#michael buble's christmas album

[sarcasticassian]

the fruity four are hanging out at Steve’s when a snowstorm hits and they’re snowed in, they’re a few glasses of alcohol in when Robin and Eddie start rifling through Steve’s parents record collection and they moan and groan but eventually settle on some old Christmas album and the first song that comes on is Baby It’s Cold Outside 

Eddie being the gentleman that he is offers his hand to Robin and they start dancing around the living room, Steve and Nancy are laughing at their antics but Steve abruptly stops when Eddie starts crooning

sure they’ve all heard Eddie sing at this point, they’ve all been to the Hideout many times now but they’ve never heard him like this, a soft croon right in Robin’s ear, who is laughing and singing right back, her voice also silky smooth, the two singing are oblivious to the turmoil they’ve just set off in Steve and Nancy

when the song ends Eddie deposits Robin on the couch and reaches out for Nancy who allows herself to be pulled up and whirled around to The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, Robin giggles and flops onto Steve as they watch, Steve’s leg starts to jiggle in anticipation, hoping he’ll also get a Christmas dance with Eddie

it looks like he will when Eddie dances Nancy back to the couch, who grabs Robin’s hand and announces its time for them to go to bed, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas starts and Eddie offers Steve his hand and a cheeky grin, ‘your turn, big boy’, and Steve melts as they just start to sway slowly to the music and Eddie softly sings into his good ear, they dance until the record needs flipping and Steve is eternally grateful for the snowstorm that set it all off

[giggly-squiggily]

Hey Squiggily! You write for Chrollo, right? You don’t write for any of the other adult trio ;-; if so could I request ler chrollo and lee reader with a sentence starter of your choosing? You have full power for this lil drabble :3

{Puffs are officially CLOSED}

Heyo anon! :D I do! Not so much for Hisoka or Illumi, no. Ahh, I love the ballroom dancing idea so much!!! I've gotcha covered, anon!

Song: Sway- Michael Buble

You looked up when jazz music started to play, the small speaker sitting on Chrollo’s desk pumping out a sort of cha-cha beat. Said man was humming along, loosening up his limbs with graceful movements. It was such a rare sight seeing him so relaxed.

“When marimba rhythm starts to play, dance with me, make me sway~” He sang along, offering you a hand as he finished the lyric. “Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore, hold me close, sway me more.~”

You…never danced ballroom before. Most of your moves were fairly spontaneous and clumsy. You were sure you’d end up stepping on his feet more than “swaying”.

And yet- he was watching you with such inviting eyes, it was hard to not take his hand. He pulled you up, twirling you around before bringing you close to his chest, the music seeming to engulf you as you gasped softly. His easy smile seemed to grow at your reaction.

“Like a flower bending in the breeze, bend with me, sway with ease~” The song continued on, Chrollo waltzing you with ease while you struggled not to trip and fall. There were a number of times you were sure you kicked him in the ankle and gave him a bruise, but he barely reacted. If anything, his gentle moves felt reassuring- no pressure to keep the beat but with just enough guidance to teach you.

When his hand came around your waist to hold you closer, you let out a squeaky giggle. Chrollo paused, brow raised as you felt your face warm. “Erm..hehe, sorry. I’m ticklish.”

“Oh are you now?” Chrollo raised a brow, something impish in that small grin. You knew your fate was sealed then.

“Wait- what abohohut the dahhahahnce?” You giggled out as fingers found your sides, sending bursts of mirth into the room.

“Dancing can come later. For now- I want you to laugh for me.”

[match-your-steps]

unpopular opinion but I hate michael buble's christmas album. least favorite album ever in the world that I can think of. I would prefer objectively bad music, christmas or not, and I am not kidding or exaggerating, nor was that a hard choice to make

[chronomally]

A cover of "Santa Baby" that starts as Michael Buble's overly hetero version and ends with Eartha Kitt's seduction so that it sounds like the singer is having a sexual crisis over the course of the song and at the end they realize that actually they would like Santa to come down their chimnussy tonight

[goodplace-janet]

shoutout to barenaked ladies for writing a christmas song about santa's elves unionizing

[asongperday]

Song of the Day — “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” by Michael Bublé

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas Everywhere you go Take a look at the five and ten It’s glistening once again With candy canes and silver lanes aglow

[steddieasitgoes]

@steddiemas Day 5 Prompt: Grinch vs Christmas Cheer

Tags: Modern AU, Eddie Munson & Jeff, Steve & Eddie Are Neighbors, Teacher Steve, Meet Cute

wc: 1863 | Rating: T

Read on ao3 | ao3 collection

“I thought you said you talked to them?” Eddie groans. He tips his head so far back he wobbles in the chair for a moment before he rights himself and buries his head in his hands. “I can’t work under these conditions!” 

“I don’t think planning a campaign counts as working,” Jeff teases. 

They’re in their apartment kitchen. Jeff cooking something that smells a hundred times better than the vending machine sandwich he had for lunch at the shop. Free from his day job, Eddie’s working on something he actually cares about now. The latest Dungeons & Dragons handbook is open to a random page while his trusty notebook sits open. There’s no use in hiding it from Jeff. It’s not like he could decipher Eddie’s chicken scratch penmanship anyway.

