Jammin songs

[Randaling]

I don't know about you, but I find that the most enjoyable songs to sequence to are the Christmas songs that jam. Of course, TSO, being the most used of the jams. I was hoping that maybe those of you that have other songs you think are fun, would be willing to share. Here are some of my favs.
Christmas in Sarejevo - TSO
Wizards of Winter - TSO
First Snow - TSO
O'Holy Night - TSO
Mad Russian Christmas - TSO
Some song I have seen on Youtube called Ballerina Dancer, or something like that.

Ryan

[ChrisL1976]

yeah..I like sequencing the jamming faster beat songs as well, but I also like to slow it down some during the show. I reorganized my show last year because I had 3 fast songs in a row and by the end of the second or 3rd song, people were leaving, especially some of the older viewers (not that they dont like to jam...just a observation) so I mixed in a slower song into the fast sets and people watched much longer.....

The slower songs normally flow better and slower and give your eye a little break from the massive blinkie light overload you get from faster songs :)

That was true in my area...might not be true everywhere.

[Dale W]

There are many more songs and artists that Jam than just TSO.

I have used some of the remixes that add a bit of beat and maintain the flavor of the classics.

[CHRISTMAS OCD]

Some song I have seen on Youtube called Ballerina Dancer, or something like that.

Ryan[/QUOTE]

Ryan,

You might be thinking of Music Box Dancer - Holdman.com
It's a great sequence.

Daren

[tfischer]

My "little secret" for a number of years has been Jeff Sheetz's Christmas CD (http://www.guitar9.com/christmasatlast.html)

Rockin' stuff, and off the beaten path.

There's plenty of other stuff other than TSO (nothing wrong with TSO, we use/have used it too, but it's nice to do something more original). Many of the Contemporary Christian artists have some nice, uptempo stuff. Last year I did Go Fish's "Little Drummer Boy" and "Joy To the World" from their CD "Snow (http://music.msn.com/album/?album=49770809)", for example... (Little Drummer Boy isn't so much uptempo as just really cool to sync to, plus we sped it up a bit...)

Most of our playlist over the past 5 years has been real uptempo stuff, although I'm gradually trying to phase in more slower songs.

-Tim

[oldcqr]

http://cr.planetchristmas.com/showthread.php?t=14991

I'm not a 120+ bpm kind of guy, and I'm a fader not a chaser....

Sometimes the slower songs have more impact on your visitors. Going with a mid tempo song gives your viewers a chance to take in both the music and the flash.

Try something a bit slower, and then try to tell a story with the lights rather than just flash them on and off. You may like the results :)

[tfischer]

I'm a fader not a chaser....


Somebody's gotta do it-- this hobby's been suffering from "blinky-blink" far too long (perpetuated, I think, first by hardware that didn't fade, then software that makes it much easier to "blink" than "fade"...)

Personally I'm a big fan of the "fading chase", or "smudging" as I like to call it. Richard Holdman's got this down to near perfection -- he almost never "blinks", just does "chasing fades" and massive color changes...

-Tim

[BroLarry]

This thread got me to thinking. We are doing a "Light Show" so how much do we really think about how the show begins, moves, and ends? Are we really to get to the point that we are operating our show like a Theatrical show someone would pay to see? It seems to me that this is the goal and that goal would naturally dictate the style of songs we sequence.

This is way to much thinking to do this early in the morning with only one cup of coffee in me.

[Dale W]

This thread got me to thinking. We are doing a "Light Show" so how much do we really think about how the show begins, moves, and ends? Are we really to get to the point that we are operating our show like a Theatrical show someone would pay to see? It seems to me that this is the goal and that goal would naturally dictate the style of songs we sequence.

This is way to much thinking to do this early in the morning with only one cup of coffee in me.

I have tried to maintain a certain continuity via the songs I choose to show. More or less, I have what I call the "top of the order" and the "bottom of the order"

The "top of the order" consist of the songs that portray Christmas and it's message (Mary Did You Know, Linus's Soliloquy, Emmanuel, or other faith based music). The "bottom of the order" are my fun songs that I put in to get laughs from the immature adults (like me) or kids (songs like Yellow Snow, Here's Your Sign Christmas, WIW, or other really secular music).

I think that by mixing it up, it keeps those that want a "message" happy and those that like to keep things light happy.

[tfischer]

I don't do a "light show" of theatrical style -- I do more of an "interactive Christmas Radio", where the lights are the interactive part. I've said this time and time again, but if you run your show in a continuous loop (as we do) you'll avoid many traffic headaches, because people will be coming and going constantly. If you run a 20-30 minute show, people will be "batched up" and cause a logjam.

I respect those that try to do a "theatrical show", but I'm not interested due to the headaches involved.

-Tim

[krusaders]

Location is everything when it come to shows or the other....

I got my show off the road and people got to walk to the Lor show....we even got benches for people to set and watch.

If your home is right on the road, you need to keep the traffic going.....I agree with you tim on that.....

[ernurseguy]

This topic has gotten a bit off from the OP's question. Blinky-blink vs. chasing and when to play/whether to play certain speeds, are great topics, just not in this thread. (Not that I haven't hijacked a thread or two in my day, but I would also like to hear some song suggestions.)


Here are two I thought about for this year:

Sleigh Ride by Al Hirt (instrumental)

Go Tell it on the Mountain, Unknown artist, but it is on the "Christmas on the Boarder" CD

[krusaders]

Here are some songs Jammin this year in my LOR show.

Manger Zone (Top Gun song)

Wiseman (Blues Brothers)

Toy Sack (B52 song)

[SPaschall]

Here's two for ya

Let it Snow- Brian Setzer Orchestra
Run Run Rudolph- Lynyrd Skynyrd

SPaschall

[ChrisL1976]

One song I'm doing this year like is Kay Thompson's Jingle Bells by Michael W. Smith



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ4Osbq6PCU

[zman]

Ryan,
Everyone has thier own style. Up beat are aways crowd pleasers. I think where the separation happens is those that attempt to create a flow. To that extent there is some theatrics involved in that. Think about a TV show, they start out slow, build and leave you wanting more. How do you convey that to the crowd. I think song arrangement is important.

Also, are you just blasting out songs, or are you attempting to tell a story of some sort. Incoporating vinettes. One song hilights the nativity, or certain wireframe scene.

OK to get back on track, fun songs are crowd pleasers too. Brian Setzer, Christmas Jug Band, One Way Street (Manger Zone). These can be upbeat or just take off on the traditional tunes. Upbeat songs are the easiest to to do for sure.

Lastly, I have to agree with Tim's first post, that fades are overlooked. Richard H has opened our eyes to this.

[Randaling]

Alright, alright. I really appreciate all of the input. There were some excellent points made which got me thinking about my own song selections. I really find the idea of building up the suspense to be excellent. I have been trying to deliver every song like it is the final, cold-chill producing song. Not necessary, which is why I may feel more comfortable trying to incorporate some slower and less impacting songs. Anyway, I have been looking for a reason to mix things up a bit and now I think I have found it. I think I would like to start with Josh Groben, O'Holy Night. Anyone done this? This song is so powerful. As always, you all are the best and so many times have such good perspective to share which is usually enlightening. I am proud to be part of such a great community.
Ryan

[dmxwidget]

I Didn't initially do any TSO songs when I setup my show at the beginning of the season, but once I had some time I added in Mad Russian.

The other songs I did were Carol of the Bells (William Joseph) and Jingle Bells (Bass) (Basshunter). Both were acquired on iTunes.

This year, I plan on adding a song or Two from Mannheim Steamroller.