Digital Renaissance: Don't Eat The Yellow Snow
At the Sizzer headquarters we tend to be quite the reveller when it comes to a celebration or two. There's always a bottle of bub luring from a dusty shelf, waiting to pop it's cork and unleash it's foam to the beat of some neato jams - no matter the occasion. Enough occasions at the very end of December we figured. Surrounded by everyone's Wrapped Up or Best Of 2022 lists, we oughta either join that club or do something a bit different. The latter been chosen we hereby proudly present you our triad of festive selecting! In the name of sweet baby Jesus we start off with an extra large Christmas playlist, only to continue with a NYE mix - to eventually top it off with an attempt to collect a bunch of Carnaval gems. Allow me to elaborate.
Douce Nuit
Although they're only around once a year, It's not very difficult to let Last Christmas, Feliz Navidad and Stop The Cavalry drive you close to insanity. Miraculously there are some Xmas tracks that I actually don't seem to grow tired of. One perfect example is the ever classic album A Charlie Brown Christmas by the Vince Guaraldi Trio, it's hard not to fall in love with the mega sophisticated Jazz execution of these standards. On a piano - and sophisticated once more if you must - tip, I obviously also had to chuck in one of the most beautiful songs out there: Ryuchi Sakamoto's Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence - doesn't get much better. Consider these two the slices of bread and all that's between the very spread of Santa's juicy sandwich. What's the spread you ask? Find out for yourself while you pour a nice glass of - lemme think - glühwein.
Turn The Page
ABBA here we come- psych, let's not go there! I once heard someone say something in the vein of - "is this my last pint from Yesterday or Today's first?". It can be very difficult to tell ends from beginnings, it's a thin line made out of Champagne. To accompany the quest for chronology I made you a list full of hints. Needless to say we at Sizzer all wish you the best of luck solving it and a happy new year already! I would do this one with a little shot of Tequila on the side - add some drama to the game!
Kermis In De Regen
Could be translated as Funfair In The Rain. Don't ask me why I chose this title, I'll explain you anyway. It's a Dutch film from 1962 that has absolutely nothing to do with the theme of the actual playlist - how fun! The theme is - move that bus! - the theme is: Carnival! After NYE we slowly crawl towards the festivity of festivities celebrated all around the world in different ways - with different drinks and more importantly: different music. Although my boss initially aimed for me to make a 'gezellige carnavalslijst', with the joyous polonaise driven music of our Country's sunny south, I figured it would be way more fun to spice it up with some kindred jams from around the globe. Party animals go! Get those feet going to Chopin and other stuff. One fun fact before I leave though - Nico Gomez, who in this list represents Manha de Carnaval, is / was actually named Josef Van Het Groenewoud. The Amsterdam born Jazz, Funk and Latin groove creator is the father of Belgian chansonnier Raymond Van Het Groenewoud - who is actually also a real Amsterdammer - kid you not! Josef fled to Belgium to dodge military service and changed his name to Nico Ooms, to eventually go by the moniker of Nico Gomez. He's also responsible for the Chakachas funk evergreen Jungle Fever. Ain't that the story. Oh well, I'd say this one goes well with any shot, I'd settle for a kopstootje.
