Carol of the Belle

Another weird year has come and (nearly) gone. And looking at all the colorful lights in the neighborhood (including in front of stately Jarlsberg Manor) and my recently finished gig as Santa Claus, it certainly seems to be Christmas. I hope that eventually daughter Jarlsberg and I can really feel it again, but it hasn't happened yet. Kathy made the magic, and holidays are very hard for us. So we mostly keep our heads down and hold our breath until it's safe for us to come out of emotional hiding.

That being said, the power and importance of Christmas have been very much on my mind lately because of its meaning for so many of my family members and friends (if you're reading these comments, you're in both categories). Which is why I was recently moved (inspired?) to begin work on an album of serious Christmas songs using Suno AI and some creative ideas on my part. I got too late a start to distribute the music this year, but next year it will be available through streaming services.

The music (Christmas standards all, although I hope to write one or more original songs from scratch) will be credited to a virtual artist named Vala, a Nordic songstress and multi-instrumentalist whose contemporary folk-rock music combines the fire and ice of the northernmost climes and cultures. At least in my imagination and, I hope, in the imaginations of others. 

Here's what the album might look like eventually...

...and here's a sample of the music which I hope you will enjoy...

I want to wish you and yours a very merry and meaningful Christmas, a happy Hanukkah, or the best possible outcome of your personal pursuit of peace on Earth and good will toward men.

- Stilton

PS: Just in case you were in the mood for something funnier, check out another Youtube video of mine in which a classic Christmas song is performed by drunken pirates. I'm not sure why no one else has pursued this niche before...