Music

Have you seen any of the latest beat maker software online? Its really cool and the stuff you can do with it is quite incredible. With very little music knowledge or background you can make some pretty interesting beats and even songs by simply using the software. You also dont need too much in terms of a computer and a basic PC or Mac will do just fine.
Beat maker software can be used for a variety of things. Many people spend a fortune on buying beats and sounds that they could have made themselves – for free. Here are 3 cool ideas for how you can use the software.

1. Background music

Are you into making your own games? Computer games require a lot different sounds and music and if you have to buy it all you can quickly blow your budget. With the software you can make your own beats and really customize it to get what you really want – even if you are not very musical.

2. Rap beats

Are you into rapping and hip hop? Are you thinking of making your own songs? Most of the time the lack of a studio or the inability to play instruments tend to keep many of us from fulfilling our musical talents. With beat software you can make your own music and rap over it by using some basic recording and mixing software. Who knows, you could make the next smash hit on your own PC using some basic beats software.

3. Video production

Do you do a lot of video production? You probably need a lot of background music to animate your videos. You could buy sound clips but how much better would it be to make your own. One thing you dont have to worry about when making your own music is that all the copyrights belong to you and you dont have to pay for using sound clips in clients videos. This will help you spice up all the video clips you produce and it can set you apart from your competition.

The real secret to making great beats using software is not so much the software itself but the libraries that come with it. Beats are made up from sampled sounds and unless you record your own samples you need to use predefined ones. Most music software packages link to huge online databases with a great variety and this is something that you need to keep in mind when looking for the ideal software package.

Everybody who has continually heard of song earlier has dreamt of someday performing an instrument on their own. The guitar is perhaps the largely all the rage instrument which folks wish to be taught. The guitar is used to participate in a broad variety of song for the reason that of its wonderful sound and its amazing tunes versatility. It can moreover remain single of the majority sought after musical instruments. All it will take to ascertain are a small number of resources of easy guitar lessons and the passion to practice thoroughly.

Not everybody has the occasion or else money to exhaust on the traditional way to discover this instrument by departing to a music tutor and undergoing normal lessons. You can uncover a batch of resources for easy guitar lesson obtainable on the internet. They might be alive read within the convenience of your residence and theyre a lot cheaper than standard instruction. Getting the appropriate one can remain a little tricky since youll uncover hundreds and perhaps thousands of this instruction accessible.

• There are exactly hundreds of informations on the internet which will help to teach you.
• On a quantity of the greatest ways of practicing, and places to get a hold easy guitar lesson.
• The internet society is a tremendous source intended for dig up a great amount of complimentary lesson.
• So why not take benefit and get a hold on your own various lessons on learning how to use the guitar.

What is so overwhelming on the subject of learning to use the guitar is that you merely truly to need to fully understand three or four chords at the start to set out to perform a quantity of your favorite songs. A percentage of the songs which I have printed were formed using no more than three to four chords.

The hardest part of studying how to perform the guitar is most likely at the start. You might learn the chords to be alive little difficult to control and your fingers will be in pain from holding down the strings. You be supposed to be able to learn your harmonize and render the chords much more controllable if you provide it a tiny bit of moment and exercise. Your fingers will as well acquire the basic robustness and dexterity necessary concerning guitar performing.

I do strongly suggest with the purpose of you obtain a first-rate quality instruction to start your easy guitar lesson. If you possess associates that cooperate you can exercise with them and hone your abilities. Once you cooperate with your friends, it is a much more enjoyable moment.

Originating in the Spanish region of Andalucia Flamenco dancing has been traced back to the 15th Century but the word Flamenco did not become associated with this art form until the 18th Century. The origins of the word ‘Flamenco‘ are unclear but many have associated it with Romany Gypsies who settled in Andalucia and mixed with the original Moor inhabitants of the region.

The music of Southern Spain has had alot of influence from various cultures within Europe going onto form what we know we know as ‘Flamenco‘. Flamenco dancing began to emerge as a cultural and artisitc focal point of Spain in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.

Flamenco is typical of southern Spanish culture and there are a surprising number of elements such as a mixture of the toque, baile and cante, (guitar, dancer and song) thato together to form Flamenco this seemingly simple dance. From dresses to shoes, guitar, to singers to the type of dance many different factors need to work together to make the dance the powerful artistic masterpiece that it so often can be.

