Question about Christmas/Holiday vocal songs

[Coffeeinthesink]

Do you guys think it is more 'sync-able' to leave an instrumental break in the middle of a vocal Christmas cover, or just keep the song within the vocals?

PS - I just caught myself whistling Winter Wonderland in the stairwell at work in June. My coworkers definitely think I'm bananas.

[funsongs]

I'll offer an opinion - for what that's worth - whether a cover or an original, seems to me that Christmas songs that are gonna 'stick' tend to have the characteristic of a sing-along kind of song;
i.e. an easily learned and repeatable (rePete-able) Chorus. I'm working on a Christmas song, and have had that as one of the main goals; and I'm finding out that 'simple & easy'... aren't easily achieved.

So - to answer your question - better to leave out solo and instrument breaks; keep it compact and simple.
Hope that helps.

PS - let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! So what if it's Summer?!

[Coffeeinthesink]

I'll offer an opinion - for what that's worth - whether a cover or an original, seems to me that Christmas songs that are gonna 'stick' tend to have the characteristic of a sing-along kind of song;
i.e. an easily learned and repeatable (rePete-able) Chorus. I'm working on a Christmas song, and have had that as one of the main goals; and I'm finding out that 'simple & easy'... aren't easily achieved.

So - to answer your question - better to leave out solo and instrument breaks; keep it compact and simple.
Hope that helps.

PS - let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! So what if it's Summer?!

Thanks Peter! Always good to hear from you. I suppose they could also always use the instrumental version in sections where no vocals are needed. Happy holidays!

[sherrylynnlee]

Do you guys think it is more 'sync-able' to leave an instrumental break in the middle of a vocal Christmas cover, or just keep the song within the vocals?

PS - I just caught myself whistling Winter Wonderland in the stairwell at work in June. My coworkers definitely think I'm bananas.

If you mean an instrumental verse for example, I'd skip it. They can just use your instrumental version for that!
If you mean a solo... I'd also skip it. Solos are a bit passé these days, unless you're doing a straight up jazz piece.

[Kolstad]

I would try to find out what the others do, and then do something else. That strategy is tested through time. Compete in the blue ocean.