Besides, he hasn’t gotten much of anything done since he plopped down on the worn leather chair. It’s hard to work with the blaring sound of Mariah fucking Carey’s Christmas album playing on repeat for the third day straight coming from their neighbor's apartment. The obnoxious whirling of the fans keeping a dozen or so Christmas inflatables blown up on their shared stairwell and balcony also doesn’t help. 

If this continues any longer, Eddie swears he’s going to find them a new place to live. The peace and quiet would be worth losing out on their rent-controlled place. At least, Eddie thinks so. Christ, he misses the Richards who moved last year. He’d take their scowls and snide comments over this Christmas madness any day. 

“It absolutely counts as working,” Eddie scoffs, shooting a glare in Jeff’s direction. “And don’t change the subject, Jefferson. Did you even talk to Mr. and Mrs. Claus next door?”

Jeff snorts, shaking his head before returning to the pot of sauce he has simmering.  “No, I didn’t and I’m not going to.” 

“Jeff!” Eddie whines. “Your job as the approachable one of this house is to confront our neighbors when they’re annoying us.” 

“Okay, but they’re not annoying me.” 

“Well, that’s a lie. You hate Michael Buble as much as I do and I know you heard his stupid crooning voice at seven this morning like I did.”

“Okay, you’ve got me there,” Jeff sighs, turning away from the stove to face Eddie. “But I can’t tell them to lower their music! Not when they haven’t complained once about the shit you blare at all hours of the night or our Corroded practices when we have nowhere else to go.” 

If Eddie was less stubborn, maybe he’d see that Jeff has a point. But he is stubborn, so he doubles down instead. 

“That’s different.” 

“It’s really not.” 

“Fine,” Eddie shouts, throwing his hands up in defeat. The headache festering behind is eyes is too painful for him to keep arguing with Jeff. Besides, he’s never been able to push Jeff around. It’s why they make such good roommates. “Can you at least talk to them about their decorating habits then? I had to wade through a fucking forest of inflatables this afternoon. M’pretty sure Frosty the fucking Snowman almost punched my balls.” 

“Eds, need I remind you that a few days ago you had the entire place decked out for Halloween? How is a few inflatables different than all those skeletons and demon shit you had up?” 

“First of all, how dare you compare my artistry to whatever is going on outside,” Eddie scoffs. He’s going to give himself a sore throat if he keeps this up. “I have taste. My decorations told a story! Those inflatables aren’t even from the same properties. They’ve got Santa Mickey next to the fucking Grinch! Charlie Brown mingling with Yoda! There’s no plot!” 

Jeff’s shoulders slump, forearms coming to rest on the kitchen counter so he’s at eye level with Eddie. “Just look on the bright side. At least they haven’t done one of those obnoxious light shows like that stupid reality show.”

As if Jeff accidentally summoned a demon in the form of Christmas cheer, a burst of red and green floods their apartment. Their once dimly lit kitchen looks like the inside of a club, red and green lights flickering with the occasional white and blue mixed in. The flickers are timed with the beat of another Mariah Carey Christmas song. 

This is what hell must look like, Eddie thinks, as he glares at Jeff. 

“What did you do?” 

“I didn’t do anything,” Jeff defends, hands up in surrender. 

Eddie can seem him struggling not to laugh and it takes all the energy he can muster not to reach around the counter and playfully punch his shoulder. How can Jeff think this is funny? The flickering lights completely goes against their moody aesthetic! Not to mention it’s a health hazard! There’s no way Gareth is going to be able to come over here — not with the way he’s so sensitive to strobes. 

Jesus H. Christ and it’s only November 25th! He has to put up with this for weeks! 

“It’s not funny, Jefferson!” 

“I mean,” Jeff snorts, biting the inside of his cheek to keep his smile from growing. “It’s a little funny.” 

🎅🏼 🎄 🤬 🎅🏼 🎄 🤬 🎅🏼 🎄 🤬 🎅🏼 🎄 🤬 🎅🏼 🎄 🤬 🎅🏼 🎄 🤬 🎅🏼 🎄 🤬 🎅🏼 🎄 🤬

The lights have not fucking stopped. Not for one single day. Eddie had hoped his neighbors would have grown tired of the constant strobing and Christmas music by now. But nope. A week and a half and its still going strong. 

He’s going to lose his goddamn mind. 

“Jeff,” Eddie hisses, lifting the blanket of his makeshift fort enough that he can make eye contact with Jeff. Or at least, try to. Jeff’s perched in their recliner with the biggest pair of sunglasses Eddie’s ever seen. “Please. I can’t take much more of this!” 

“It’s not that bad.” 

“I might have believed you if you weren’t wearing those ridiculous things,” Eddie snorts. He waits for Jeff to retort but when he doesn’t, he groans and slowly emerges from the safety of his blanket fort. Christ he forgot how bright those damn things are. 

Stalking over to their small entryway, Eddie hastily tugs on a pair of boots and reaches for the doorknob. 

“What are you doing?” Jeff asks, voice laden with concern. 

“Someone has to confront the neighbors!” 

He doesn't give him time to respond, yanking the door open and slamming it shut behind him in one fluid movement. It should be a short trip to the neighbor's front door, just a few long strides, but Eddie forgets to account for the fuckton of inflatables cluttering the path. He ducks around Frosty, flipping him off when his stupid wood arms nearly deck his balls, again and forcibly shoves Mickey’s face away from him. 

