Feature: The Pulltops Decodes “On Christmas Day (I Saw Three Ships)”
How did everything come together?
We always had in the back of our minds that we would some day record a song for the holidays. We’ve always loved the way a band would put a twist or their own stamp on a traditional song. It just seemed like something fun to try.
How did you approach the arrangement and composition of the music for this song?
We wanted to get as far away from the traditional folk song as we could. So we changed the meter from 3 to 4 and kicked up the tempo, and that seemed like a good place to start. Then it was just a matter of having fun with it. We added a short chorus and bridge section, and put the focus more on the “On Christmas Day” lyrics and less on the three ships. We cranked the guitars up, and the rest fell into place.
What impact do you hope "On Christmas Day (I Saw Three Ships)" will have on your audience?
I like how music connects with memories, and holiday music does this even more so. I hope this is something fans revisit every year and becomes part of their holiday tradition.
What keeps you motivated and passionate about continuing to create and perform music?
We have always been and will always be music fans. We listen to music non-stop all day. That passion for music fuels the desire to create it.
How do you see the future of the music industry, especially with changes in technology and how people consume music?
There is something really fantastic about how easy and accessible it is to create music, for everyone. Every phone and computer has the means to do it. This is great for music creators. And there is an endless amount of music to listen to for music fans. But I think one of the downfalls is that too many options can be overwhelming, from both the creation standpoint and the listening standpoint. Sometimes limitations are good.
I am curious to see where live music will be in the future. Living in a small market city (Milwaukee), I feel like we are seeing fewer national bands come through. Tours are shorter now, and they stay closer to major markets. I'd like to see live music thrive more.