Cyndi Lieske's blog

If you look up “Charm” in the dictionary, there just might be a picture of Sondre Lerche next to it. With songs spanning his six records, the affable 27-year-old with a sweet tenor, whipped through his set with a few stops to banter with the capacity crowd of about 200 people.

“I’ve never seen it like this,” said my friend Beth, as we drove past a line that snaked its way three blocks up Grandville Street in front of The Intersection Lounge in Grand Rapids.

The sold-out show even seemed to stun Brandi Carlile who chuckled when she surveyed the cheering audience of 800.

“I can hardly believe my eyes, Grand Rapids,” she said with a laugh. “Who knew?”

After the cheers faded, she added, “This kind of reception is really exciting, thank you.”

The winter of my senior year of high school I purchased “Love Over and Over” by Kate and Anna McGarrigle, an album that remains one of my favorites nearly 27 years later. It was so different than the Duran Duran, Human League and Cyndi Lauper albums I was listening to at the time. The layered harmonies, the mix of interesting songs progressed from rock, to spirituals, to funky folk songs, all in one record. 

Recently, many of my Facebook friends posted their lists of every concert they’d ever attended. I enjoyed reading their lists and comparing notes. It spurred my husband and me to talk over our lists and we were happy to realize how many of the same concerts we had attended before we even met.

Holiday music has been playing in some stores since early November, so at this point many of us are ready for a break. 

I know the end is near. There are a few songs I'm going to miss hearing. Maybe I'll have to break them out in six months. Probably not, but I never tire of hearing them.

I’m not likely to hop in the car and hear these on the radio, but I wish that I could. I know, I can burn them to a CD or put them on my iPod, but there it’s always such an unexpected thrill to hear a song you love on the radio.

If I had my own radio station, these are the songs I would trade for some of the songs like “Run, Run Rudolph” and “Feliz Navidad.”

Sleigh bells, silver bells, snowflakes and pumpkin pie – all images that sum up the holiday season for me. When I hear them I dream of fat snowflakes falling and a fire to sit by as I watch them. These songs make me feel warm despite the cold, happy even though my extended family is scattered far and wide, and thankful for those I love.

Just like Santa, I’m making a list. Well, five lists. After chatting with fellow blogger Nancy Flanagan and brainstorming with Managing Editor Maria Stuart, I’ve come up with a list of holiday songs that mean something to me. The only problem is there I came up with a lot of songs - at least 25.  So, I’m going to take it one chunk at a time.

Here’s the first category we decided upon. “What holiday songs take you back in time?”

I know I should be baking pies and looking up a recipe for candied sweet potatoes, but before I jump into Thanksgiving baking, I just have to mention a few musical moments that have me feeling so grateful.

A few things I am thankful for:

I remember watching the tribute concert for Queen’s lead singer Freddie Mercury in April 1992. I couldn’t wait to hear the songs, never fully realizing that he wouldn’t be the one singing them. I felt so empty when the concert ended. I enjoyed the spectacle of the tribute, but the one voice I longed to hear had been silenced.