It takes another bit of carefully navigating before he finally reaches the front door adorned with a festive wreath. These people really left no spot undecorated. Eddie doesn’t spare them the decency of a nice, neighborly knock or ring of the doorbell. They’re way past that. Instead, he makes a fist and slams his knuckles into the wood door, and keeps going. Knock. Knock. Knockknockknock. 

They probably can’t hear him over the damn music, Eddie thinks, as his knuckle turns redder and redder. Just when he’s about to retreat and face Jeff’s smug wrath, the door opens. 

The first thought that passes through Eddie’s mind is oh, he’s hot. The second, more vital thought, comes a moment later. He’s going to kill Jeff. How dare he not disclose how attractive this guy is the minute he met him months ago? 

The guy, who Eddie vaguely thinks is named Steve, looks just as surprised to see him as he is. Decked out in an obnoxious Santa-themed apron and green plaid flannel pants, his cheeks are spotted with flour and his hands are stained a faint red color. Judging from the delicious aroma of vanilla and peanut butter wafting into the hallway, Eddie interrupted some very serious baking. 

“Oh, you’re not the Instacart shopper,” maybe Steve frowns. “Can I help you?” 

“Oh, uh,” Eddie trails off. He’s here for a reason, he knows this, but his mind is blank. Distracted by the smells and the lights and the gorgeous fucking man standing in front of him with hazel eyes so sparkly Eddie’s pretty sure he belongs in a cartoon. “I’m Eddie, your neighbor.” 

I’m Eddie, your neighbor? 

This cannot be the same brain that creates intricate, plot twist-ridden campaigns that last months. Absolutely not.

“Ah, so you’re Jeff’s roommate! It’s nice to finally meet you. I’m Steve.” 

“Right, Steve” Eddie nods. He’s not sure why he nods, it’s not a normal thing to do when you meet someone, and yet, he can’t stop nodding. Stop fucking nodding! 

“So, uh, what brings you by?” Steve asks, casually leaning against the doorframe. 

“Oh, I uh…” The lights. You were coming here to complain about the lights! “I came to tell you, uh… I could smell you baking!” Oh my fucking god. “You know these walls are thin and we, uh, share AC vents or something I think? So the smell was filling our place and it smelled so good I just, uh, had to come over and see what you’re baking?” 

If Jeff was here, Eddie’s pretty sure he’d be two seconds away from collapsing in a fit of laughter. Thank god he’s not. As soon as he gets back to his room, he’s going to take a lukewarm shower and try to forget this entire interaction ever happened and then hide from Steve for the rest of his life. 

“Oh, I’m making peanut butter cookies.” Steve’s smile is almost as blinding as the twinkling lights and like a moth to a flame, Eddie can’t look away. “One of my students has been having a rough time and they’re their favorite.”

“Damn, maybe if I had a teacher who baked me cookies I would have done better in school.” 

Steve laughs, “Tell me about it. Actually, uh, do you want to help? I’m allergic to peanut butter and my best friend is tied up at work. I could really use a taste tester. Make sure they’re edible.” 

“Oh, uh…” Eddie glances over his shoulder and takes in the sight of the sea of inflatables staring at him with their beady painted on eyes, squints at the obnoxious flashing lights keeping time to a terrible cover of “Jingle Bell Rock.” Together it’s the reminder he needs as to why he trekked over here in the first place, but when he turns he’s hit with a punch of peanut butter and well… “Not to toot my own horn, but I am a pretty good taste tester.” 

“Perfect,” Steve smiles, pushing himself off the doorframe. “Kitchen’s this way.” 

🎅🏼 🎄 🤬 🎅🏼 🎄 🤬 🎅🏼 🎄 🤬 🎅🏼 🎄 🤬 🎅🏼 🎄 🤬 🎅🏼 🎄 🤬 🎅🏼 🎄 🤬 🎅🏼 🎄 🤬

Eddie returns an hour later. Belly full of joy just peanut butter cookies, but also chocolate chip, and gingerbread, and some cinnamon concoction that had him considering a marriage proposal on the spot and a tupperware overflowing with said cookies. 

Jeff is still in the living room, sunglasses shielding his eyes, but Eddie knows him well enough to know he’s judging him. 

“Don’t say a word,” Eddie sneers, heading straight for the kitchen. 

[tarjapearce]

Hope ur having a great day mx. t! ♥️

Came here to drop off ANOTHER one for Soccer Family if u haven’t gotten sick of it 😭

BUT because I’m powering through essays with Michael Buble’s Christmas Album and from one tiktok I saw! Imagine the family having the equivalent of an Alexa, which is Lyla!! She’s Miguel’s smart assistant, but he has it linked to his home for his and his family’s convenience!!

One day Benjamin out of pure curiosity goes up asking “Hey Lyla, can reindeers fly?”

Miguel watching TV in the living room thinks nothing of it, Lyla is a Smart Assistant, programed her himself, surely she won’t—

Lyla in her little pixie form bends down to look at the poor boy. “Awww sorry Ben, caribous can’t fly-“

Miguel’s eyes widen. Oh no.

Ben shrieks. “SANTA CLAUS ISN’T REAL?!?!”

