sarahillis's blog

We've had a lot of departures from our normal format lately on Come By The Hills, but never fear. It's business as usual this week. We've got all our usual features, and of course, there's the usual mandate to play the usual three hours of the usual best in usual Celtic music from around the world. (Hmmm... I think I got carried away for a second.)

January 25 is Robby Burns day both in Scotland and among the Scottish diaspora. Indeed, many people have taken this farmer poet to their hearts, and Burns Nights are held all over the world nowadays.

Yes, it's almost that time again already, less than 48 hours until the next installment of Come By The Hills! As usual, we have three hours of the best in Celtic music from around the world. However, this week, I'm pleased to present a listener-suggested Celtic Cover! This was suggested some months back and I think we'll all find it quite fun. Not only is it a parody of a well-known folk song, but it's a parody of a very specific version of said folk song. We'll hear the original along with the parody in the third hour.

It's back to the usual run of things this week on Come By The Hills, but as ever, there's a twist. I'm actually recycling our very first "What's That About" selection and I'm also recycling a Celtic Cover from an October show that went a little pear-shaped when it originally aired. It's been a busy week around here with lots to do, so if you're interested in seeing what happens on an extremely procrastinatory episode of Come By The Hills, then tune in tonight at 8:00 PM Eastern for three hours of some of the best Celtic music from around the world.

The new year begins on Sunday, and on Saturday night in many places around the world, people will be dancing, singing, partying, and of course, drinking. So, even though this week's Come by the Hills will be on when most of us are busy recovering from the morning after the night before, I thought it fit to devote an entire episode to Celtic songs about beer, whisky, punch, and any other alcoholic beverage that I can think of.

I know that the word "featureless" makes the show sound dull and drab, but even though we're not having our usual special features, Come By The Hills will be chalk full of Christmas cheer this week. We'll discuss some interesting Christmas traditions and of course salute them musically as well, and we'll have a lovely reading of Dylan Thomas's "A Child's Christmas in Wales," performed of course by the poet himself.

Well actually, we'll be doing pretty much what we usually do on the show: presenting three hours of the best in Celtic music from around the world. However, I can tell you with absolute assurance that no donkies will be invading the studio. There may be a spotted cow or two, but no donkies!

We have a Christmas-themed "What's That About?" song in Gaelic, a commical and tangentially-holiday-related "Celtic Covers" segment, and of course just plenty of good Celtic and folk music from many awesome artists and bands.

While the holidays are not quite here yet, I find myself in a Christmasish mood just now. So, in addition to some of the usual Celtic music on Come By The Hills this week, I will again be flavouring the show with the sounds of Christmas. We've got carols, songs and other wintry fair on the menu, including a folky version of a beloved holiday novelty classic in "Celtic Covers" and a lovely Gaelic carol from Scotland in "What's That About."

Yes, it's me, Sara Hillis, back again and this time in shameless self-promotion mode. I wanted to let you know that if you've heard my sequel to "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" called, funnily enough, "I Got a Hippopotamus for Christmas" and are just dying to have it for yourself, or even if you haven't heard it and would like to hear it, it's available for the holidays for free from my web site. Steve Cutway has nominated it for his top pick for the Mushroom FM Christmas Count-down. Want to know why?

I do love the holiday sentiments of peace on earth and good will and all that, but if you're sick and tired of all that comfort and joy, tune into the Sara Hillis Show all next week, because we're going to battle it out Christmas style!