Each year, I write about my experience calling a Dial-A-Carol service. In past years, people could call in and request any carol from a live singer or singers. This year, to keep carolers from being exposed to the coronavirus, callers can request one of nine secular Christmas tunes and hear a prerecorded version of non-professional singers performing it.
I'm glad I chose "Winter Wonderland." The vocal harmonies were sincere and peaked, in my opinion, with the lyric, "We'll say, 'No, man." Although I miss the spontaneity of previous years, I understand the necessity for the altered format. I would never begrudge anyone for wanting to stay healthy and safe, and the recorded "Winter Wonderland" contained a surprising bonus. The ukulele accompaniment added an unusual but appropriate layer to the tune. If the carolers had been live, I doubt that a ukulele player would have been standing by to inject such nuance.
I hope the carolers and ukulele player are pleased with their rendition of a tune that still sounds fresh after Christmas and that other callers enjoy their rendition as much as I did.