And after his lovely wife got mad at him for ruining Santa Claus for Gabi when she was younger, he was determined to keep the magic alive for little Benjamin.

He rises to his feet and point’s accusingly at the little pixie. “First of all, Lyla doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”

Lyla deadpans. Benjamin runs away crying.

Oh dear.

🎅🎅🎅

I could never get tired of Soccer Family 🥹❤️. It's my baby ❤️❤️❤️✨

And omg TTwTT Lyla is such a great addition!!! Will totally add her if that's okay with you 🫶🏻.

[tomwambsgans]

i come bearing assigned christmas albums for succession characters

logan - the bells of dublin (chieftains) / a snowflake fell (glasvegas) kendall - does xmas fiasco style (my morning jacket) / beach boys / red (the killers) roman - the sufjan stevens christmas collection / i am become christmas (lemon demon) shiv - michael buble / trans-siberian orchestra connor - jethro tull / jimmy buffett / quality street (nick lowe) tom - rocky mountain christmas (john denver) / neil diamond / carpenters greg - los campesinos / boy least likely to / weezer gerri - vince guaraldi trio / sinatra

bonus:

kenstewy - it's a nick and gabe christmas party tomgreg - one christmas at a time (jonathan coulton & john roderick) krank - barenaked for the holidays (bnl)

[eddies-puppet]

Underneath The Tree | Joseph Quinn

Summary: Joe surprises you by coming home early, just in time to help you finish decorating the Christmas tree.

Word count: 1.1k

Warnings: None, just tooth-rotting fluff!

————————————————————————

I’d been procrastinating all weekend and had finally managed to haul my ass off the couch to put up the Christmas tree a full twenty four hours after I’d told Joe I’d put all the decorations up ready for when he got home.

He had been in Paris at a con for the weekend and I knew from our FaceTime’s that it had been a stressful one for him. He’s been away almost constantly for the last six months and I was so excited to finally have him home for Christmas, so I desperately wanted to make it perfect for him. So here I was, Michael Buble Christmas album playing, glass of wine in hand, carefully hanging the baubles on the tree.

I was about half way done when I heard a key in the lock and I turned to see Joe coming through the door.

“Honey, I’m home,” he laughed loudly, dropping his bag to the ground and shrugging off his coat as he kicked the door closed behind him. I put my glass down on the coffee table and ran to him, throwing my arms around his neck, him laughing as he gathered me into his arms.

“What are you doing here?” I asked him. “You’re not due back for hours.”

“I got an earlier flight, wanted to surprise you,” he said softly, his large hands rubbing up and down my back. I pulled my head back, my eyes wandering his face.

He looked exhausted, dark bags beneath his beautiful chocolate eyes, his curls messy and untamed. He was dressed in the same dark sweater and trousers as I’d seen him wearing on social media earlier in the day.

“Love, you look so tired,” I said quietly, my fingers fiddling gently with the curls at the nape of his neck. “Why didn’t you let me know you were gonna be early? I could have picked you up from the airport.”

“Baby, that’s kind of the point of a surprise,” he laughed, pushing a stray hair gently back from my face as he leant down, his lips gently brushing against mine. “Hi,” he whispered.

“Hi,” I giggled. “So, you’ve kind of caught me out.” He looked at me, his brow furrowing in confusion. “I know I told you that I’d finished the decorations, but I haven’t,” I grimaced.

“You lied to me?” He gasped, his hand flying to his chest in mock outrage, his eyes twinkling cheekily as his lips pulled back into his trademark grin. “Let’s be honest, it’s a good job I’m here to help you. You’ve never been able to reach the top of the tree,” he laughed as he walked away from me.

“Joseph Quinn, don’t you walk away from me,” I laughed, hightailing behind him, my arms finding their way around his waist, holding tight onto the hem of the front of his t-shirt.

“Hmm,” he hummed. “Needs a bit more colour,” he laughed softly, grabbing a bauble from the couch and hanging it gently on one of the branches.

I held onto him, my face against his warm back, hands splayed across his tummy, his muscles moving beneath my fingertips as I breathed him in, the smell of his aftershave washing over me.

“You gonna help me finish this or are you just going to stand there sniffing me all night?” He laughed.

“Staying here,” I giggled, hugging him tighter to me for a couple of seconds before stepping away from him and grabbing another tree ornament from the couch.

It didn’t take us too much longer to finish hanging the decorations, and all that was left, sparkling from its place on the cushions, was the star for the top of the tree.

“Come on then, it’s all yours,” Joe grinned down at me, gesturing towards it. “If you can reach it, that is,” he added with a smirk. I scowled at him, shaking my head disapprovingly as I picked the star up and moving as close to the tree as I could.

I reached up on my tiptoes, biting at my lower lip as I stretched as far as I could, a small grunt slipping from my mouth as I stumbled, almost falling into the tree. Luckily I managed to save myself before I toppled, but that didn’t stop Joe chuckling behind me.

“Just let me put it on,” he laughed.

“No,” I snapped stubbornly. “I can do it, just give me a second,” I insisted, shuffling forward a little more, feeling the tips of the branches tickling at my stomach.

Before I knew what was happening, I felt Joe’s arms slip around my waist, pulling me off my feet. “Put me down,” I laughed with a squeal.

“Baby, you’re not going to reach the top of the tree,” he laughed. “So I’m going to help you whether your stubborn ass likes it or not.”

