Christmas music

Discussion in 'Movies, Music & Media' started by gypzy, Dec 2, 2006.

  1. gypzy

    gypzy Well-Known Member

    How available is Christmas music in the CR? Do some radio stations play it all the time when the season gets close to Christmas Day? In the states some radio stations play it all day, no commercials, on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Do any Czech stations do that too? Is it really old fashioned and churchy or somewhat modern? I know that CR is least Christian country in Europe, but I thought I would ask if modern rock singers record Christmas CDs? Do you ever get to hear American rock or country Chrismas songs? Also, can I order Czech Christmas CDs in time?

    Wow, today must be day of 20 questions :lol: !
     
  2. eso

    eso Well-Known Member

    It seems nobody wants to answer, so it's on me again (and others then will make witty remarks about my post :) )

    Keep in mind that definitely I'm not expert on Christian music.

    Czechs like their Christmas, but they generally aren't stricly speaking connected to Christianity. Czech name of Christmas is Vánoce, which is from German "Weihnachten" - saint nights, bot nobody knows it.

    Radio a Tv stations play Christmas songs, which are
    1. classic carols like "Narodil se Kristus Pán", "Tichá noc"
    2. popular Christmas songs from socialism, like "Vanoce, Vanoce prichazeji"
    3. Czech versions of english songs like Jingle Bell

    On public Czech TV can be live transmission of mass (but probably only on second channel, which is considered as "intellectual").

    Commercials are included the same way as in ordinary day.

    Last day of year (Silvestr) is considered as day of fun a this day there can be funny versions of serious programmes (like news etc).

    About Christmas CDs - popular singers record Christmas CDs, but it only means, that they are meant as Christmas presents and they aren't directly connected to Christianity (even if they include versions of Christmas carols etc).
    Christian rock/pop (or what I understand under this name) is really, really minority genre here.

    About American Rock/Pop/Country Christmas song - I recall only Jingle Bell rock (because it's used in Die Hard movie :) and Jingle bell, but maybe only I don't remember.
     
  3. eso

    eso Well-Known Member

    Addendum to commercials:

    By law - on public tv are allowed commercials only between programmes, on commercial tv's are commercials allowed during programmes, but with much longer intervals then in USA (but commercials blocks are longer, then in USA)

    (it applies allways, not only on Christmas)
     
  4. laylah

    laylah Well-Known Member

    on the topic of Christmas carols - does anyone know where I will find the words to the Czech version of the carol "Silent night, Holy night"?

    I heard it among a set of carols on radio Prague archives, so I know it's out there somewhere........
     
  5. eso

    eso Well-Known Member

  6. wer

    wer Well-Known Member

    Czech Internet is full of this stuff. Just try to google "tichá noc".

    As eso wrote, there are different translations. I prefer the translations with Tichá noc, přesvatá noc, since the version with Tichá noc, svatá noc doesn't fit the melody.

    Some audio samples:
    http://www.vira.cz/zvuky/vanoce/tichanoc.ram
    http://www.zlatuska.com/include/pages/a ... chanoc.mp3

    Slovak version (mp3, pdf)


    Do you think this archiv of carrols, a part of this Czech Christmas page?
     
  7. laylah

    laylah Well-Known Member

    Thanks to both for the info and comment on scanning - I llike it when the words fit the tune, too.

    It probably was this websites Christmas pages I heard the carols on - but I only noted the name of the choir, hence my error in thinking I got it from radio Prague archives :roll:
     
  8. gypzy

    gypzy Well-Known Member

    So, would the pop singers christmas cds be about things like cold weather, spending time w/ friends and family, cuddling w/ spouse or person one is dating or making it home for the holidays from far away and stuff like that?
     
  9. gypzy

    gypzy Well-Known Member

    Is there a Czech version of "Oh Holy Night"? In English it starts out "Oh Holy Night the stars are brightly shining, it is the night of our dear Saviors birth....". That is my all time fave. Brian Setzer, formerly of the Stray Cats, has the best version.
     
  10. wer

    wer Well-Known Member

    I never said it is not Radio Prague archive. It is. See also this extended list.

    Another list of free carols is here.
    No, gypzy, there is no Czech version.

    With all respect to American culture, I'm opposed to americanization of Czech Christmas. And I think I'm not the only person with this attitude.
     