• For many the costumes and whole outfit of the dancer will be what goes towards symbolising alot of the dance.
• With the internet and popularity of this dance it is now possible that people can obtain their very own piece of spanish culture whether it be throught a guitar dress or shoes.
• Added to this is the fact that these unique dresses and costumes have proved to be extremely popular items at fancy dress parties or indeed exhibitions on Spanish culture.
• Shoes and dresses are particularly popular and these can be made to suit any individual preference or taste but they come at a price so be prepared to pay well over $100 to achieve the look that you want.

Costumes and apparel that are worn are extremely varied and interesting with many types of pattern material and sequin available. Dresses like the shoes can be purchased ready made or tailored for that special touch. In recent times though the dance has been stripped back down to its roots as ‘Flamenco nueva‘ has begun to take hold. Flamenco nuevo is a much more traditional dance with songs and music being alot more simple but passionate. Outfits and costumes used by dancers have also been simplified with shoes and dresses worn by female dancers being alot more simple and plain whilst a male accompaniment may only wear a vest top.

Despite the development spoken about within the last paragraph there is a still much of Spain and the world that embraces Flamenco with its extravagance as it has become a part of the dance that grew out of informal city ‘pena flamencas‘ into a dance witnessed on the world stage by millions. It is this growth in Flamenco that has triggered the demand for all items associated with the dance and art. Websites and online shops offer items such as clothes, shoes. guitars and music so that the individual can create their very own Flamenco experience.

A criticism, or “critique” as it is also called, refers to any kind of oral or written opinion, whether negative or positive, communicated to a perfomer by an instructor, judge, mentor, other musician or even non-musician. It is an evaluation of a performance that is shared to the performer by the evaluator. It is sometimes also shared with the public, such as in media, where, in this case, it is more commonly known as a “review” . You, as a musician, can become adversely affected in your morale and possibly even discouraged if you do not know how to properly deal with it. Any art, including music, is so close to the persons very essence that any criticism about it can hit home like a ton of bricks, even devastating an individual, believe it or not.

But criticism for the musician is inevitable. It comes with the territory of learning and performing music, from instructors, other musicians, admirers, fans, from all sorts of sectors. It is an inherent aspect of conservatories and music competetitions.

Technically speaking, every person has the right to express his/her opinion on anything. Oftentimes, people feel the need to express their feelings regarding anything in the arts. You hear it a lot with film and music. These can come off as either complimentary or critical.

If one receives a praiseful comment, such as how wonderful or moving their performance was, they should accept it, thank the originator and be genuinely proud that they could capture anothers heart with their aesthetic power. It is encouraging to hear such words, and rightfully so.

1. However, ANY criticism or advice, either negative or even positive, from a non-professional (non-musician) should be entirely and utterly ignored.
2. Regardless of whatever personal impact you created upon the listener, they are not the correct source for technical advice.
3. Example: A pianist is performing a Bach piece and gets carried away with the dynamics (loudness and softness of various notes).
4. After the performance, his friend, a non-musician whos dabbled in studying some music theory, praises him and advises him on how great the intensity on the dynamics was during the performance.
5. The pianist makes the mistake of taking this as technical advice (instead of just differentiating between that and praise).
6. He then enters a music competition where he performs the piece by getting carried away again on the dynamics.
7. He promptly gets flunked and loses the competition because this piece he was performing, of the Baroque era, does not feature any sort of extremity in dynamics.

When a musician receives professional criticism, however, it can oftentimes be contradictory. For instance, one authority may say how excellent ones pedaling is while another comments on how muddy it sounds. This can leave a musician with uncertainty and unnecessary confusion. A thing to realize is that profesional technical critiquing can sometimes be opinion-oriented. But, it can also very well be corrective. There is a way to deal with this.

A musician always truly knows his or her own areas of weakness. These become more prominent and the individual becomes more tuned and aware of them as time and progress goes on. One should always be able to take such criticism without becoming introverted or feeling harmed. When one gets any such critiquing, the first thing to do is take it into consideration and evaluate it for themselves. If one feels that criticism was incorrect, then they have a right to evaluate that accordingly. A musician should always maintain his/her integrity. Though, at the same time, they should be open-minded and willing to learn more and become better and better. There is a fine line between not going the effect of poor criticism and being stubborn and never learning anything.

