One minute the tree is dark.
The next minute, it's twinkling with a thousand lights.
The Christmas tree on Rockefeller Center is lit. The Tree Lighting Ceremony took place last week some time, but I missed it for some reason, and watched a recast of the show on ABC last night.
I won't go into the parade of contemporary pop stars who came on singing their renditions of Christmas songs and carols. Suffice to say that many sang their songs flat - although they all made a show of adjusting their ear-pieces, as though it was a technical fault rather than their inadequacies.
But I will mention these two who gave great performances: Jewel and Kelly Clarkson.
Jewel discarded her slightly whiny "country" voice at least for this show, and came on as a chanteuse. I was surprised at her deeper voice, and how effectively she used it. She sang a classic, Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.
Kelly Clarkson came on with gusto and energy, and sang Chuck Berry's Run, Run Rudolph. Her take was more rock, and the rock-and-roll kind of rock, with its feet-stomping, dance rhythms.
Then, there is the magical lighting of the tree. One minute it's dark, the next it's sparkling with thousands of lights (45,000 multi-colored LED lights, to be exact. And on top of the 12-ton tree is a 9 1/2-foot-wide Swarovski crystal star).
Jewel the Chanteuse
Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire
Kelly Clarkson the Rockeuse
Run, Run Rudolph
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted BY: Kidist P. Asrat
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------