Originally Posted By: Guitarhacker
Quote:
Today is the third anniversary of the massacre at Sandy Hook elementary school. I wanted to make a Christmas song, but one that honored the sacrifice of those children and all who have died in mass shootings since then.


Writing this review is hard. Probably the hardest review to write of any song I've given an opinion on.

The children didn't sacrifice, they were slaughtered. This is a really, really hard topic to write about. It has to be done carefully, with forethought, and much discretion.

Personally, I think this topic should have been handled with more taste. Sure it's a tough topic, and it can be addressed in song, but perhaps, in a more thought-out and tasteful manner. I don't see how Christmas and getting shot in the face go together or Santa "packing heat" and making people "sorry they attacked". In fact, it seems to be more biased to make guns and southerners look bad than to honor the children you claim it is about.

Let me point you to a song about another hard topic..... domestic abuse where a murder suicide occurs and the child has to witness it..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiEPjwnbf_o

OR.... wife/spouse abuse and alcoholism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VPpAZ9_qAw

Notice that both songs are about murder suicide. You get the idea and understand it completely, but it's not in your face. Both are quite tasteful in their approach. Independence Day, in fact caused quite a bit of controversy despite it's intelligent way of dealing with a tough topic in a tasteful manner.

I'm not saying don't write this.... just put more thought into how you are going to say something. The way things are said will turn many listeners off. Sorry if this review seems harsh. That's the way I see it.

My 2 cents.


Thank you for your considered thoughts, they are greatly appreciated and well written. I haven't attempted to write my thoughts about this song, I'll try now.
Last week when the San Bernadino shooting occurred, I decided to write something topical, and frame it as a Christmas song. I noticed the anniversary of Sandy Hook was coming up, and set myself a deadline, write and record a Christmas song about Sandy Hook and release it on the anniversary, December 14. I had five days. As I researched the Sandy Hook shooting, the details broke my heart. There were fifteen first graders, hiding in a bathroom with their substitute teacher. Adam Lanza (whose name I refuse to mention in the song), found them and killed every one. Little Noah Pozner took three shots from a Bushmaster assault rifle, his parents left the casket open at his funeral so people could see how his face was destroyed.
I could not just write a song about the horror, no one would listen twice. It had to be catchy, repeatable, even funny in parts, with a dark side. I wanted to swing your emotions all over the place, and leave you with the feeling that America has a serious problem with mass shootings, but will move on and celebrate Christmas regardless. So I focused on Santa. Of course he would be carrying when he comes to America, who knows what idiots would try to shoot him down. I wanted the chorus to be catchy enough that you want to hear it again, and will hear the verses about Sandy Hook along the way.
By the way, I recorded and mixed this on Pro Tools, my first effort. This was an automated mix, and I am enjoying the new flexibility. All my previous songs were recorded and mixed on a Tascam DP24, and pretty much had to be mixed in the arrangement.

ProTools 12, Faderport 8, Melodyne, JBL monitors, Novation UltraNova, Yamaha MX49, Stratocaster, Telecaster, Rickenbacker 12, Ovation 12, Vox VT20X amp