The Abominable “O Holy Night”: Revealed
SM: The kicker that made me want to break my silence was the YouTube videos. I stopped counting at 15 videos using my voice and my track saying they were the real singer. Some of the characters are pretty weird and I just couldn’t stand the thought of somebody claiming credit for something they had absolutely nothing to do with. I have the copy of the mix marked October 12, 1990, that is the original project, and everything I have said is completely true.
JG: Can you prove you’re the guy?
SM: I have a 1/4” tape copy of the original recording mixes with CC choir and Guy singing. I have the split track version with music on the left and choir only on the right, I have the stereo track with no vocals at all of the exact track you have heard, and I have the original orchestration, note-for-note. You can follow along with the song and see every note I wrote.
JG: Steve, thanks so much for your time, but most importantly for your gift to humanity.
SM: The gift given to me by God is musical talent. I use my talent in film, television, recordings and live shows to enhance the artist, build drama, and push the emotional buttons people have through the notes I write and record. Many years ago I questioned my calling to do what I do and I felt God gave me this mandate to, “Lift the spirits of mankind.”
So if I write a classical piece that lifts people’s spirits I have succeeded. If I work on a country song that lifts people’s spirits then I have succeeded. As for me, I don’t care if people are laughing at me and my performance because I know I am doing what God has planned for me to do, lift their spirits…if that is His plan, mission accomplished.
Posted on December 1, 2008 12:00 AM
Comments
brilliant - absolutely brilliant. I enjoyed the minute by minute the most as I recall how awkward that recording really is.
Posted by: hannah | November 16, 2007 11:34 AM
I am so happy to hear this story. I have probably listened to that recording dozens of times and it has indeed lifted my spirits. Thanks brother.
Posted by: Basem | November 19, 2007 1:47 AM
This is an excellent example of the kind of Christian karaoke that finally sent screaming out of the church for good.
Posted by: Mike | December 7, 2007 9:13 AM
I got an MP3 copy several years ago and about died laughing. I played it for my choir director Mom -- and she didn't laugh. It really upset her -- she was always a purist when it came to hymns.
But I have to credit her on this -- she was always certain that this was a professional effort. She told me that there was no way that someone that bad could get into a studio and put together something so clearly wretched. I'm not really upset to hear the truth -- it's nice to know (once again) that my Mom always knew what she was talking about, especially when it came to music.
Posted by: Doug | December 13, 2007 9:55 AM
The claim by this individual is impossible. I have been listening to this version of 'O Holy Night' for a few years. In fact it has become tradition in my family to play it for relatives at Christmas time since about 2004. I even have the dated files to prove it.
Posted by: Russell | December 25, 2007 12:44 PM
Steve claims he recorded the song in 1990, so that would've fit your timeline, Doug.
Posted by: Jordan Green | December 25, 2007 8:36 PM
Please don't take this down till Christmas 2008 passes - if ever.
As a former church music director, special events coordinator, I've dealt with "talent" in the church (quotation marks around "talent" are on purpose).
Never have I head anything as abominable and HILARIOUSLY FUNNY as this and have emailed your link to family and scores of friends.
Thanks Jordan Green for finding who to blame for this musical debacle - haha! Love it!
Posted by: Joe Johnston - Web Developer | August 4, 2008 11:48 AM
I think this guy needs some voice lessons. How he makes things work in Hollywood is beyond me>>>????
Posted by: Anonymous | November 25, 2008 1:01 PM
I love (some) new holiday traditions... this is my favorite.
Posted by: Tim McGeary | December 2, 2008 7:22 AM
OMG!!! I had to put earplugs in. And I thought I couldn't carry a tune. LOL! I'm running to the first Karaoke contest and enter. I know I'll be a hit! LOL!
Posted by: Linda | December 3, 2008 6:01 PM
It sounds like an American Idol tryout. So funny. All the time - FUNNY! "You know it was...Divine."
Posted by: Melisa | December 11, 2008 11:14 AM
Jumping over from www.rickandbubba.com
2 words:
THANK YOU!!!!
Posted by: Keri (Auburn Gal Always) | December 16, 2008 11:25 AM
My band teacher plays this for us each year before christmas break saying it's "a classic" and we all can't breathe we're laughing so hard...thanks!!!!
Posted by: Amy | December 18, 2008 10:46 AM
He was at Belmont? Oh my gosh, that's right across the street from me!
No lie. I got this in my email a few years ago from my sister. On Christmas Day, my entire family crowded around my computer and spent the next half hour laughing so hard, we were literally on the floor crying. I love it. It still kills me to this day, and it's one of the must-send clips for my boyfriend every year, when the Christmas holiday rolls around. Steve M., if you're reading this, you've brought a lot of joy to my household. Thank you for that.
Posted by: Anonymous | December 19, 2008 9:45 AM
want you to play this on the show again! i missed it and i don't have speakers on my computer.
Posted by: janie | December 19, 2008 2:11 PM
my orchestra teacher played this song and i laughed so hard i started to cry! the best christmas song ever.
Posted by: shiita64 | December 19, 2008 2:15 PM
To all of my fans who found me on this site, thank you for the kind words and comments. I have placed a new version titled Funny O Holy Night on iTunes with the first downbeat added (which does not exist on the internet versions) and some eq to clean up the sound. I have also added the track with no vocals on it so you can sing the song yourself, either funny or as a serious song.
I thank God if my version of this song has brought you joy and laughter. I am sorry if it offends anyone, but then it found it's own way to the internet without my help, I never really meant for the masses to hear this recording.
The master tapes are dated July 1989, and it has been bring happiness to people for many years now.
Thank you for listening and laughing, we can always use laughter.
Sincerely,
Steve M.
Posted by: Steve M. | December 22, 2008 9:02 PM
The second I heard him singing I knew he was a professional doing a piss-take. It only makes it funnier to me (I do this to my poor band all the time). Trying to get a copy right now (the search lead me here) so I can cut it up to use for my cell phone's ringer.
Oh Holy Nightmare is the funniest thing I've heard since Erik Cartman sang Oh Holy Night:
http://mdoeff.com/tunes/O_Holy_Night.mp3
Posted by: Forrest Jackson | December 24, 2008 12:37 AM
my brother found this..it is sooo... hilarious!! i loved it!! thanx so much!
Posted by: nellie | March 7, 2009 9:35 AM
I sing with a crackerjack Episcopal church choir in Columbus, GA and this was passed along on our e-mail list by a lady with a PhD in music performance. She played it completely straight. She said she knows the man through her friend's son, Chris Foust and thought she might be able to persuade him to come and sing a solo for us. Well, how about it, Guy?
Posted by: Joseph Fischer | March 13, 2009 8:53 AM
My bad. I meant "How about it, Steve?"
Posted by: Joseph Fischer | March 13, 2009 8:57 AM
All I can say is... oh my!
Posted by: Tiffany | March 13, 2009 5:41 PM