The Advent Calendar of Great Holiday Movies: Day 20 "The Night Before"

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we will present a great movie associated with the holiday season. Many will be awesome, some will be extra awesome. Enjoy.

Day 20: “The Night Before”

Opened Doors: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12, Day 13, Day 14, Day 15, Day 16, Day 17, Day 18, Day 19

The holiday season is filled with parties. We have work parties, family parties, and parties at the bars and clubs in our neighborhoods. We have an idealized vision of the best party ever when we are younger, and we spent most of our days chasing that perfect party. In the midst of the chase, we grow older. We start to have more professional responsibilities, we may start a family, or we may need to just grow up. The perfect party is an illusion, growing up is reality.

In 2015 “The Night Before” premiered and was a very modest hit. The final “Hunger Games” movie opened against “The Night Before”, and the raunchy holiday film had no chance. In the few years since it’s premier, “The Night Before” has found a cult following for people looking for something funny, and a bit more modern in their holiday entertainment.

The story in “The Night Before” is relatable to anyone who used the holidays searching for the perfect party with their friends. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, and Anthony Mackie play three friends who swore they are going to find the best Christmas Eve party in all of New York City. Year after year they get together, do some drugs, get drunk, and never find the mythical Nutcracker Ball. After a while Rogen and Mackie have professional and family responsibilities, and finding the perfect party is not at the top of their priority list. Gordon-Levitt however is still committed to the goal of going to the Nutcracker Ball. Hijinks ensue, truths are revealed, weed gets stolen, friends fight, weed gets stolen, Michael Shannon saves the day, and friends learn a valuable lesson. It is a tale older than Christmas itself.

The holiday parties of our twenties look very different than the parties of our thirties, and those look different than the parties of our forties, and on and on. What makes any of these get togethers perfect is that we have them with our friends.. We may fight, our drugs may get stolen, and we may need Santa’s son to save us, but we were together on that magical night before Christmas. That is the reason for the party season. .

RD

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. Being around friends for the holidays is great, but what is it like being alone? Let Bill Murray and the band Phoenix tell you all about being alone on Christmas Day.

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SeedSing's Advent Calendar of Awesome Holiday Music: Day 15 - Christmas Lights

ed note: This article was originally published on December 15th, 2015

The pre-Christmas Day season of Advent is upon us. Here at SeedSing we love the chocolaty goodness of getting a piece of candy once a day until we get to open our presents. As our gift to you we will present a new awesome holiday song for every day of Advent. This is the greatest music of the season. Enjoy.

Day 15: Christmas Lights by Daniel Hudson

Opened Doors: One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen 

When it comes to Christmas lights, I tend to be an insufferable traditionalist. I will only use white, non-blinking lights in my yuletide presentation. My tree, white non-blinking. Outside lighting, white non-blinking. My pre-lit fake garland, only the best non-blinking white traditional lights. Multi color lights are for amateurs. Blinking lights are a big annoyance. Inflatable glowing Christmas characters are the most tacky. In the dead of the December night, I want my house draped in tiny bits of uniform white light. I take my Christmas lights very seriously, even if they are usually just the backdrop on the whole holiday season.

In 2012 singer-songwriter Daniel Hudson released the song "Christmas Lights" on the holiday compilation album A Very Jorma Christmas. The tune is a simple, infectious, piece of pop. Hudson joyfully breezes through everything that makes the holiday great. Hope for love, snow, and brightly colored lights. Yes, Daniel Hudson is not as particular about his light choices as I am, and he seems to be having a great time. The song is so happy and simple, it would make a great December bowling alley karaoke tune. In fact it is used in a karaoke scene in the recent Seth Rogen comedy The Night Before. 

The thing I love most about 'Christmas Lights" is how easy it is to fall in love with the tune. The lyrics flow together, the music is basic, yet it all comes together into something magical. The holiday season is filled with so much activity, and it always seems so hectic. "Christmas Lights" hits all the high points of the year, and makes it simple. "Christmas Lights" is the perfect song to listen to while you enjoy your neighbors displays. It puts you into a perfect, and bright, spirit.

The days are getting shorter, and many houses are being lit up all night with their bright and colorful Christmas lights. I, like Daniel Hudson, have a giddy little song in my heart when I drive around town and see the varying light displays. I also accept that the lights are secondary to other aspects of the seasons. "Christmas Lights" may be ok with the bright colorful displays, but my love for the song will not change my stance on proper holiday lighting.

RD Kulik

RD is the Head Editor for SeedSing. He may be snobby about lights, but he has had a fake tree his entire adult life. Come in and tell us your insufferable holiday traditions by writing for SeedSing.