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Chris chats to saxophonist Mark Rivera about playing wondrous woodwind for singer Billy Joel, and stellar skier Eddie 'the Eagle' Edwards soars into the show.

Chris chats to super saxophonist, Mark Rivera about playing wondrous woodwind for the legendary singer Billy Joel. And stellar skier, Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards soars into the show, would you believe he's having a film made about his sporty skills. Plus, our killer Christmas tip is have a timed race to put your decorations up - if they aren't up already of course, and it's your famous Christmas trees top tenuous.

2 hours, 59 minutes

Last on

Wed 9 Dec 2015 06:30
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 2

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Music Played

  • The Human League

    Don't You Want Me

    • Dare!.
    • Virgin.

  • Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

    The Dying Of The Light

    • Chasing Yesterday.
    • Sour Mash.
    • 005.

  • The Drifters

    White Christmas

  • Prince

    1999

    • 4Ever.
    • Warner Bros.

  • Avril Lavigne

    Complicated

    • Avril Lavigne - Let Go.
    • Arista.

  • Bananarama

    Venus

    • Fantastic 80's - 3 (Various Artists).
    • Sony Tv/Columbia.

  • Coldplay

    Adventure Of A Lifetime

    • (CD Single).
    • Parlophone.

  • Cream

    I Feel Free

    • The Greatest Hits Of 1966.
    • Premier.

  • Emeli Sandé

    Next To Me

    • (CD Single).
    • Virgin.
    • 1.

  • Jim Reeves

    Silver Bells

    • The Best Christmas Album In The World.
    • Virgin.

  • Seal

    Every Time I'm With You

    • 7.
    • Warner Bros.
    • 001.

  • Bruno Mars

    Locked Out Of Heaven

    • (CD Single).
    • Atlantic.
    • 1.

  • Manic Street Preachers

    Your Love Alone Is Not Enough (feat. Nina Persson)

    • (CD Single).
    • Columbia.

  • The Darkness

    Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)

    • (CD Single).
    • Atlantic.

  • Michael Bublé

    The More You Give (The More You'll Have)

    • (CD Single).
    • Warner Bros.

  • Pharrell Williams

    Happy

    • (CD Single).
    • RCA.

  • Rod Stewart

    Love Is

    • Another Country.
    • Capitol Records.

  • Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott

    D.I.Y.

    • What Have We Become.
    • Virgin EMI.
    • 001.

  • Jane Wiedlin

    Rush Hour

    • Rock Of America (Various Artists).
    • Trax Label.

  • Peter Gabriel

    Sledgehammer

    • Now 1986 (Various Artists).
    • Now.

  • Billy Joel

    Just The Way You Are

    • Billy Joel - Greatest Hits Vol.1.
    • CBS.

  • Scouting for Girls

    Christmas In The Air (Tonight)

    • (CD Single).
    • Warner Music.

  • Fleetwood Mac

    Never Going Back Again

    • Fleetwood Mac - Rumours.
    • Warner Bros.
    • 10.

  • Boney M.

    Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord

    • That's Christmas (Various Artists).
    • EMI.

  • Shakin’ Stevens

    Merry Christmas Everyone

    • That's Christmas (Various Artists).
    • EMI.

  • Bryan Adams

    You Belong To Me

    • (CD Single).
    • Polydor.
    • 001.

  • Mel Smith & Kim Wilde

    Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree

    • Merry Christmas.
    • Telstar.
    • 3.

  • Alicia Keys

    Fallin'

    • Alicia Keys - Songs In A Minor.
    • J.

Pause For Thought

Pause For Thought

From Reverend Sharon Grenham-Thompson, Anglican Priest and Prison Chaplain:

In the time honoured Christmas tradition, I’ve brought you a pair of socks. Socks feature in an altered version of one of the great Christmas carols - While Shepherds Washed their Socks by Night. Now these were obviously very wise shepherds, because not only did they wash their smalls, but according to the version I know, they also switched to Â鶹ԼÅÄ - so I think this is the ultimate Christmas carol for your show!

In the proper version, the shepherds were watching their flocks of sheep, when an angel appeared in the sky to announce the birth of Jesus. The very first words of the angel to the terrified shepherds were ‘fear not’ - fear not, said he, for mighty dread had seized their troubled minds. And then the angels began to sing.

The terrible events in Paris last month, the attack in California this week, news stories of fugitives and guns and hatred - it’s enough to make all of us afraid. Our world feels very troubled, and mighty dread is one way we might react.

But remember the words of the angel. Fear not.

On Monday night one of my favourite bands of all time performed in Paris - U2, whose November concerts had been postponed because of the shootings. At the end of the evening they were joined on stage by the members of Eagles of Death Metal, whose gig at the Bataclan theatre had been the scene of 90 murders. They sang a Patti Smith song with the words  ‘the people have the power to redeem the work of fools’. Afterwards Jesse Hughes, the singer of Eagles said ‘love, joy and music will always overcome terror and evil. ‘

The angels sang, and told those shepherds not to fear, because love was coming down at Christmas to conquer darkness and hate. It’s a promise that still holds good today: we do have the power to make this world a place of love and joy, and music. I’m going to remind myself of this every morning when I put my socks on, with these four simple words - I am not afraid.

Broadcast

  • Wed 9 Dec 2015 06:30
    Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 2

Farewell Chris Evans: The best bits from his last shows at Radio 2

After eight years of hosting the Breakfast Show, Chris Evans leaves Radio 2.

500 Words

Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 2's story-writing competition for kids.