I’m doing research on music for Advent, Week One. I’ve gotta say that there’s some HORRIBLE arrangements out there. Just take a gander on YouTube and you’ll see what I mean. I was trying to find a video of “Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus” with kind of a Sufjan Stevens vibe. I discovered some interesting things.

1) An AMAZING number of churches take videos of a full choir loft and empty pews in the first four rows.

2) Handbells do not record well on the average video camera.

3) No one wants to waltz to a hymn. What were they thinking?

4) No one. NO ONE should record a hymn “in the style of the Eagles.” I kid you not. Check it.

I now return to the daunting task of finding a way to sing Advent music (NOT Christmas… there is a difference!) without sounding tacky.