Since discovering that all full moons have a name (given to them by the Native Americans who kept track of the months by the lunar calendar), I have written about each one as they appear in our skies. To accompany the post I always include one of the numerous songs that have been written about the moon and its many foibles.
Well, it’s all coming together at just the same time! Today is Yule, the day of the winter solstice, that pivot point in the year after which the days will start to get longer again. Tomorrow is the day of the December full moon, very appropriately called both the Cold Moon, and the Long Nights Moon. Last but not least, we are also right in the middle of Christmastime, that annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, which seems to have become a cultural phenomenon celebrated around the world by billions of Christians and non-Christians alike.
But this is my Moon Series, so what song to feature this time? Unbelievably, I have yet to share a Frank Sinatra song in this series, which is bizarre, as the Chairman of the Board was known to record a fair few songs with the word moon in the title over the course of his career. I shared a version of Fly Me To The Moon by Julie London just before I started this series, but now that we’re into its second calendar year, time to revisit the song I think, and time for a bit of Francis Albert at Christmastime.
Fly Me To The Moon by Frank Sinatra:
Fly Me To The Moon was written in 1954 by Bart Howard, but originally had the title “In Other Words”. Kaye Ballard recorded it first, but since then it has become a jazz standard, often featured in popular culture. Frank Sinatra’s 1964 version was closely associated with the first Apollo missions to the moon.
A few great moon shots have again been captured by my friend with the all singing, all dancing camera over the last week. Here are a few of the best.
I’ve mentioned this often since starting the blog, but the year I seem to warm to most when revisiting the tracks of my years, is 1967. Lots of reasons for that, but the main one seems to be that it’s the year I was just starting to take an interest in the music I heard on the radio and on television – I was a kid, I was happy, loved and nothing bad had yet happened in my young life. For this reason I took to retuning one of the car’s digital radio stations recently to Absolute60s. I figured that whenever I tuned in, there would be a one in ten chance something from my favourite year would be playing, which would in turn take me to my “happy place” (if I was having a bit of a stressful day).
As luck would have it, the first song played on this new retuned station was Somethin’ Stupid by Frank & Nancy Sinatra from, yes you’ve guessed it, 1967. This of course reminded me that in 2001, Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman recorded a great cover version of the song which became the Christmas No. 1 hit that year. Both artists were at the top of their game in terms of their respective careers, and the video for the song, although obviously staged, still makes me feel all Christmassy. If I had to choose one year other than 1967 to take me to my happy place, it would be 2001, a time when DD herself was just a kid and starting to take an interest in music. She was old enough to enjoy all the wonderment of this time of year without yet being taken in by the commercialisation of it all.
Somethin’ Stupid by Frank & Nancy Sinatra:
So, “What’s It All About?” – I suspect I won’t return with anything new now before the big day, so to everyone who visits here, have a wonderful Christmas. Remember to look out for the full moon that should appear in our skies on Saturday night, and look forward to the fact the days are now lengthening again.
Just one more thing. Last night, Mr WIAA and myself headed into town to take part in an awareness raising event for a local charity. The high rate of suicide amongst young men in the Highlands means that many families have lost a son or brother in recent years. Mikeysline has been set up to offer support to people who suffer from depression and chronic loneliness. Yes, it may well be “the most wonderful time of the year” for some, but keep a close eye on those who could well be feeling even lonelier than usual.
An added bonus to last night, was that we managed to take a few pictures whilst walking through the town centre, and of course, our almost full moon made it’s way into the shot.
Merry Christmas from all of us at WIAA. Hope you have a good one.
Fly Me To The Moon Lyrics
(Song by Bart Howard)
Fly me to the moon
Let me play among the stars
Let me see what spring is like
On a-Jupiter and Mars
In other words: hold my hand
In other words: baby, kiss me
Fill my heart with song
And let me sing for ever more
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore
In other words: please, be true
In other words: I love you
Fill my heart with song
Let me sing for ever more
You are all I long for
All I worship and adore
In other words: please, be true
In other words, in other words: I love you
What's It All About? 
Happy Holidays, Alyson! “Fly Me to the Moon” made my day. I think I may to fly to the Cold Moon to see it this year, with rain in the forecast here tomorrow.
