Page 6 December 7, 2017 TORRANCE TRIBUNE
TerriAnn in Torrance
What Is Your Favorite Christmas Carol or Preferred Holiday Song?
By TerriAnn Ferren
Department stores and shops are decorated
for the holidays--and in the background,
inevitably, one hears the sound of Christmas
music. I decided to ask others what their favorite
carol is and why. Here are some of their
responses. Vickie Vega told me, “My favorite
carol is ‘O, Holy Night’ because it is so soulful.
I love to ‘belt out’ the words because I
cannot carry a tune to save my life.” Then I
asked Rita Walker (Nash), who was married
to the late Torrance Police Chief Don Nash,
about her favorite carol and she told me, “My
favorite Christmas song is ‘Feliz Navidad’ or
‘Jingle Bell Rock.’
My memory of these songs goes back many
years to the late ‘70s and ‘80s. My husband
and I used to ride on the Torrance Police
Departments Christmas float. We made many
stops through the neighborhoods with Santa,
talking to the little kids and handing out candy.
Sometimes it was cold and windy and other
years it was perfect, but no matter the weather
it was just so much fun! Afterwards, we would
all go out for pizza. A very fond memory I
have of that time in my life…
Recent recipient of the Jared Sidney Torrance
award Debbie Hays said, “My two
favorites are ‘Silent Night’ by Stevie Nicks
[her rendition makes my arm hairs stand on
end] and Bob Seger’s version of ‘The Little
Drummer Boy.’” Debbie loves the lyrics of
“The Little Drummer Boy” because of the
way Bob Seger’s voice emphasizes each word
Mosaic in Bethlehem.
of the song, which gets her in the mood for
Christmas. “I have no gift to bring (pa rum
pum pum pum), That’s fit to give a king (pa
rum pum pum pum). On my drum. That is
the meaning of Christmas…Giving--even if
you think you have nothing to give. Sharing
yourself with others to bring about joy…a gift
from the heart is fit for a king. That is the
meaning of Christmas,” said Debbie.
Reverend Dr. Michael McGowan was happy
to tell me, “My favorite Christmas carol is,
‘O Come All Ye Faithful,’ because I learned
it as a child in school by the nuns and it has
always stayed in my mind and heart ever since.
It would not be Christmas without hearing
and singing this carol at Midnight Mass.
It speaks of joy and peace, especially at a
time of great turmoil throughout the world.”
President and CEO of the Torrance
Chamber of Commerce Donna Duperron
said, “…My favorite song would have to
be ‘Jingle Bells’ because Christmas is a
time for children. I recall my husband and
I going to performances when our children
were in elementary school. One of the first
songs they learned to sing for the holidays
was ‘Jingle Bells.’ We were so proud of our
children and their friends as they stood on
short bleachers in the school cafeteria and
sang. What makes it even more special now
is we are listening to our grandchildren learn
and sing the same song.”
Rita Welche chose “Silent Night” and
said it was “because it really is what the
season is about--the birth of Jesus and not
the presents under the tree. Boy…does this
song bring back memories…we just are home
from our travels to the Holy Land. Were in
Bethlehem and visited the Nativity Church…
and our Palestinian guide, who stopped us
coming out of the church, said that although
we are from all over the world--20 of us--he
wanted us to feel like one and invited us to
sing ‘Silent Night.’ It reminded me of when,
as a child, we would rehearse for hours with
the choir in the church until our voices were
in perfect sync. Here we were…taking home
another memory to last a lifetime.”
Donna Gervais excitedly told me, “We fill
our home with Christmas carols during this
holy season every year. ‘Oh Holy Night’ is
my favorite. My husband Bobby sang this
song solo at Mass when he was a child and
I asked him to sing this song for my family
one Christmas while we were dating, and
since then everyone enjoys singing along to
this beautiful hymn. This is a wonderful time
to sing songs of praise!”
I then asked Michelle Cooper and she, like
Debbie Hays, loves “The Little Drummer Boy”
because “as a little girl, I remember every year
my mother would sing that particular song
at all my Girl Scout events and just about
everything else we did socially. She had a
voice like a beautiful angel. As a result of
those memories, I can say it is my favorite
too, although I would never attempt to sing
it myself. I was not blessed with a beautiful
voice as she was.”
