What a stupid song choice!

[Judy from Boise]

I have heard this a couple times on the radio...it sounds like Josh Groban and they are singing "o holy night" but they repeat "noel" over and over and then end up with "o night divine". Obviously someone is trying to make it a secular song. I have no problem with secular Christmas songs, and enjoy many of them a lot....but why try and de-christianize what is in effect a Hymn? Show a little creativity and write a new song, but please leave "O Holy Night" alone!


Not a religious thread, just about a weird creative choice, kind of if you tried to put Jesus in "Jingle bells".

 

[akhenaten]

Noel is not secular....
Noel means Christmas

Joyeux Noel!

Joyous Christmas!

Noel (or noël, sometimes written as nowell in English) is an alternate word for Christmas. The word comes from the French word Noël meaning "Christmas" which derives from the Old French word noël, a variant of nael. The Latin origin is the word natalis ("birth").

 

[kangareaux]

I have heard this a couple times on the radio...it sounds like Josh Groban and they are singing "o holy night" but they repeat "noel" over and over and then end up with "o night divine". Obviously someone is trying to make it a secular song. I have no problem with secular Christmas songs, and enjoy many of them a lot....but why try and de-christianize what is in effect a Hymn? Show a little creativity and write a new song, but please leave "O Holy Night" alone!


Not a religious thread, just about a weird creative choice, kind of if you tried to put Jesus in "Jingle bells".

You caught the second verse of the song. Here's the whole thing. Very much still a hymn.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQWXfHzOKUU

 

[Judy from Boise]

good to know, like i said I was driving, and honesty what caught my attention was when the words went horribly wrong! I still don't care for this version, while i was at you tube i watched David Phelps's version....now that is fabulous!

 

[PlainJane]

So basically, the entire song was the same except he took out:

His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

He then put in the Noel/ O Holy Night weirdness that Judy spoke of. It did allow him to keep the song going for a little bit longer.

 

[GeorgeG]

Just about every celebrity has to have a Christmas album and even a Christmas movie/TV movie. There are only so many things you can do with a single theme, for anything. A lot of times we find an effort to do something different is not better and often a sorry attempt at fixing something that was never broken to begin with.

 

[SueM in MN]

These are the lyrics according to the internet for the Josh Groban version:

O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining.
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh hear the angel voices!
Oh night divine! Oh night when Christ was born!
Oh night divine! Oh night! Oh night divine!

Chains shall he break for the slave is our brother,
and in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise his holy name.
Christ is the lord, that ever, ever praise we.
Noel! Noel! Oh night;oh night divine!
Noel! Noel! Oh night; oh night divine!
Noel! Noel! Oh night; oh night divine!

I actually remember singing the "Noel" arrangement in High School when I was in Concert Choir for 4 years. It's not new (since I sang in the choir way before Josh Groban was born) and not secularizing the song since Noel means Christmas.

 

[Briarmom]

Josh has a great voice and is well suited for that song. I've sang many different versions of it myself and would not believe anyone that said they knew the 'one right version.'

I've never sang this:

His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

Can't please everyone I guess.

 

[Ceila]

Josh has a great voice and is well suited for that song. I've sang many different versions of it myself and would not believe anyone that said they knew the 'one right version.'

I've never sang this:

His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

Can't please everyone I guess.

I'm pretty sure that line is at the end of the third verse.

I'm surprised that someone would think that using Noel would be an attempt to secualrize a Christmas song, though, since it's used so often - on Christmas cards, Christmas decorations, and especially the song The First Noel.

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

Groban's version of O Holy Night is my favorite. He has the perfect voice to carry this song. The second Noel in the second to last line is my absolute favorite - I get goose bumps everytime he hits that note. I love his Ave Maria (Schubert) and Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring as well.

I think it's absolutely reverent and beautiful and not the least bit "secular".

Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

 

[okeydokey]

I love Celine Dion's version and the lyrics are pretty much the same as this. You can catch the performance on You Tube, it is amazing!

 

[clgwli]

I've sung both versions. Personally I like Noel at the end instead of the "ever more proclaim" because it really is wordy and doesn't fit quite as well compared to the other versions and verses.

 

[Judy from Boise]

yup different strokes for different folks.....whatever the motivation I think it is weird to take a fairly narrative song and instead of finishing up the thought, repeat a single word multiple times.
but really just a "toss away" topic to keep the boards fresh

 

[SueM in MN]

Just to add a little more -
We were listening to Celtic Woman's Christmas Concert DVD while we are supper. They used the same "Noel" in their version.
I believe "Noel" comes from the original version of the song, which was French.

 

[snarlingcoyote]

When I was younger and had the time and patience to sing in choirs, Oh Holy Night was usually part of the repertoire of Christmas songs. We always sang "Noel" at the end of the second verse. . .and most of these were churchy-type choirs!

 

[snykymom]

Just about every celebrity has to have a Christmas album and even a Christmas movie/TV movie.

Yup. Including Barbra Streisand and Bob Dylan (ne Robert Zimmerman).

 

[EMom]

Josh's version is my absolute favorite version of this song and that's saying something considering it's my favorite Christmas song. His voice is perfect for it and I think all other versions pale in comparison. DD knows to hush when it comes on.

 

[natcat117]

I agree. His voice is perfect for the song. He could sing anything and still sound amazing!

 

[mamamary]

Josh's version is my absolute favorite version of this song and that's saying something considering it's my favorite Christmas song. His voice is perfect for it and I think all other versions pale in comparison. DD knows to hush when it comes on.

I agree

 

[alice45]

These songs are perfect for wedding couples. Nice version of his songs. Josh's version is also my favorite version. His voice is too great and nice to hear!!! Amazing.... I love his songs and lyrics too. These are very pretty. Thanks.....