Lastly, there are always those individuals in society who seek to squash and put down creative minds, whether out of jealousy, insanity or their own failures. This occurs in any of the arts. As a musician, NEVER allow anyone to do this to you, for their “criticism” is merely an effort to overtly and openly put you down, or to slowly and insidiously suppress you by sounding “helpful” . Disregard it and continue being creative and making music!

FM broadcasting is a broadcast technology that uses frequency modulation (FM) to provide very favorable sound over broadcast radio. In India there are various FM channels which operate 24X7 to provide news, information and entertainment.

There are specific channels for specific purpose, one has to tune in and adjust with the frequencies which you want to listen. There are FM channels like Radio City, Big FM, Red FM, Radio One, Radio Mirchi, Fever FM, AIR (All India Radio) and much more which operates in English, Hindi and several other local & regional languages.

One needs to adjust the tuning and set frequency to listen to your favorite FM music station. You need a Radio to tune in with the desired frequency, as radio acts as an intermediary for matching with the frequencies. In market we have two best FM Radio products from world renowned brands

1. The Sony ICF-C218 is a space saving radio with appealing design and has ability to choose your own snooze time instead of being held captive by the short time intervals of other snooze times.
2. This is an alarm cum FM with two bands reception, analogue tuner, and a single alarm.
3. This device will help you wake on time and plan your day ahead, thanks to its excellent alarm clock functions and built-in calendar; this will surely keep you updated with everything.
4. This Sony dream machine features easy visible 0.9 inch green LCD screen, it has good battery backup and clear FM frequency.
5. One will also appreciate other convenient functions of this Sonys dream machine, like automatic daylight savings & automatic time setting.

The other is the Mitashi AF004 which is also an alarm cum FM radio. It has a lighted digital display, unique contemporary design and a high sensitivity FM scanner. You get good quality & clarity sound to listen The FM Radio also has earphones; this mesmerizing piece is also very unique and compact so very easy to carry. All I can say is, its a genuine partner for entertainment while travelling.

From entertainment point of view both of these FM Radios can tune in with several FM channels for maximum entertainment at good quality & clarified sound.

Classic rock is a fundamental part of American history. Many of todays leading bands can trace their styles back to the influence of certain musicians. While every song made available to the world has had an impact on the music industry, there are certain performers who will eternally stand at the forefront of music.

From folk rock to psychedelic rock, there have been many groundbreaking sounds and voices. Here are the top ten most influential classic rock bands in history.

Elvis Presley

While Elvis is not traditionally viewed in the classic rock genre, it is impossible to ignore his influence on the world of Rock-n-Roll. As the first to expose mainstream America to something other than traditional family music, he faced a tremendous amount of opposition from the mainstream.

Despite the extreme racism exhibited during the 1950s, Elvis never hesitated to give appropriate credit to his inspirations. Mainly African-American performers influenced Elvis sound and style. Southern radio disc jockeys originally refused to play Elvis singles, because they sounded “too Negro” for white stations to air.

It was not just Elvis sound, but also his performance, that drew controversy. The movement of his hips in a suggestive manner sparked an entire decade of debate.

Despite the firestorm of criticism that surrounded Elvis reign, his continuing popularity has ensured that Elvis crown as the King of Rock and Roll would remain valid for decades, even decades after his death.

The Beatles

As the best selling musical act of all-time, it is hard to deny the influence of the Beatles, not only on the musical culture of America, but also on every aspect of human life. The Beatles included John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Star, and George Harrison.

Their innovative style defined the music of the 1960s – – twice. They began their career in England, and when they came to America, they were already a huge success in the United States. In their early years, they had defined pop music for a new generation.

As the hippy days of the late 1960s began to take hold of Americas young people, the Beatles redefined their music again, with another new style of music lauded by the masses. Their very loud stance on drug use and war made them a controversial group, but their popularity never wavered. Although the Beatles retained the loyalty and admiration of their late 1960s audiences until the group broke up, the touring days of the Beatles ended in 1966 when John Lennon proclaimed, “The Beatles were more popular than Jesus Christ.”

