Okay, so you know those holiday sing-a-longs they have in elementary school? Those times where they gathered everyone in the gym, and you sat on the floor, like the whole freaking school was there? Then the music teacher and maybe a few faculty or band members would play the music, while a projector would show the words to the song we were singing overhead. And we’d all been learning those holiday songs over the course of the last month in music class, so we’d all sing them together. It was always right before winter break. We’d sing mostly Christmas songs (mostly non-religious ones, but Silent Night always seemed to pop up once). There’d be some for Hanukkah and Kwanza too, and Feliz Navidad, you couldn’t not have that one. I wonder what they do nowadays for elementary school kids. I know my dad’s barbershop quartet was invited to sing at one a few years ago, they had fun.
I grew up in a world where we moved around a lot, meaning I went to three different elementary schools in three different states. All of them did this. But the one I was at for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade was REALLY big on it. There were a couple songs I learned there and remember that I’ve never heard outside of that setting. “Must Be Santa” and “Somewhere in my Memory” are those two. “Must Be Santa” is a call and response song, all the sixth graders did the lead line, then all the other grades did the response. It was fun. But the other one, “Somewhere in my Memory,” sticks out in my mind, because it was so sad and slow sounding, like what was this doing in an upbeat school celebration? It was so different from everything else, but I liked it.
Well I finally have my answer! I didn’t realize it was from Home Alone until today! Now before you get on my case, I have watched Home Alone, once, when I was a child, while visiting with my very large family, so I’ve at least seen it, but my memory of it is very vague (to be fair though, we’re more into The Christmas Story in my household). I had no chance of remembering this song, but now that I know where it’s from, everything makes sense now. I’m just kind of in awe, it gives me some shivers. Here, take a listen!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kHH6LJpEbQ
Now if anyone knows where “Must be Santa” is from, that would make my day. X’’’D