He put me back down for a moment, his hands on my hips turning me to face him before he grabbed the back of my thighs, lifting me with ease so I could wrap my legs around his waist. He stepped closer to the tree, the branches digging into me again as I twisted my body and placed the star on the top of the tree.

“See how easy that was,” Joe laughed softly as he let go of my legs, lowering me gently to the ground, his arms round my waist pulling me tight against him.

“I could have done it,” I giggled, my arms finding their way around his shoulders, my fingers burying themselves in his messy curls. He rolled his eyes, a loud laugh bursting from him.

“Of course you could have love,” he grinned, his head lowering to place a soft kiss to my lips, warmth blossoming in my chest. These small moments meant so much to us both. With all the time we spent apart, these were the memories that kept us both going.

“I missed you,” I whispered into his kiss. He pulled away slightly, his nose brushing gently against mine.

“I missed you too,” he smiled. “I can’t wait to spend Christmas with you,” he said softly, his forehead now resting against mine.

“Speaking of which, what do you want to be unwrapping underneath the tree on Christmas morning?” His lips pulled into the sexiest smirk I’ve ever seen, his deep brown eyes twinkling cheekily.

“Hopefully you.”

“I’m sure that could be arranged,” I giggled, pulling his face down to me, his lips meeting mine in a heated kiss as the lights twinkled brightly on the tree. Yes, this was going to be our best Christmas yet.

[dross-the-fish]

Stuck working at the office today and I stg if I have to hear one more terrible Michael Buble Christmas cover playing from across the room I'm going to scream.

What he did to "Santa baby" is a fucking hate crime. I don't even like that song but somehow this guy managed to make the worst possible version of it. He's a veritable black hole of charisma, he has possibly the most unlikable singing presence I've ever heard, how does anyone stomach this much less think it's a good idea to play an entire album on loop for 3 hours straight and counting?!

[somethinsappy]

normalize artists making halloween albums like they do christmas albums

like i want original spooky songs by chappell roan and michael buble crooning the 8000th rendition of spooky scary skeletons

[acaplaya-musings]

A review of old VoicePlay Christmas music, part 1

(This was split just because there were like 20 songs total that I listened to, and I didn't want the post becoming overly long. Go find part 2 HERE)

So basically there's a fair few old (or at least older) covers of Christmas songs by VoicePlay that I've either never heard or just have only listened to once or twice and since have forgotten about them completely. And literally everywhere and everyone around me has decided that Christmas season has well and truly begun (plus we don't do Thanksgiving in Australia), so like, I might as well make this the first Christmas music I voluntarily listen to this season, and make a post about it! (I'm bored and my blog has been quiet anyway).

(Note: I know at least a few of these tracks have videos to go with, but some are just audio, and so I'm just gonna stick to the audio tracks for all of them to keep it fair)

Title: Winter Wonderland Released: 2004, on the Unstoppable EP Am I familiar with this song? Heck yeah, I love this song! Thoughts: Wow they've always had a fondness for the old-timey radio effect huh? (Not criticizing though). Oh hello new lyrics? Where did these come from? Also the audio track on Spotify has like two minutes of complete silence at the end of it, which is odd.

Overall, it's neat, but personally I'd stick with a more "classic" version (unless of course VoicePlay wanna do a new version this year? 👀)

Title: Deck The Halls Released: 2012, on the Peppermint Winter album Am I familiar with this song? Of course! Thoughts: Oh hey Tony! (I'm sure it's absolutely a coincedence that Earl got the first "don we now our gay apparel" line) Omg Geoff <3 (sounds a bit different to how he does now, but that was still a really nice vocal line). And would that be Layne doing his sleigh bells impression? Hello remix version! And old-timey radio effect again! Kinda)

Sure, I'd relisten to that one, definitely one for the (currently hypothetical) Christmas playlist. Just wish it was longer!

Title: Holiday Road Released: 2012, on the Peppermint Winter album Am I familiar with this song? Nope Thoughts: Ooh they did some fancy audio mixing effects on this one! (Like when you're wearing headphones sometimes you hear some parts in one ear and then other parts in the other ear!) Oh a switch to Sleigh Ride? Lit! (Ngl I typically prefer covers that do the "ring-a-ling-a-ling-a-ding-a-ling bit, but eh minor nitpick). Okay I just looked up "Holiday Road", and oh it's from the movie National Lampoon's Vacation, and based on the OG lyrics, this "Sleigh Ride" interspersal is VoicePlay's doing! And hi again Geoff <3

Yeah this one kinda slaps actually, definitely another one for the playlist!

Title: I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas Released: 2012, on the Peppermint Winter album Am I familiar with this song? I mean duh Thoughts: Look, obviously I'm biased because of Geoff's solo cover, but I didn't wanna skip over this one regardless. I don't wanna be critical of this one, but basically Geoff has really honed his skills and improved a lot since 2012, and we love that for him... OH WAIT I FORGOT ABOUT THIS SPOKEN BIT *PFFT* (I've listened to this track maybe once or twice before in the past?) Yeah, one thing that hasn't changed much: Geoff's sense of humour! XD

Obviously Geoff's solo cover from 2022 still reigns supreme for me, but this one was good for a giggle if nothing else!