Bob Dylan

Dylan has one of the most easily recognizable voices in the world. Raspy and full of passion, Bob Dylans sound is distinctive. His songs are amazing and defined a generation obsessed with the themes of social unrest, an anti-war stance, and encouragement for the civil rights movement.

A traditional folk singer, Dylans works transcended all genres and appealed to countless young Americans. His sincere lyrics spoke to many and made it possible to empathize with his many causes.

Jimi Hendrix

As the undisputed master of the electric guitar, Jimi Hendrix is a classic rock foundation. The self-taught guitar player refused to be limited by many of the conventional views of guitar players.

Prior to Jimi Hendrixs development as a guitar player, the electric guitar was considered to merely be a louder version of the acoustic guitar. Hendrix embraced the uniqueness of the electric guitar and showed his appreciation for it to the rest of the world.

Pink Floyd

Easily considered the greatest band of all time, Pink Floyds unique style and showmanship defined psychedelic rock. Their concept albums were thematic masterpieces that appealed to countless audiences. The Dark Side Of The Moon, Animals, and The Wall each still stand out today as great Rock masterpieces.

The Who

Also known for their thematic records, The Who pioneered the idea of rock opera. Most famous for their collaborative efforts with every major musical figure of their time, Tommy The Rock Opera ensured the longevity of the band into the future.

Their success and fame were not limited to their unique approach to concept albums. Their musical skills are still highly regarded in both mainstream circles and in the entertainment industry. Their music is currently being used as the theme song for at least three of the most popular show on TV on the air today.

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones have easily maintained their position as one of the longest lasting bands in recording history. Like most popular rock bands of the age, they were an England-based band that was more than happy to take on America.

Their grungy unkempt image became so popular; many artists are still attempting to master it. Their unique sound and high quality lyrics have kept them at the top of the charts for almost 40 years.

Cream

Cream, featuring guitarist Eric Clapton, was one of the most technically advanced music groups of their time. Their instrumental techniques became legendary and paved the way for other bands to focus on developing their instrument techniques, in addition to their lyrics.

The Doors

The Doors have always been one of the most controversial bands that had ever existed. Jim Morrisons wild behavior set the tone for the countless musical bad boys that would follow in his footsteps.

The poetic lyrics of The Doors, as well as their outrageous behavior, made them a crowd favorite.

Led Zeppelin

The road to heavy metal was paved by Led Zeppelin. Their first album was pivotal in its inclusion of distorted amplification techniques. Over the years, their experimentation included mixing acoustic and electric sounds, with the addition of synthesized melodies. The success of Led Zeppelin helped establish a strong base for the development of metal music.

Few people of their generation or the current generation realize that like Elvis, Led Zeppelin took most of their inspiration from African-American performers. As a lifelong fan of Led Zeppelin, it is was oddly fascinating to listen to some of the not-so-famous African-American rhythm-and-blues performers of the 1930s, and to be able to hear the Led Zeppelin songs we have loved for years in a whole new way.

Final Thoughts

Clearly, these ten bands had a significant impact on the evolution of Rock-n-Roll music through the generations, but it is more difficult to put them into an ordered list of important groups. Lets just agree that most of us love all ten bands on this list.

The British Broadcasting Corporation also known as the BBC is a public broadcasting corporation. Therefore, it allows itself to ban materials that deviate from certain standards of civility. During the years, many singles that were seen as too explicit, distasteful or bear the potential for offending the British public were banned from BBC airplay. Here you can read about some of them.

In 1977, when England was celebrating the Queens Jubilee, the Sex Pistols had released their second single titled God Save the Queen. The single includes controversial lyrics that rhyme the national anthem title with fascist regime. Moreover, the record cover displayed a picture of the Queen with a safety pin stuck in her nose.

The single was found to offensive to be air played by the BBC, but it did not stop it from reaching number two on the BBC official singles chart. According to the myth, God Save the Queen was the top selling single in the UK at the time, but it was held back of number one to avoid controversies.

1. Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin scandalous duet Je TAime …
2. Moi Non Plus, translated: I love you… me neither, was the first ever number one hit to be banned by the BBC.
3. Although at the time of its release, in 1969, the sexual revolution was celebrated, the British radio still was not able to cope with such explicit lyrics, not to mention Birkins moans and groans.
4. The BBC ban and The Vatican denounce, did not stop Je TAime … Moi Non Plus from being a top selling single in the UK and worldwide.
5. In October 7, 1969, the single reached number one in the BBC official singles chart.
6. At the same time, it had reached number 69 at the US singles chart.

