Christmas Song Advent Calendar: December 1st
I'm not a fan of how I look on camera. My face Out There doesn't look how I think it does In Here, nor do the expressions I make when singing. Plus, if the camera adds 10 pounds, I could clearly do with dropping a good stone.
But, y'know, it is what I look like. This is just my face, and I've a need to make, and create, and do. In this case, sing – and the best venue for that is YouTube.
So it's time for some radical acceptance. Look at me, growing as a person.
Welcome to my Christmas song
Don't think that I had forgotten. I've been working on ukulele chords since this post, in which I examined how I felt about some of the incredible performers on YouTube and (TLDR) realised I'd like to do what they're doing, because I desire a creative performative output, but I lack the courage to try. I decided to put a stop to that by, well, trying.
But I haven't yet.
Ah, the old habits, they do die hard.
I've been working on chords and songsheets, and have been doing some video tests to get more comfortable in front of the camera, but the main problem is that I don't really like what I see.
Do I really look that much like my Nan, and thus my Dad, when I...move? Exist?
(Yes.)
Is my posture really that bad?
(Clearly.)
Am I really that squinty?
(Double yes.)
That jawline.
Juswhatisthataboutanyway?
But this is what I have to work with, so it's do something with it, as is, or don't do anything at all. And we both know that the whole point of this big, silly online endeavour is to move forwards, not backwards, to make and do and create even when it's uncomfortable. Which means it's time for some radical acceptance. Aggressive, radical acceptance.
And an aggressive, radical methodology for it, lest I slink away from it like I have the past few months.
The Advent Calendar
If I didn’t start it today, it would be next year. So today it is.
Every day up ‘til Christmas Day I'm going to record a cover of a Christmas song – one take, me and my ukulele – and upload it to YouTube. I'll also pop the chord sheet for the song in an article on here for those who want to see it. At the end I'll upload the whole book and – who knows? – there might be a couple of extra songs in it...
It’ll be my choice of favourites, which means there’ll be a bunch in there you may not know, certainly won’t care for, and could probably do a better job of yourselves. Hence the chord sheets!
Will the videos be any good? I doubt it, but they will exist, which’ll be progress. They'll likely be full of mistakes and bum notes if today is anything to go by, but that's kinda part of this whole process. Plus, I'm a total novice at video editing, so they're going to be really simple while I get my head around learning this new software.
I hope you enjoy the video and chord sheet of December 1st – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.
Here's the video:
And here's the chord sheet: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.pdf
Wish me luck!
Love always,
Fay
xXx