Title: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (ft. Michael Andrew) Released: 2012, on the Peppermint Winter album Am I familiar with this song? Absolutely! Thoughts: I'm sorry are they singing "Batman's coming", or is it meant to be "fat man's coming"? Also I don't know who Michael Andrew is but damn he's got the perfect voice for this! Like Robbie Williams or Michael Buble or whatever - he's got a very "classic/vintage" singing voice here! Omg they're mixing in bits from The Man With A Bag? Yes! I love that song! (There's specifically a cover by Darren Criss and Adam Lambert that I love, but that's for a post on my other blog). And YES GEOFF YES! He sounded so "natural" on his vocal line here, like he wasn't trying too hard to reach for lower notes, and it was wonderful. Hey I don't know some of these lyrics from Santa Claus Is Coming To Town? Where (or perhaps whom) did they come from?

10/10, no notes, love this one, throw it on the playlist! (Which I've just made)

Title: Christmas Island Released: 2012, on the Peppermint Winter album Am I familiar with this song? Not in the slightest Thoughts: Unrelated to the song, but fun fact: the actual Christmas Island is an external territory of Australia! Oh hello trumpet(?) imitations? Whom??? Earl and someone else? Oh I'm so biased to Geoff lol rip. I hear him start singing and immediately I go from :) to :D!!!!!!

Sure, that was nice. Good as background music I guess, but I'm leaving it off the playlist

Title: Season's Greetings Released: 2012, on the Peppermint Winter album Am I familiar with this song? I don't think so? Idk we'll see when I listen to it Thoughts: Wait is this an original VoicePlay Christmas song? Because I tried looking it up and the only other songs with that title are a lot more recent - i.e. I can't find any previous version! Who wrote these lyrics then? Was it Geoff?

I mean I feel like this one has to go on the playlist just by pure virtue of the fact that I'm pretty sure it's original.

Title: Here Comes Santa Claus Released: 2012, on the Peppermint Winter album Am I familiar with this song? For sure! Thoughts: "Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus - down Santa Claus layne!" They removed the word "right" and just made it a pause instead? Getting deja vu from Thriller ngl. Oh they're adding in bits of Up On The Housetop/Rooftop? Man VoicePlay be loving mashups in their Christmas covers, huh? (Not that I'm complaining - it honestly slaps). Oh go off Tony! I'm sorry Layne what was that beatboxing breakdown/changeup thing?

Hm, I'm not sure actually. I think I'll add it to the playlist, might as well, but eh

Title: Have A Holly Jolly Christmas Released: 2012, on the Peppermint Winter Album Am I familiar with this song? Definitely Thoughts: Hey Tony! :D Ooh whistling! Is that Tony as well? It's pretty good! (One thing I can't do whatsoever - I can't whistle! At least with finger clicks I can "cheat", but no such workaround for whistling, rip). "He's a rootin' tootin' Santa Claus" sorry what? Okay I just looked it up and apparently "Rootin Tootin Santa Claus" is an old song by Tennessee Ernie Ford! (Hey Geoff! I got a new Christmas song idea for ya!)

Sure, that can get a spot in the playlist - it's not often that I listen to stuff with Tony getting a lot of lead vocals, but it's nice!

Title: Left to Right Released: 2012, on the Peppermint Winter Album Am I familiar with this song? Not a dang clue what this is! Thoughts: Oh so that's why I don't know this song! It's a Hanukkah song! Honestly good for them - when two out of five of your group members are Jewish, you might as well do something for Hanukkah as well! (And thus it's fitting that Eli gets lead vocals for this one).

I don't feel right putting this song on my Christmas album, because of the obvious, but this is definitely a great song cover regardless!

Okay, that's part 1, now onto part 2!

[louisisalarrie]

This is so random but anyway, this is just my opinion but I think Liam should try a different direction for his music/sound. Like remember his xfactor audition when he sang cry me a river, I think he would have a really good voice for that kind of sound. Like maybe he should try leaning into a Michael Buble type genre. Idk just something I’ve been thinking about.

Welcome to the show, anon! <3

I definitely agree. I want him to write and create music that he is proud of and enjoys, but personally, I think he missed the mark with LP1. Nothing was super interesting or different throughout it, and I found it quite boring, if I’m honest. I’m also not a massive R&B fan anyway, but I was hoping to love something on there and he just didn’t give as much as I’d hoped.

He’s always loved R&B though, which isn’t to say he doesn’t love other genres, like he wrote and co-wrote on so many excellent songs with Louis, and he’s extremely talented vocally, but I think he jumped into full R&B a little too early in his solo career. It was a really sharp turn from the music we were used to seeing him perform and create. Which, good for him, but it didn’t strike well with the fanbase he already had.

The only song on LP1 that sounds different from the rest of the album is ‘All I Want (For Christmas)’ which obviously because it’s a ballad, but I thought that was an excellent transition into his new era. Except it was never a single. And it’s at the very end of an album that’s full of R&B and beats. So, it feels a bit out of place. But anyway, his music still has a lot of pop elements to it, and he is still classified as a pop musician, but it’s missing that catchiness for me. I just can’t love it, no matter how hard I try, unfortunately. Also probably industry brain subconsciously overanalysing it and what he could’ve done better to make it more commercially viable, which doesn’t help lol.