Je TAime … Moi Non Plus was a major influence on another BBC banned single, Donna Summers disco pioneer from 1976 titled Love to Love You Baby. After counting 23 faked orgasms performed by Summer in Love to Love You Baby, the British Broadcasting Corporation banned the song. However, it did not stop it from becoming a massive hit. Love to Love You Baby reached number four on the UK single charts but peaked to number two on the Billboard pop chart.

Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood is one of the most controversial singles as well as commercially successful singles in history. The BBC did not only ban the song it also did not stop BBC Radio 1 DJ Mike Read to publicly express his feelings of disgust from the singles explicit lyrics. In 1984, Relax stayed in the UK singles charts for 42 weeks. In five of them, it stayed in number one. By the end of 1984, embarrassed Auntie Beeb removed the ban. Relax is still very popular worldwide and it is one of the most recognized symbols of the era. The arguments on whether it gained such a huge success despite the BBC ban or the BBC ban helped promoting it have not been settled yet.

Paul McCartney and the Wings response to the 1972 Bloody Sunday events titled Give Ireland Back to the Irish, was banned by every media resource in the UK. It was forbidden from being broadcast by the BBC, Radio Luxembourg and the Independent Television Authority. In addition, the song title was not allowed to be pronounced on the air, so when it arrived to the BBC Radio 1 chart show it was presented as a record by the group Wings. However, Give Ireland Back to the Irish hit the top of the Irish singles charts.

Did you know that the Bee Gees were named after the initials of a DJ called Bill Gates? Did you know that the real story behind the origin of the name of the rock band 10cc is much more trivial and boring than the urban legend that surrounds it? Did you ever wonder why the hell would someone choose to name his band Chumbawamba? Here you can widen your knowledge by learning about the origins or rock bands names and pop artists pseudonyms.

10cc: an urban legend claims that the band who wrote the hit Im Not in Love has chosen her name as a gesture to the average male ejaculation, which is estimated as 9cc of sperm. but, the bands name really originated in a dream the band manager, Jonathan King, had in which he was managing a band by the name of 10cc

Alice in Chains: Lane Stanley and Jerry Cantrell had intended to form a heavy metal band that will perform covers of Slayer while wearing dresses. Although there plan did not come out, the name of the band remained. Alice in Chains is a take off on Alice in Wonderland with an S and M twist. Bee Gees: The Gibb brothers first had in mind the name The Rattlesnakes as a name of their band. Later they have come up with the idea of honoring the initials of both Brothers Gibb and their close friend and one of their first supports, DJ Bill Gates, who has nothing to do with the founder of Microsoft. Chumbawamba: apparently, one of the band members had a strange dream, in which he could not decide which public toilet door he should enter since the Men and Women signs were replaced with Chumba and Wamba signs. The Doors: formerly named Psychedelic Ranger, inspired by a William Blake quote: If the doors of perception were to be cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite. Elvis Costello: was born as Declan Patrick McManus. When he had started his musical career, he adopted an alias created by a combination of Elvis Presley and Lou Costello, mainly because he represents the exact opposite of the other Elvis.

The Fall: taken from the title of a novel authored by Albert Camus.

Grateful Dead: originally named The Warlocks. The origin of the cult band final name was inspired by an old English folk tale, which themed around a traveler who is saved by the spirit of a dead person who is grateful for the travelers generosity and his willingness to pay the deads man debts in order for him to be buried.

The Happy Mondays: Shaun Rider was inspired by the happy Mondays he and the other members of the band were having as unemployed who were spending the day that follows the weekend in sleeping while the other people were off to work.

Ice T: the controversial gangsta rapper has chosen to name himself after Iceberg Slim, a famous pimp who later became an author of books that describe gangsta living. Johnny Rotten: the Sex Pistols leader was born as John Lydon. He received a stage name that was found more suitable for an anarchist punk with a set of rotten teeth.

Kraftwerk: the pioneer electronic band adopted the German translation of the term Power Station.

