#NotBaconBitsAdvent - Day 1

It's December already... and that means the Advent Calendar is back! But this time we're looking to you for the song suggestions in a #NotBaconBits twist. Susan Omand explains more and gives us the song for Day 1 ...

Snow is falling all around me, children playing, having fu... ahem. OK so none of those things are actually happening but it IS now the season to be jolly [bah humbug - Ed] and to dig out this year's Advent Calendar. Usually, for the Advent Calendar, we pick up on singles from the year we've been looking back on in our Turn That Noise Down retrospective articles, which would have been 1992 this time out. However, since Steve just wanted to play Alice in Chains songs every day for 24 days*, and I could only think of a few singles from 1992 that I hadn't covered already in the year's worth of articles, we got a bit stuck for what songs to play for the 24 days leading up to Christmas break.  

That's where our old pal, the #NotBaconBits game comes in, as it's always a great way to get some storming songs to brighten up any morning. Regular readers will know how to play by now but, to explain the game for those who haven't played before... They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Well, I hope that Classic FM’s weekday Breakfast show, presented by the inimitable Tim Lihoreau, is incredibly flattered as we “borrowed” the idea from them. Every weekday, Tim played the Breakfast Serial (serial/cereal - geddit?) – a classical track that is, in some way, linked to the previous day’s Breakfast Serial offering, whether that link is to do with the title, the composer, the orchestra or something even more obscure. 

But, because we’re not just a Classical Music site, we decided to expand the idea over all the music genres, so you may get a rock track linking to a jazz track, linking to a 15th century madrigal [NO MORE MADRIGALS! - Ed] and you must be able to explain the link between the previous day's track and your choice for the next one step by step, and yes there can be more than one stepping stone. It can be as simple or as contrived as you want - in fact the more contrived the better! 

BUT - and here's the twist - FOR #NOTBACONBITSADVENT ALL THE SONGS ALSO MUST HAVE TO A FESTIVE LINK!

Yes, whether it's something in the name of the song or band/singer [Mistletoe and Wine anyone? - Ed], the fact that the song was a Christmas number one, or that it mentions something festive like snow or fairylights or whatever, we're looking for that DOUBLE LINK this time around.

To give you an example, and my choice for the first song of #NotBaconBitsAdvent:

Way back at the end of January, we finished the last #NotBaconBits run with a Bruce Springsteen song so that's where I'll start my link from. Now, The Boss has had a few festively themed songs in his time, including a wonderful version of Santa Claus is Comin' to Town; a song from the 1930s that has also been covered by the self-styled Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey. So I want to start our calendar with, some say [OK, Nate says - Ed] the best Christmas song in existence. 

There's no prizes, it's just for fun so enjoy today's song and All I Want for Christmas Is You... to give us your linked song to play for tomorrow's #NotBaconBits Advent Calendar.

So, what will you link to? Another Mariah Carey cover? A duet partner perhaps? Something about a Christmas list? Something else? Let us know!

As always for #NotBaconBits, once you've listened to today's choice, we're looking for your suggestions for tomorrow's track. Join in by tweeting us your suggestions @albiemediaAM with the #NotBaconBitsAdvent hashtag or adding your suggestions in the comments of our #NotBaconBitsAdvent Facebook or Instagram post every day - remember the link can be as simple or contrived as you want, in any music genre (it doesn't have to be classical or pop) and you can link to anything about the song - the title, the artist, words in the song, something about the video ... anything as long as you can explain how you got there and show your workings. 

BUT REMEMBER for the #NotBaconBitsAdvent Calendar there must ALSO be a festive link of some sort AS WELL! Whether it's something in the name of the song or band/singer, or it was a Christmas number one, or that it mentions something festive like snow or fairylights or whatever, we're looking for a DOUBLE LINK this time around.

If we pick your suggestion for the next song link in the chain, you'll get the credit in that day's article and shout outs on our social networking streams.

* BTW the Alice Advent Calendar really WAS a serious suggestion, there was even a graphic made up to go with it before the Ed found out what he was planning and said no, very forcefully.