Winter Favourites

— This review’s release was delayed due to school —

Happy winter!

November is Diabetes Awareness Month since it’s the birth month of Frederick Banting, AKA the guy who is saving my life without even knowing me. I have type one diabetes, which means for some reason, my body can’t produce insulin on its own. Banting created synthetic insulin; without it, I wouldn’t be writing this review.

This first song is very special to me as it was written and performed by an artist who also has type one diabetes, and it’s a little sample of what it’s like to live like us.

“Blood Sugar” – Kid Bloom (2020)

Kid Bloom frames living with type one diabetes as dealing with a partnership that’s going sour and that’s perhaps always been sour. Not only do I love the lyrics of the song, but its tune is very mellow and easy to listen to. It’s also sort of dreamy but gloomy at the same time, conveying the very deep subconscious sadness of resignation to living with type one; it’s an illness that you can’t prevent, and that sucks.

Fun fact: the Sims 4 just released an update that allows you to add Continuous Glucose Monitors to your sims! Check it out if you have the game! I’m stoked to be able to customize a sim that looks exactly like me, down to my condition.

For more info on type one, check out this article by the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/what-is-type-1-diabetes.html#:~:text=If%20you%20have%20type%201,builds%20up%20in%20the%20bloodstream.

Now, onto my essential Christmas bops!

“Rockin Around the Christmas Tree” – Brenda Lee (1958)

Need I go on? This is an absolute classic. Home Alone, anyone?

My favourite lyric: “Mistletoe hung where you can’t see; every couple tries to stop.”

“Santa Baby” – Eartha Kitt (1953)

Another classic; I grew up watching Eartha Kitt as Yzma in The Emperor’s New Groove, and she rocks it in both the movie and “Santa Baby”.

My favourite lyric: “Come and trim my Christmas tree with some decorations bought at Tiffany. I really do believe in you; let’s see if you believe in me.”

“Jingle Bell Rock” – Hall and Oates (2003)

Now, don’t get me wrong. The original version of “Jingle Bell Rock” is absolutely iconic, but I prefer the Hall and Oates version. It’s just a little bit bouncier and more energetic, and it can really get me to dance around Christmastime.

My favourite lyric: All the lyrics.

“Wonderful Christmastime” – Paul McCartney (1979)

Last but certainly not least, Mr. McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” is just so jaunty. There’s a clear pattern here: all of my selections are upbeat and happy, which is true to my music taste in general. I also love the oldies, which is clear from the fact that the latest release on this list happened in 2003, when I was all of two years old. I feel like “Wonderful Christmastime” is a wonderful cap to this list.

My favourite lyric: (Cliché maybe, but) “Simply having a wonderful christmastime!”

Happy winter, everyone! My next review will be up in February or March.