It's Not Christmas Without You

This is Day #4 of the POP CULTURE ADDICT'S ADVENT CALENDAR, and since today is Sunday, I'm going to be featuring some sort of musical interlude that has to do with the holiday season.

But for the first installment of this, I'm going to do something a little bit different, and talk directly to those of you who might be celebrating Christmas away from home, or those of you who have a loved one who is away.  This is definitely the song for you.

Trust me...I think we can all agree that there have been times in which we have been separated from a loved one for the holidays.  A snowstorm might have struck on Christmas Eve preventing you from flying home.  Your husband might be deployed to another country because of his service in the military.  Or perhaps you have a parent who is hospitalized or in a nursing home and they cannot come home.  Whatever the case, it can definitely be harder on you during the holidays - a time in which families are supposed to come together, not be apart.

(Given the recent political climate that is happening in the United States, it seems as though more and more people are spending the holidays alone whether it be by choice or not.)

Well, in 2010, "American Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee decided to record a song that symbolizes the feelings that one might have when it comes to missing someone over the holidays. 

The song is called "It's Not Christmas Without You", and it appears on her third studio album "Christmas Is The Time to Say I Love You".  I'll post the song here below.  Have a listen, and we'll talk about it later.

ARTIST:  Katharine McPhee
SONG:  It's Not Christmas Without You
ALBUM:  Christmas Is The Time to Say I Love You
DATE RELEASED: October 12, 2010

You know, I keep forgetting that Christmas albums are released as early as October now.  Talk about pushing the season!

Anyway, back to the song.  The music video debuted on Vevo in December 2010, and in addition to McPhee (who can now be seen in the CBS television series "Scorpion"), actor Joel David Moore of "Avatar" fame makes an appearance as her love interest who can't make it home for Christmas.

But you know...we don't even need the video to show McPhee's disappointment in the song.  We can hear it in her voice, as well as in the lyrics.  I mean, I get it.  When you see wreaths on doors, and sparkling Christmas lights on the tree, and carolers singing on the streets, it's a once-a-year event that you really want to spend with someone you love.  Knowing that someone isn't there with you makes it seem less magical.

But, in many cases, these feelings don't have to be forever.  I think in many cases, there are things we can do to try and get our minds off of the fact that our loved ones can't make it home this Christmas.  And I know that they wouldn't want us to feel sad...they'd want us to try and enjoy the season as best we can, be it through volunteering, or baking treats for the neighbourhood.  It won't be exactly the same, but it can still fill your heart with joy.  And with absence making the heart grow fonder, it just gives you a reason to get excited for the following year!