occurred on Aug. 14, 2008, when the White Sox did it against the Royals in the bottom of the sixth.

The last time four consecutive home runs were hit in the National League was Sept. 18, 2006, when the Dodgers did it in the bottom of the ninth.

"It's not very often that happens," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "I was happy to be a part of it for sure. The guys really hit the ball that inning."

First baseman Adam LaRoche got things started, belting a full-count fastball from Brewers starter Dave Bush deep to right field. Miguel Montero followed with the second, sending a low 1-2 fastball into the seats to tie the game at 2.

At that point, the D-backs had matched the Brewers' back-to-back home runs of two innings earlier, but they were far from finished.

Mark Reynolds snapped a personal streak of four consecutive strikeouts against Bush, belting a 1-1 curveball to left-center. The last time the D-backs had gone back-to-back-to-back was May 3, 2002, against the Montreal Expos.

"I just wanted to get a hit," Reynolds said. "I didn't [care] if it was a homer or a swinging bunt. I've been struggling since I got hit in the head. It was a curveball kind of middle away, and I didn't even swing very hard at it. I just put the barrel on it."

Finally, shortstop Stephen Drew ripped a 1-0 fastball into the D-backs bullpen in right, tying the Major League record for consecutive home runs.

Drew joins his brother, J.D., as the only brothers to have participated in a string of four straight home runs.

"It was pretty wild," Drew said. "[LaRoche] starts it off, then you see Miggy hit one and I was like 'What next?' Then Mark gets up there and hits one and I'm like, 'What am I supposed to do here?'

"It's pretty special. You don't see that too often, and it's one of those things that was meant to be, and it was a special time."

Bush is the first pitcher to give up four straight home runs since Chase Wright -- who is now in the Brewers' system -- surrendered four to the Red Sox while with the Yankees in 2007.

J.D. Drew was involved in the Dodgers-Padres feat and in the Red Sox-Yankees game.

"I remember watching it on TV that night when J.D. was with L.A., but I don't remember the one in Boston," Drew said. "He's one up on me."

--Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

More articles and video:
Hudson Shines in D-backs' Homerfest
Four straight HRs help right-hander earn third straight win
 
Adam LaRoche’s Solo Shot (Video)
 
Miguel Montero’s Solo Shot (Video)
 
Mark Reynold’s Hits Another Homer (Video)
 
Stephen Drew Drills Fourth Home Run In A Row (Video)
 
Reynolds, Drew and Hudson Discuss Wednesday’s Game (Video)
 

Luis Gonzalez honored by D-Backs

Gonzo 'Honored' as DBacks Jersey Retired
 
Series hero's No. 20 is first to be enshrined by team
By Steve Gilbert / MLB.com

08/07/10 10:31 PM ET

PHOENIX -- When he was acquired by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1999, Luis Gonzalez was asked what number he would like to wear.

Having worn 26, 25 and 28 at previous stops in his career, Gonzalez simply said, "Give me something in the 20s."

The club issued him No. 20, which he wore with distinction from 1999-2006.

Saturday night at Chase Field, the D-backs made it so no player would ever wear that number again as they retired it in a pregame ceremony.

Befitting the bond Gonzalez shared with the fans, a sellout crowd packed its way into Chase Field with most in their seats well before the game's first pitch so they could watch the ceremonies at home plate.

"This is a special place for me and my family," Gonzalez said. "And to come out there it was solidified by just looking out into the crowd and seeing how many people were here in support. I'm overwhelmed, honored and at the same time excited."

Seated with Gonzalez on the field were his wife Christine and their triplets, his mother, grandmother, brother, sister as well as numerous other family members, his high school and college baseball coaches and several college roommates.

"This was kind of closure, my way of saying I appreciate everything you guys have done for me in the past," Gonzalez said. "My family is all Cuban so they were sitting out there today pretty emotional. For me it was special because they got to sit out on the field and kind of enjoy it with me."

Gonzalez was given a framed No. 20 jersey by managing general partner Ken Kendrick and team president and CEO Derrick Hall as well as an artist's rendering of his game-winning hit in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series.

The club then unveiled a No. 20 in purple and turquoise above the Arizona Baseball Club in right field where Gonzalez's number will reside next to Jackie Robinson's No. 42.

"It's just hard to fathom," Gonzalez said. "When my kid's kids come here it's always going to be there."

The D-backs initially had a club policy that only players inducted into the Hall of Fame would have their numbers retired, but they changed it within the past year.

Gonzalez's popularity with fans had plenty to do with his on-field performance, but it was greatly enhanced by the way he carried himself off the field as he became a fixture in the Arizona community.

"I never tried to shelter myself from the people," Gonzalez said. "My kids are all public-school kids, we didn't consider ourselves any different. My family values were always treat people the way you want to be treated, and for me that was important because I knew I wasn't going to play this game forever and the same people that you so-called pass on the way up are the same ones that are going to be there on the way down. When my career was over I wanted them of course to talk about me as a baseball player, but I wanted them to talk about me as a good person too."

There was plenty of that talk Saturday as former teammates such as Craig Counsell, Jay Bell and Mark Grace weighed in with in-game video tributes along with childhood friend and former Major Leaguer Tino Martinez and former club owner Jerry Colangelo and former GM Joe Garagiola, Jr.

As a special assistant to Hall, Gonzalez has worked with a number of different departments. With the departure of GM Josh Byrnes, Gonzalez now figures to take a more active role in the baseball operations department.

Meanwhile, he will continue to try and further his work in the community.

"We've decided to stay here and try to make a positive impact now that my playing career is over to try to do things to help youths and continue to do positive things in the community," Gonzalez said. "I have a lot of plans with the Diamondbacks to start some youth facilities. That's my goal. I want to try to get kids away from playing video games all the time and trying to do positive things out in the street."

-Steve Gilbert is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

A Lot to Celebrate: Sellout, Walk-off, Gonzo (Includes Video)
Young's second homer wins it as D-backs retire No. 20
 
 
Gonzalez Honored by DBacks (Video)
 
Chris Young's Solo Home Run (Video)
 
Recap of August 7 Game Diamondbacks 6, Padres 5 (Video)
 
Gonzo Visits the FSN Booth (Video)
 
Gonzo's Wife on Retiring Number 20 (Video)
 
 
 
Arizona Diamondbacks Official Website