THE CURRENT: White Christmas? Keep dreaming

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Or ... not.

Oh sure, the store clerks are sportin' Santa hats and your stocking has probably been hung by the chimney with care, but what's up with the weather? I guess dreaming of a white Christmas is all we can do... I mean, I know flakes and flurries aren't so good for those who have to travel, but I think we all feel just a bit more Christmas-ish with a little snow on the ground.

So, on that note, we're going to talk about some jolly holiday songs to help get us in the spirit, snow or no...

Hey! Come back here -- this isn't about the Muzak mix you've been hearing over the store loudspeakers since Halloween. I'm just going to share some tunes that never fail to help me get my elf on this time of year. Oh and by the way, my elf name, according to a certain Web site, is Blinkie Twinkle Toes.

Ok, now first off, if Mother Nature's going to be stingy with the white stuff, Ole Blue Eyes and company have us covered. We can always join Frank and his pal Dean Martin for a stroll in "A Marshmallow World" -- "It's a yum-yummy world made for sweethearts..." Who wouldn't want to go there? It's easy enough -- just listen to the "Christmas with the Rat Pack" CD.

There's a dog too, that warms my heart at Christmas-time. That would be our hero Snoopy, who goes up against his arch-enemy, the Red Baron, in "Snoopy's Christmas," courtesy of the Royal Guardsmen. You know how that ends, right? They postpone their dogfight for another day and set aside their differences to raise a toast. Even though you know how everything turns out, give it a listen anyway -- if the Red Baron can find some holiday spirit in those Christmas bells, certainly the rest of us can.

Next on my list is a real holiday ham -- the lovely and talented Miss Piggy, directing Gonzo and Scooter in rounds of "Christmas is Coming" on "John Denver The Muppets, A Christmas Together." Also on that track -- the whole Muppet cast crooning "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." The best part? A very indignant Miss Piggy mistaking the words "figgy pudding" for "piggy pudding!"

So -- if by now you're getting the idea I'm not so much into the classic sounds of the season, you're basically right, except there's this one -- "Silent Night" as sung by Stevie Nicks, which still gives me goosebumps every time I hear it, and I've been playing it every Christmas for years. Another holiday number by a hard-rockin' woman and a good one to have in the car while running errands: "2000 Miles" by The Pretenders. Chrissie Hynde has just an amazing voice and it's kind of therapeutic to belt out this tune with her, thus relieving some of the stress associated with, well, you know...

Both these songs can be found on the "Very Special Christmas" series of CDs, which has all kinds of music, both traditional and not-so-traditional, with artists ranging from Smashing Pumpkins to Run-D.M.C. to Sinead O'Connor.

Now, because I like variety and every tune on Cyndi Lauper's "Merry Christmas, Have a Nice Life" is so different -- think Cajun flavors, Calypso influences, ukeleles, tin whistles -- I consider it a winner from start to finish (even though a former co-worker and I did once debate the merits of "Minnie and Santa...") "Feels Like Christmas" is especially beautiful and as for "Christmas Conga," well, how can I not appreciate a song that encourages spiking the egg nog and breaking resolutions before I've even made them?

Sheesh --am I giving away all my guilty pleasures here today or what?

Another favorite you're not likely to hear at grandma's house is "Oi to the World," the No Doubt version, sure to shake off any symptoms of a blue Christmas. True, the lyrics are about a gang fight and you don't often hear the words punk and nunchucks in holiday ditties, but the song rocks and in the end, peace prevails and the guys end up knocking back some bourbon in the pub together.

And isn't that the true spirit of the season, after all?

Whoops, sorry. Did I mention Blinkie's something of a party-elf?

So, there you have it. Whether you listen to Alvin and the Chipmunks warble their way through their wish lists or you prefer a Christmas sing with Bing, and whether your holidays come wrapped in white, or red and green, or blue and silver or pink with purple polka-dots, I hope this season finds you happy, healthy and surrounded by those you love.

'Til next week, peace...

And joy!