Mayor Patrick Furey’s favorite is “It’s Beginning
to Look a Lot Like Christmas” by Johnny
Mathis, though he added, “Actually any version.
Terry [my wife] and I sing it while we
are decorating our home. So it reminds us of
family, friends and the entire holiday season.”
Councilwoman Heidi Ann Ashcraft told me
that “O Holy Night” is special “because it
embodies the true reason for Christmas. When
I was in the sixth grade, my class did the play
The Littlest Angel and I wanted to try out for
the lead singing part, but had to learn ‘O Holy
Night.’ At home we had a Christmas record
that had that song on, it so I sat down and
played it over and over to learn it. The only
problem was the singer was a soprano and had
an operatic voice and I couldn’t understand
many of the words, so I made them up to sound
like they fit the music. Well, when I tried out,
the teacher looked at me strangely and asked
where I got that rendition. I explained what
I did to learn it and then she understood. I
got the part!” Councilwoman Ashcraft told
me you have to pay attention to what you
wish for because you might get it. Oh, and
she knows the correct words to the song now.
The next day, I asked Torrance City Clerk
Rebecca Poirier and she told me, “What a fun
idea! I never thought which one is my favorite.
‘The Christmas Song’ by Nat King Cole
because it reminds me of being with family
during the holidays, being warm and happy…or
‘Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree’ because
it reminds me of decorating the Christmas
tree on my sister’s birthday with my family.”
Next, Cassie Bradley mentioned “Same Day
as Christmas” as her favorite. “I believe that
is the name--it talks about different people,
but how everyone is connected and Christmas
brings people together. Just makes me grateful
to have the family and friends I do have.”
In charge of special events at the Torrance
Historical Society, Janet Payne told me her
favorite song is “Still, Still, Still” by Mannheim
Steamroller. “It is sung by a group and it is
absolutely beautiful…an Austrian Christmas
carol and lullaby…it is describing the peace
of infant Jesus and his mother as the baby is
sung to sleep,” she said.
Dawn Switzer said, “Oh, my gosh, there
are soooo many to choose from. It is hard
to pick. But one of my more recent favorites
is ‘Breath of Heaven’ by Amy Grant. It is a
beautiful melody, but what I love is that it
is Mary speaking, asking God for a breath
of heaven to help her with the journey she
has been asked to undertake. Can’t imagine
how she felt, what stress and strain she was
under. I wonder if I would have had the same
courage as she.”
Half of the famous local singing duo Andy &
Renee & Hard Rain, Renee Safier, told me her
favorite song is “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts
Roasting on An Open Fire)” because “it’s a
fabulous melody, ‘singable’ and memorable.
The bridge is beautiful and comforting. The
lyric is picturesque and evocative of many
shared experiences of the holiday season.”
Gail Shota told me when she was small,
she remembers “Do You Hear What I Hear”
being sung as she sat in the living room with
the whole family with the lights out watching
their color wheel light up their Christmas tree.
Former Councilwoman Hope Witkowski
celebrates Hanukkah and told me her favorite
holiday song is “Light the Menorah” and she
said, “It goes like this: I am sure you have
heard it: ‘Oh, Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah come
light the Menorah, Let’s have a party…we’ll
all dance the Horah. …etc.’”
I remember when I was in the Girl Scouts;
we would sing both Christmas and Hanukkah
songs. My favorite Hanukkah song is the “The
Driedel Song.”
Listening to people share their special
Christmas songs got me thinking of my
favorites. Yes, favorites. I couldn’t possibly
pick just one, but there is one that really gets
me every time I hear it. It is the little song
“You Make It Feel Like Christmas” by Neil
Diamond. It’s about making every day “like
Christmas.” It is a song that always brings
to mind my late husband Dave because we
loved that song--and I still do. He brought
Christmas to me each and every single day.
And isn’t that a big part of what Christmas
is all about? May I suggest you share your
favorite Christmas or holiday song with those
you love--and make a memory... •
Renovation plans for Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
Outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Listening to your favorite tunes.