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Happy Holidays to you too Rick! (Feels weird saying that actually, as it’s just not a term that has infiltrated our language yet, although probably has with the young who are far more influenced by all things American on telly.)
Have a good one, but despite the weather, probably still best to stay on terra firma with the family!
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The moon over Aberdeen was huge and a wee bit scary around 6 o’ clock this morning! A very Merry Christmas to you and yours and all the best for 2019!
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Yes – There has been a cracking moon all week but now a full one. A Merry Christmas to you too Lynchie and thanks for dropping by over the last year.
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Hi Alyson. All the best to you and your family, and a very happy New Year.
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Yes – All the best to you too Neil. Another year of blogging nearly over and we’ve not been found wanting! I’ll probably return before that time but yes, a very happy New Year to you too.
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Great photos again. Mr SDS has a friend (one he’s never met!) in Edinburgh and I was just saying this morning we should make a trip around Scotland some day so we could stop by Edinburgh to meet him – then, I said, we must go up to Inverness too, as I could recommend it from all I’ve seen here. Judging by various photos and films you’ve shared, it really does look lovely.
And, as always after I’ve read one of your moon posts, I shall look out for the full moon when it shines into the back of our garden/cottage later tonight.
Right – hoping to get one more post in before the day (even if it’s only brief to send seasonal wishes) but just in case anything goes awry I’ll wish you and yours a very happy Christmas on here now. Have fun!
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What a great plan – Surely 2019 will be year we all make a few trips both north and south. I’m sure you’d love the culture of Edinburgh and the scenery of the Highlands.
Just been outside actually and no full-moon so not sure if it’s just behind the hill or there is cloud cover. It’s been pretty spectacular all week however so no big loss if I don’t see it tonight.
We always end up saying Merry Christmas to each other a few times before the big day on the various blogs but yes, in case things go awry, have a good one. Vegetarian turkey?
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A worthy cause to support, Alyson. Having lost an old friend to suicide this year, I applaud your supporting it. And yes, Christmas can be the loneliest time of the year for many people, even those who appear to be surrounded by family and/or friends.
That aside, lovely photos. Always good to hear Frank. Have a great Christmas.
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Yes they do good work here, just such a shame they are even needed. Tricky time of the year this for many though.
Thanks for dropping by this mash up of a solstice/moon/Christmas post – Have a great time over the festive season. I assume Ofsted have departed so you can hopefully relax a bit.
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The picture of the moon light on the water is beautiful. I have mixed feelings towards Christmas lights, on one hand pretty to look out, yet I worry about global warming, as the lights are not strictly necessary. Places like Kiribati have had to buy land in Fiji because of the rise of sea levels. The 15 year-old activist Greta Thunberg who confronted the UN has a point. Nice gesture to take part in the awareness raising event. Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas!
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You are right of course Chris – Who needs artificial Christmas lights when we have the moon and the stars. In our defence, the lights in the centre of town did look a bit paltry this year compared to previous years, but the newly renovated Townhouse is being lit up instead (all by LEDs I’m sure) but going forward, yes something will have to change.
Hope you have a lovely Christmas Chris (a seasonal name!) – Good to see you are blogging on all cylinders again!
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Happy Christmas to you and yours. Yes, trips North and South next year!
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Happy Christmas to you too. I’ve just had a really tough year but hoping 2019 will be easier. A few trips definitely on the cards!
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Just a quick one Alyson: despite fighting off tough opposition, I have awarded you ‘Best Blog of 2018’ over at my place. Unfortunately there is no prize, or even a cash equivalent – just a feeling of smugness as you lord it over your inferior blogging buddies!
Happy Christmas!
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Well, I’m very flattered but feel as if there must have been a bit of Russian intervention for that to happen! I’ll take it though – Will pop over to your place to do a proper thank you.
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Good call John
Merry Christmas to you and yours Alyson
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Thanks CC – Merry Christmas to you and Mrs CC too. Have a good one.
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Doesn’t get much better than Fly Me to the Moon. These photos are gorgeous. Happy holidays to you and your family, Alyson.
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Thanks Brian – Hope you have a great day (and that Santa leaves some vinyl in your stocking – logistically impossible but you know what I mean!).
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