You’re probably sick of hearing about the snow by now. The good news is, it doesn’t look like it’s here to stay for very long. With this brief visit of winter, I wanted to take the time to look at some of the wicked songs we’ve had cast upon us due to the cold froth of winter.
The first song comes from a band hailing from a place not particularly known for their harsh winters. A locale most musical acts are quite familiar with. A spot where magic and talent come alive. Los Angeles. The Doors song “Wintertime Love” depicts the warm embrace of a lover during the chill winter nights. The classic catchy bass line with the keys we know and love The Doors for, it’s certainly a jam that will turn those winter blues into winter warmth.
Let’s take a step back and stop looking at things in a literal sense here. Another favourite song of mine, at first glance portrays a winter storm but soon after you realize it’s just a metaphor for drugs. Who else but Black Sabbath would do such a thing? “Snowblind” refers to being under the influence of a certain white substance that Black Sabbath was known to do a lot of! OK, maybe this one isn’t even remotely about winter, but it has snow in the title so it counts in my books.
Up next, a seasonal ballad featuring some heartfelt vocals you wouldn’t expect. Might as well get right to it, “Winter” from The Rolling Stones always seems to sneak its way onto the playlists I create. It came off their 1973 album “Goats Head Soup” and says a lot about seasonal depression and how it even affects the superstars we idolize. Remember to keep your head up this winter.
Segueing into this next track follows a similar theme as the last feature. Simon and Garfunkel’s “A Hazy Shade of Winter” is about the cruel feelings the shade of winter can give us. There is always hope, as the lyrics start to share how the grass will grow tall and green once again. The song was written when Simon was a young 25 years of age, and was released in 1966. It’s still one of my favourites of all time.
The last song I want to showcase talks about how great those winter time parties can be. Inspired by a certain special night that happened nearly 56 years ago, “December, 1963” from Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons is a crowd pleaser. This song will get anyone moving and that’s why I love it. Put it on your Christmas party playlist!
These are just a few of my personal favourites, and I hope they reminded you of some of your winter time faves. You can catch some of these great tunes on our stations: 105.3 ROCK and Classic Hits – 102.1 CJCY!
Ryan Cowitz is a producer at 102.1 CJCY and 105.3 ROCK. He hails from Calgary and is happy to be calling The Hat his new home.