But anyway, the album’s not all bad. I really love how much he showed off his vocal range. His range is really impressive, and as a baritone, he has this really beautiful masculine tone that’s warm but brightens as he ascends in pitch, and like… just such a beautiful voice. His falsetto is great and I feel like I’ve heard his voice develop so beautifully over the years, and the talent is just so there. He has it, but he’s showing it off in a way that doesn’t show off just how good he really is. It felt like… a bit of a lazy album, not very diverse, but I mean, it was his first solo album and he’s tryna figure his shit out. Same as the others did.

Cry Me A River was excellent, and at such a young age!!! he can slay Bublé any day. And he’s said his inspirations are Pharrell Williams and Justin Timberlake, and I think he once mentioned Gary Barlow? Which like, makes so much sense. They have quite a similar tone and he could cover Barlow very easily, and you can definitely hear a bit of that inspo from a couple of the songs he wrote in the 1d days. But he sounds like he’s trying too hard to be JT, while also trying not hard enough to have his own sound. Idk, it’s just hard in comparison to Louis, Harry, and Niall who continually develop as songwriters and you can tell they’re really proud of the music they make, and they enjoy it. But we haven’t gotten enough out of Liam to really see that, which I hope we do, because damn… if I had a voice like that, I’d be belting it out any chance I could hahahah.

Also, this is mainly an opinion piece, but I think he could’ve made a smoother transition than just jumping into a genre that he hadn’t performed or recorded before - not only to start dabbling in that world and finding his feet, but also to introduce his new solo sound to the 1d fans and keep a larger fanbase who could have a bop and stay kind of… in touch with his career. But it was a very harsh transition that was very jolty, and yeah… I was disappointed.

Anyway, would love to see him have some of those pop elements from MITAM if he releases new music. He doesn’t have to “sell out” to keep fans, but he’s got strengths in writing pop and he should continue to have that in his back pocket to build a stronger base for his solo career. Dunno when tf we’ll get new music from him though - this chick he’s with and his sloppy team aren’t making it any easier for him. And I really don’t want him to have to rely on 1d getting back together.

I’m also super worried he’ll get back into drinking/drug use, he’s very not well at the moment and boy I just hope everything goes well for him.

thanks for cominggggg x

[seoulcheonsa]

Home for Christmas

Choi Seungcheol (SVT) x OC Tags: Angst, fluff, and comfort Warnings: mentions of death (neither of the main characters), not beta read!

The living room was a mess of tape and cut up wrapping paper, some sticking to the bottom of his foot while he navigated to the middle of the room. There sat Aly, with a pout sitting on her lips and a furious furrow between her brows. He crouched in front of her, easing her eyebrows apart with two of his fingers, earning Seungcheol a glare and an even deeper pout. Christmas was in a few weeks, and right after disposing of their Halloween ornaments, Aly began shopping for gifts. From the local Hobby Lobby to the outlet stores he drove, carrying an average of 5 items per store, all while finding a way to hold Aly’s hand lest they be separated by the crowd.

To Aly, the falling leaves and cold air only meant one thing: Christmas was coming. No other holiday meant more to her than the 25th of December. As a kid, Christmas meant that she’d get to see all her family members gathered around the dinner table, even overflowing to the kitchen island and the living room when they wouldn’t fit. Christmas was for waking up early in the morning to unwrap gifts and dancing around to Michael Buble’s holiday album because her mother loved him. But most of all, it was for the only gift she wishes for every Christmas: her father walking in through the front door with a bag full of candies and a wide smile.

She grew up waiting for Christmas every year because that was when her father would be able to come home from working overseas. Every year, without fail, he would come with new clothes and toys. Until one day, he didn’t. An accident at work, her mother told her with a shaky voice and eyes that were holding back tears. In her young mind, the holiday was rendered useless because no number of birthday or Christmas wishes would bring him back.

Through the years of Aly growing up, her family strived to always uphold their holiday traditions, despite the glaring absence at the head of the dining table. No hearty laugh, no deep voice singing along to Jingle Bell Rock, and no jokes that always managed to be so bad that it was funny. There was a void that made home in Aly’s heart that she nurtured for years to come.

This void festered and unknowingly, Aly let it. Until one day, while looking through her parents’ wedding album for the nth time, she let her eyes linger on her mother’s smile a second too long. Her smile that has never been the same since that one Christmas day that the love of her life didn’t come home to her and their children. The loss of her father took away a part of her, but what would it have been like for her mother to lose her other half? How did she make it through all these years of showing up for her children alone?

“Your father might’ve left us, Aly, but you’re here. You and your siblings, you’re the source of strength that your father left me,” she smiled at her, caressing her daughter’s cheeks. Tears fell one by one, until Aly broke down in her mother’s embrace.

After that year, Christmases were brighter. No hearty laughs from her father, but there was a chorus of laughter from everyone. No deep voice singing along to Jingle Bell Rock, but there was Aly and mom singing off key to All I Want for Christmas is You until they’re a giggling heap on the floor. No dad jokes, but there were stories from everyone about their funny memories with dad that made everyone laugh until there were tears in their eyes at the end of the night. Aly learned to love Christmas again because it was a reminder that happiness still lived in the empty spaces that her father left.