  11. eso

    eso Well-Known Member

    This is one of well-known songs - every Czech knows it (I tried to translate first two strophes):

    Vánoce přicházejí
    Christmas are coming


    refrain:
    Vánoce, Vánoce přicházejí, zpívejme přátelé,
    po roce Vánoce, Vánoce přicházejí, šťastné a veselé.

    Christmas, Christmas are coming, sing, my friends,
    after a year Christmas, Christmas are coming, happy and merry


    1. Proč si děda říct si nedá,
    tluče o stůl v předsíni,
    a pak běda,marně hledá
    kapra pod skříní,


    Why is grandpapa determined to hold his own?
    He beat to desk in hallway
    and then woe! he looking under cupboard
    for carp in vain


    Naše teta peče léta na Vánoce vánočku,
    nereptáme aspoň máme něco pro kočku.


    Our aunt bake every year Christmas cake,
    we don't grumble, at least we have food for cat.


    ( refrain )

    2. Bez prskavek tvrdil Slávek
    na Štědrý den nelze být
    a pak táta s minimaxem
    zavlažoval byt.

    "We cannot be without sparklers
    on Christmas Eve", Slavek said
    and then dad with fire-extinguisher
    irrigated flat.


    Tyhle ryby neměly by maso míti samou kost,
    říká táta vždy, když chvátá na pohotovost.

    These fish should not have meat full of bones,
    dad says everytime, when he rushes to ER


    ( refrain )

    3. Jednou v roce na Vánoce
    strejda housle popadne,
    jeho vinou se z nich linou
    tóny záhadné.

    Strejdu vida děda přidá „Neseme vám noviny,“
    čímž prakticky zničí vždycky večer rodinný.

    ( refrain )

    4. A když sní se,co je v míse,
    televizor pustíme,
    v jizbě dusné všechno usne
    k blaženosti mé.

    Mně se taky klíží zraky, bylo toho trochu moc,
    máme na rok na klid nárok, zas až do Vánoc.

    ( refrain )
     
  12. GlennInFlorida

    GlennInFlorida Well-Known Member

    for wer:

    O Holy Night is not particulary American - was written by a Frenchman

    take a look at
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Holy_Night

    it is quite nice if you ever get that chance to hear it

    BTW - I like the idea of keeping local customs, too
     
  13. taxed

    taxed New Member

    In response to "O Holy Night", there is a Czech text for the song. Known as "Dny darku a prani", the text was written by Ivo Fischer. It has been recorded by Karel Gott in 1982 on his "Bile vanoce" album. The song has been included in the compilation "Vanocni albun hvezd - Splnena prani" released in 2003 and was available in November 2006 at Bontonland.

    Karel recorded it again in 2002 as part of the compilation CD "Kouzelne vanoce". This version is not recommended as he goes flat on the high note of "O Holy Night".
     
  14. gypzy

    gypzy Well-Known Member

    wer,

    I hope I have not offended you or anyone else by my question. While of course I don't know anything about Americinization of Czech Christmas. I would not want to see a culture force it's culture on another.
    I had seen the links to some Christmas carols famaliar or at least partly famaliar to those sung in America. And since most religious based Christmas music in the States came from Europe I was curious as to whether or not there was Czech version of "Oh Holy Night.
    Americans are a particularly curious bunch :wink: . Many of us went to elementary school learning about how Christmas is celebrated through the world. Some of it was like stuff Americans do and some was dif. So I am just curious to see what is sim in CR and what is dif in CR during Christmas.
    Just FYI, not all Christmas celebrating in the US is about commercialization, i. e. fancy diamond jewelry, the latest gaming system, oversized t.v.s or overpriced walking talking roomcleaning backscratching toys for children who are more interested in the box.
     
  15. gypzy

    gypzy Well-Known Member

    That is cute and funny :lol: . I think many cultures feel the stress of having to make Christmas "perfect" and need a release by making such songs, correct?
     
  16. wer

    wer Well-Known Member

    I even know the French version, but I always thought it's of Anglo-Saxon origin. So, thanks for the info.
    Yes, that was my message. (And in the perspective of keeping local customs, I see no difference between French and English :wink:.)
    Really :eek:? I never heard it :oops:.
    Of course, the divine Kája :twisted:! He sings everything :D.
    No, you didn't. I also didn't try to offend anyone 8).
     

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