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Chris Isaak

Okay, so here’s my Chris Isaak story. Chris and I were both cast in the mini-series From the Earth to the Moon. We were in the first episode, which was directed by Tom Hanks.

The story goes that Tom liked me so much that he wanted to give me a recurring role. I was supposed to have a five episode arc. I turned down a job at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival to do the series. I mean, who wouldn’t? Well, my story line was cut. I ended up with only one episode. When the mini-series came out, my story line was completely cut. Ah, show business.

Anyway, Chris and I had a great time on set and he told me some great stories about touring. By the end of his tour with Tina Turner, he hated her so much that he started wearing “I Like Ike” buttons. (Chris has a collection of political buttons). There was one line Chris couldn’t remember because it was full of technical language and he was worried about screwing up every take and asked me what to do. I said, “Go ask Tom.” Why he was nervous to ask him I don’t know but I convinced him to do it.

When Chris told Tom he was having trouble memorizing the line, Tom said, “Just read it.” Chris was dumbfounded.

“What?”

“Just put your script on the table. Sift through some papers and then just read your line. It’s no big deal.”

Chris was beyond relieved. It was an epiphany. Sage words of advice from one of the best actors of our time.

Lyrics

Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say
On a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day
That’s the island greeting that we send to you
From the land where palm trees sway

Here we know that Christmas
Will be green and bright
The sun to shine by day
And all the stars at night
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii’s way
To say Merry Christmas to you

Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say
On a bright Hawaiian Christmas day
And that’s the island greeting that we sing to you
From the land where palm trees sway

Here we know that Christmas
Will be green and bright
The sun to shine by day
And all the stars at night
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii’s way
To say Merry Christmas to you

Here we know that Christmas
Will be green and bright
The sun to shine by day
And all the stars at night
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii’s way
To say Merry Christmas to you

Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say
On a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day
That’s the island greeting that we sing to you
From the land where palm trees sway

Here we know that Christmas
Will be green and bright
The sun to shine by day
And all the stars at night
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii’s way
To say Merry Christmas
A very Merry Christmas
A very, very, Merry, Merry Christmas
To you

Buy Mele Kalikimaka

[amazonjs asin=”B000UDP1EW” locale=”US” title=”Mele Kalikimaka”]

Get it at iTunes here.

The Best Christmas Songs

I love Christmas music. I’m all for Bing Crosby and Burl Ives, but my tastes lean towards the more offbeat Christmas Songs. I think they make for a superb Christmas play list. Put them on yours. You won’t be sorry.

Day 1. “Good Time Christmas” by Lou Rawls

Day 2. “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)” by The Ramones

Day 3. “I Want an Alien for Christmas” by the Fountains of Wayne

Day 4. “Slashed Wrists This Christmas” – Gruff Rhys

Day 5. “All I Want is Truth (for Christmas)”– The Mynabirds

Day 6. “Santa Claus Wants Some Loving” – Albert King

Day 7. “If I Get Home on Christmas Day” – Elvis

Day 8. “Everything’s Gonna Be Cool This Christmas” – The Eels

Day 9. “Presents for Christmas” – Solomon Burke

Day 10. “Purple Snowflakes” – Marvin Gaye

Day 11. “Christmas in the Room” – Sufjan Stevens