Seungcheol fully sat before Aly, a gummy smile on his lips and a teasing tilt to his head. He’s been snickering quietly off to the side of the entrance from the kitchen to the living room, watching his girlfriend wrap and unwrap gifts on the floor. There was a piece of tape stuck to her hair that he plucked off before pulling her into his chest, a chuckle escaping his lips.

“Babe, you’re wrinkling up the wrappers, get off.”

“You’ve used up all the wrappers trying to wrap your mom’s knife sharpener, love,” he scoffed playfully, pushing aside the mess that were under his legs and feet.

“I’m giving up. What if I just put everyone’s gifts into paper bags and be done with it?”

“Or I could help you.”

“What the hell do you know about gift wrapping?”

“Who am I if I can’t do everything for my girlfriend?” He smiled at her. There he was, Mr. Capable. From the get-go, Seungcheol was just someone who knew how to navigate his way through anything. And if he can’t, he will find a way to learn it in the shortest time possible. Ever the most patient impatient man to live. It was his biggest charm, and the very reason Aly took a liking to him in the first place. He just always knew what to do and what to say all the time while keeping a level head.

Gift wrapping turned out to be easy when there was Seungcheol guiding her through the folds and creases. Their bickering and teasing made time go by fast, the gifts under the tree went from one to a full stack bound by pretty ribbons and shiny paper.

As quick as they finished wrapping gifts, the days flew by until it was a week before Christmas. The nights grew longer and the air colder. And Seungcheol, by some twisted work of whatever divine being, grew as cold as the winter air. In the months that they spent together, not once has her boyfriend acted this way. Out of nowhere, without any ill words towards each other, he made himself scarce and gave curt answers to all her persistent inquiries about what was wrong.

Naturally, Aly assumed the worst. If Seungcheol was hot-headed, Aly was an expert at catastrophizing. Her thoughts led her to dig through his belongings while he slept on their shared bed, blissfully unaware of the undoing of his partner. She hiccupped through her tears quietly as she carded through his bags, looking for any evidence of his unfaithfulness, looking for answers she would never get. She started walking on eggshells around him, afraid that any misstep would drive him farther away from her.

One night, as Aly lied wide awake with her eyes shut tight, she heard a soft sob. It definitely did not come from her; she was numbed out at this point due to the constant mental warfare she was in with her own head. So, in her curiosity, she slowly opened one eye. What she found made her heart drop to her stomach and a heavy feeling settle into her chest.

Seungcheol was knelt on the floor in front of her, his eyes trained on her face with tears streaming from his eyes to his cheeks. His lips firmly pressed together, struggling to keep in any noises that he might make as he cried. This made Aly scramble onto the floor opposite him to gather him into her arms, letting him put his weight on her as violent sobs racked his body.

“What’s wrong, baby?” she spoke softly, afraid to aggravate him further, while running a soothing hand down his spine. She separated his head from her shoulder, searching his eyes in worry. Not once in their 8 months did she see such emotion from Seungcheol. So for her to see him in such a vulnerable state came as a shock. Not that he was not allowed to, but he was always so composed - albeit cheeky most of the time.

“I’m so sorry you have to see me like this, love,” he attempted to shrink away, but she held onto him tighter in refusal.

“Hey, look at me,” she raised his gaze with a palm on his cheek, “I’m not your girlfriend for nothing, this is what I’m here for. For you, all of you.”

He was silent for a beat, then his brows furrowed, and fresh tears started falling again. Those words sounded so foreign to him. All his life, he’s been expected to have it all figured out, no messy ends left untucked. Any and all emotions deemed as negative by his father were to be swept under the rug. There was no time for that, not when there was a world of chances before him. It is what’s expected of him and his brother, success and nothing more.

His brother and him were raised to understand that before anything, family comes first. Dreams were set aside and upholding the family’s pride preceded that. His brother grew up to be the perfect son that their family wished for, with a few businesses under his name and marrying a woman that his parents approved. Meanwhile, the younger of the brothers was left unattended and unguided. Seungcheol had to survive the cutthroat world by himself while his family still expected the same from him, if not more.

When his father passed away, he thought he could breathe better. No one would be breathing down his neck and watching his every move. However, he found that despite his mistreatment and emotional absence, he still yearned for his father. He longed for his father’s presence, haunted by the chilling emptiness of loss. It was ridiculous, he thought, that he missed the person that made him feel suffocated throughout his whole life.

But that was his father, the man that taught him how to ride a bike, to drive, to play golf. He was strict, but he was a father. He raised his children and cared for his family the only way he knew how. He knew his father well, and he knew how he grew up under his grandfather. Seungcheol knew his father only wanted the best for his family; but that was what he thought was best, not what his children wanted best.

So hearing those words from someone he held so dearly close to him, felt like a huge exhale from the breath that he’s been holding his whole life. Finally, someone wanted to listen, someone cared, and someone loved him.

“I need you, Aly, love,” his voice shook as he slotted his head into the crook of her neck. She nodded, running her fingers through his hair.

“I’m right here, Cheollie.”

As they talked through the night with hands intertwined, their hearts drew closer. In the dark, they found their way to each other, like lighthouses that beacon ships to shore. Between tears and whispered I love yous, they found home.

[asongperday]

Song of the Day — “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by Michael Bublé

They’re singing “Deck The Halls” But it’s not like Christmas at all I remember when you were here And all the fun we had last year