Christmas time is the season for friends, family, love and of course music. Music has always been a major force in every nation all over the world. It is used for expressing the feelings and thoughts that helps bring people together. As we enter this time of year and everyone starts to prepare for all the festivities, one thing that helps us get in the mood are the Christmas Carols. Whether you like the fast, childish songs like "Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer" or the slower ones like "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and "The Little Drummer Boy," we all have a special place in our hearts for these songs. Most of us have grown up with them, holding them close to our hearts. So, once a year when the songs are heard on every radio throughout the country, we all find that little kid in us that can't wait for Christmas morning. This is also the time of year when artists go on the road to share their version of these Christmas classics and some originals that they hope will someday be classics as well.
One of these artists that travels every year singing his heart out night after night is John Berry. Known for his string of hits that started in the early 90's, John has also held close to his heart the meaning of Christmas. In Lake City, Florida, at the Lake City Community College, he kicked off his 2007 Christmas tour. The weather was unusually cool for this time of year. At around 38 degrees, it helped add to the Christmas feeling. In an auditorium that holds maybe six hundred people there was not a bad seat in the house. The minute he walked on stage, the crowd went wild. Starting off the show with "Kiss Me In The Car," is was obvious John was going to put on an awesome show. It was great to see him perform live, watching him interact with the fans, and hearing him sing all the songs that took him to the top, as well as some new ones.
Once the show got started, there was nothing to do but set back, listen and enjoy. Listening to his voice makes it clear why millions fell in love with him, but it seems that his voice has only gotten better with time. With his new album Those Were The Days just being released, John had a new single he wanted to show off called "A Woman Like You."
At one point during the show, a lady yelled out "I Will, If You Will." John just started laughing and then asked "are you the one I talked to in the store?" As he went on to explain, he ran into this lady in the store who asked if he would sing the song, his only stipulation was she had to yell it out during the show. Well she stuck to her end of the deal and so did John. With just him and his guitar he sang "I Will, If You Will." The crowd ate it up! As he ended the first half of the show, John explained how all types of music has touched his life in one way or another. He ended this half of the show with "When A Man Loves A Woman."
Upon returning back to the stage, John had changed into some more "festive" clothes and the crowd relaxed back in their seats for some cheerful Christmas tunes. With one song after the next, it made you really appreciate how special this time of year is. Singing pretty much all your typical Christmas songs and spreading holiday cheer, John also adds to the show some of his own original holiday hits and tells the story on how they came about. "My Heart Is Bethlehem" is one that really stands out. John talks about how he came across the song at a songwriters retreat. Michael Peterson wrote the song and as soon as he played it for John, he was hooked. John also told stories of what Christmas means to him and shared some of traditions his family have created over the years. During the show, he expressed his views on how some people are trying to make Christmas a "generic" holiday and how he disagrees with it. For anyone who is faced with bitter thoughts about the holidays being just around corner, do yourself a favor and go see John Berry's Christmas show. It is a family show that will keep everyone entertained. Christmas comes once a year, and this show makes it worth the wait.
Set List:
- Kiss Me In The Car
- Change My Mind
- Standing On The Edge Of Goodbye
- I Will, If You Will
- A Woman Like You
- Your Love Amazes Me
- She's Taken A Shine
- What's In It For Me
- When A Man Loves A Woman
Christmas Set List:
- O Come All Ye Faithful
- The Christmas Song
- Let It Snow
- I'll Be Home For Christmas
- My Heart Is Bethlehem
- Little Drummer Boy
- Winter Wonderland
- O Come Emmanuel
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
- What Child Is This
- Christmas Morning
- The First Noel
- O Holy night