L. LL Cool J: James Todd Smith pseudonym is an Acronym for Ladies Love Cool James.

Marilyn Manson: the bandleader pseudonym mixes two of Americas favorite celebrities: Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson. Other members of the band are using the pseudonyms Ginger Fish, Twiggy Ramirez and Madonna Wayne Gacy.

Nine Inch Nails: inspired by the nails that attached Jesus to the cross

The Orb: in Woody Allens Sleeper, there is a silver ball that causes people who touches it to react in strange ways. This device was called The Orb.

The Pogues: originally named Pogue Mahone, which is Kiss my Ass in Gaelic, the band shortened the name to avoid airplay censorship.

Queen: one word that catches both transvestite and royalty connotation was the perfect band name in the eyes of Freddie Mercury.

The Replacements: according to the myth, the punk rock band adapted the name after replacing a missing band in a gig, an incident that made them introduced themselves as The Replacements.

Sex Pistols: Malcolm Mclaren is responsible for the choice of the name, partly to help promote the clothes shop called Sex owned by Vivien Westwood who used to be his girlfriend at the time.

TLC: the initials of the band members nicknames T Boz, Left Eye and Chilli. It also suggests the acronym for Tender Loving Care.

UB40: the politically oriented band was named after a type of British unemployment form.

Velvet Underground: named after the title of an unknown sex book that one of the band members has found lying on the sidewalk Weezer: the band front man was nicknamed Weezer in high school since he was a geek who suffered from asthma that caused him to make wheezing sounds.

XTC: this punk band was formed in 1976 long before the usage of the drug was popular. The band had changed its original name Star Park after watching a Jimmy Durante clip in which he states: Im in ecstasy!

Yeah Yeah Yeah: according to Karen O, the inspiration to the hip band name came from the New Yorker phrase, which means something like whatever. ZZ Top: there are two versions related to the origin of the band name. According to the first one, the name of the band is a spoof on the name of the blues musician ZZ Hill. According to the second version, the name relates to a combination of two popular brands of cigarette rolling papers: Zig Zag and Tops Rolling papers.

The most popular Christmas songs are much loved timeless classics which have become part of tradition. They have sold millions of copies worldwide with their messages of celebration, happiness and romance. Performed by many of musics most iconic stars their popularity transcends time and generations.

Band Aid was the super group formed by Bob Geldof in 1984 to raise awareness and money for the famine in Ethiopia. Their Christmas number 1 “Do They Know Its Christmas” sold over 3.5 million records in the UK alone and involved artists such as George Michael, Boy George and Paul Young. It was an impromptu affair with the studio only giving Bob Geldof 24 hours to record most of the song.

On the 25th of November many of the biggest recording artists in the UK visited SARM studios, Notting Hill to record their performances. The single later went on to cause controversy when Bob Geldof promised every penny made by sales would go to charity. The government responded by refusing to donate the VAT, Mr Geldof lambasted the act and made a public appeal which gathered support across the country. This led to the government backing down and donating the tax to the appeal.

• One of the best selling Christmas singles is called “Candle in the Wind” and was written and performed by Elton John in 1997 as a tribute to Princess Diana who died earlier in the year, the song sold almost 5 million units in the UK and over 33 million copies worldwide.
• It was originally written for Marilyn Monroe and released in 1973 by Elton John.
• but did not even nearly enjoy the same amount of success.
• As a sincere gesture Elton John later stated that he would only ever perform the song live at the request of Prince William and Harry of Wales.

According to the Guinness Book of records and selling in excess of 50 million copies worldwide, Bing Crosbys “White Christmas” is considered the best selling single of all time. The song was originally written by Irving Berlin and was performed and released by Bing Crosby. The song initially spent 11 weeks at number in the US Billboard charts in 1942, but was re-released reaching the top of the charts again in 1945 and 1946. Bing Crosby went on to release two other well known Christmas anthems “Silent Night” and “Jingle Bells” with both exceeding sales of over 30 million copies worldwide. They are to this day thought to be two of the most popular Christmas songs in history.

Another golden oldie which has sold millions of copies is “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer” written in 1939 by Robert L. May, a copywriter for the Chicago-based Montgomery Ward department stores, it was originally created as a promotional gift for the stores customers. Gene Autry later recorded and released it in 1949, since that time it has sold over 25 million copies worldwide and continues to be a staple of Christmas tradition.