Andy Ditzler preps pagan holiday anthem single
Thursday, October 16th, 2008
Songwriter, piano player and all around Renaissance man Andy Ditzler is preparing to unveil his first single since releasing his debut CD, Songs From, Yes and No at the tail end of 2005.
The “Solstice” single is an online-only MP3 release, that will be available via iTunes in mid-November. Ditzler has given CL a preview that can be heard below.
Here’s what Andy has to say about the song:
“Solstice” was written for our annual holiday party singalongs. I didn’t want a religious song, so I started thinking about the origins of Christmas in solstice celebrations. I had a vague sense that much of what we know as Christmas came from pre-Christian pagan rituals, but in researching I discovered that the appropriation was quite extensive. I realized that you could write lyrics which sound a lot like a regular Christmas song, only with the word Solstice substituted.
One irony I like in the song is that it’s a reverse appropriation. Subsuming solstice rituals into Christmas celebrations was part of how Christianity conquered various pagan religions in its early years. (It’s even said that the birth date of Christ was moved to the time of the winter solstice to make this appropriation easier.) They basically stole the rituals, but it did allow people to keep their holiday traditions after they converted to Christianity. I presumed to return the favor, by taking the Christmas pop songs I grew up hearing on the radio each winter (”simply having a wonderful Christmastime”), and stealing that format to make a pagan anthem.
To listen to the song, click here.
Click below to read more, including the lyrics to the songs.
