Garth Brooks: The Magic of Christmas Garth Brooks, a celebrated American country music singer and songwriter, has mesmerized audiences with his soulful voice and captivating stage presence for decades. While known for his chart-topping hits and high-energy live performances, Brooks also has a knack for spreading holiday cheer. In his album titled "Garth Brooks & The Magic of Christmas," the country legend showcases his versatile talent by offering a unique twist to traditional Christmas songs. Released in 1999, "Garth Brooks & The Magic of Christmas" features a collection of classic holiday tunes that have been reimagined with Brooks' signature style. The album's warm and inviting melodies evoke the spirit of Christmas, making it a perfect addition to any festive celebration. Whether you're trimming the tree or gathering with loved ones around a crackling fireplace, Brooks' soothing voice transports listeners into a magical world of holiday joy.

UCLA’s ‘informal mascot’ Powell Cat has died. Some are calling for a memorial statue

A memorial service is planned. Shirts are being sold. People far and wide are posting tributes online and thousands are responding and liking the posts.

Few achieve this kind of celebrity in life and adulation in death. But UCLA’s beloved stray — Powell Cat — did.

The cat, who used they/them pronouns, according to the official Powell Cat Instagram page, died at age 10 Thursday, ascending to kitty heaven, leaving behind earthly fans and friends grieving the loss of a campus mainstay. The cat lived at the university for years, with the earliest known photos dating back to 2015.

“Rest in pawer, Powell Cat,” tweeted the official UCLA page.

Students’ informal Powell Cat memorial on Monday, at the UCLA’s Kaufman Hall, where Powell Cat would sit with their student friends.

(Kathy Brown / UCLA Library)

Powell Cat was such a feature of campus life at UCLA that the school sold shirts featuring the black-and-white stray, and campus tour guides mentioned the furry feline when leading prospective students around the college.

“People have called Powell Cat the informal mascot of UCLA,” said Kathy Brown, assistant to the University Librarian at UCLA Library and primary staff caretaker of Powell Cat since 2020. Brown, who works in the Charles E. Young Research Library, came to campus every day during the pandemic and took on the responsibility of feeding Powell Cat and making sure the friendly cat was safe and taken care of.

The cat first lived by their namesake Powell Library. About two years later, Powell Cat ventured off to the brick steps of Glorya Kaufman Hall, where they could be found soaking up the sun or sprawled out playing with toys or catnip brought to them by friends and admirers. Powell Cat was known for being incredibly friendly to humans, cuddling up with hundreds of different students.

One student told Brown after the cat’s death that he heard about Powell Cat when applying to UCLA. The first thing he did when he got to campus was go to visit Powell Cat. The stray was there, waiting for him at Kaufman Hall.

“Some of my fondest memories, and this is shared by a lot of students, is [Powell Cat] would crawl into your lap and get comfortable and you had to be somewhere but you couldn’t leave because Powell Cat. Powell Cat made [students] late to a lot of 8 a.m. classes,” Brown said.

The last time Brown saw Powell Cat, one week ago, her legs fell asleep because Powell Cat lay on them for so long.

Powell Cat, 2021 (Kathy Brown / UCLA Library)

On top of taking care of Powell Cat, Brown was also responsible for the cat’s meme-ified Instagram page, where 15,600 fans who follow @powellcatofficial could expect updates and photos of the cat — whose account is understandably listed as a “public figure.”

“If you see the cat, you post it on your Insta story,” said Navkaram Gurm, who went to UCLA until 2021. “It’s the UCLA tradition. There’s a lot of tradition attached to sharing the cat.”

Though the cat was already a popular figure at UCLA, the pandemic and social media hype certainly contributed to their widespread fame, Brown said.

“There’s no competing with a cat on the internet. From the very beginning. Cats and the internet go paw in hand,” said Brown.

The cat’s death led some students to call on the school to establish a physical memorial — perhaps with a statue that would immortalize the cat.

“Everyone really wants a Powell Cat statue,” said Phoebe Chiu, a fourth-year student at UCLA who is the facilities commissioner of the undergrad Student Assn. Council at the college.

Chiu remembered hearing about Powell Cat from her first day on campus.

“I don’t think I’ve ever thought of UCLA without Powell Cat,” she said.

She’s seen the cat dozens of times and pet the stray a few times as well.

The building of a statue on campus — or perhaps a painting or mural — has to go through the byzantine bureaucracy of the college, starting with public comments Tuesday night from students to assess how the student body wants to memorialize the cat. An official memorial is planned for Thursday evening.

For Brown, the death has been particularly sad — but the deluge of loving messages is a comfort.

“It’s just such an outpouring of grief and of love,” Brown said.

Wildcats are the 4th most common Division I mascot

In 2013-14, Division I athletics will feature ten schools using the nickname "Wildcats," specifically: Abilene Christian, Arizona, Bethune-Cookman, Davidson, Kansas State, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Northwestern, Villanova, and Weber State.

That's not far behind the number-three most common mascot, the Tigers, which has 12 schools. For former Big East member (and Villanova's second-most frequent football foe), Boston College, they are one of 15 schools using the "Eagles" nickname in Division I — at least if you include variations like Marquette's "Golden" Eagles.

The number-one option for college mascots, however, is the Bulldog. There are fifteen schools that use just "Bulldogs" as their nickname in NCAA Division I sports. New Big East member, Butler, is among those schools. Compared to the challenge of maintaining a live Tiger mascot, it is relatively easy to slap a dog-shaped jersey onto a bulldog on game-days.

Villanova's teams were named via a 1926 contest, where the University sought to choose a mascot for the school. The name "Wildcats" was suggested by then football coaching assistant Edward Hunsinger, a former All-American defensive end at Notre Dame. A wildcat can be any of a number of species of feral felines, but Villanova's 'Cat has generally resembled a bobcat.

Between 1930 and 1950, the university kept live wildcat in a cage at the Fieldhouse and brought out to appear at both home and away football games. Those live mascots were difficult to control and they were often agressive toward their ROTC handlers and others, which ultimately lead the university to switch over to a costumed mascot.

While all four of the live mascots at Villanova were named "Count Villan," the costumed student seen at games since the 1950s is now known as "Wil D. Cat."

Other schools using the Wildcat mascot have had varying length of traditions. Kentucky traces their mascot to 1976. New Hampshire adopted their nickname in 1926. Arizona traces their first Wildcats to 1915, when a pair of live Wildcats were delivered to campus. At Kansas State, the football team adopted the Wildcats name in 1915, but didn't make that name permanent until 1920, taking a hiatus from the name for five seasons between. At Northwestern, the university used a bear cub as its mascot until a losing season banned him from campus, but writers tagged their 1924 team with the Wildcat name, and it stuck.

Villanova wasn't copying these other schools when adopting the Wildcats nickname, but it was a popular term that

Whether you're trimming the tree or gathering with loved ones around a crackling fireplace, Brooks' soothing voice transports listeners into a magical world of holiday joy. One standout track on the album is "The Gift," a heartwarming song that encapsulates the true meaning of Christmas. With its heartfelt lyrics and tender delivery, Brooks reminds us that the most precious gifts are not material possessions but rather the love and kindness we share with others during this special time of year.

Traditions

The official nickname for the University of Kentucky's athletics teams is "Wildcats." The nickname became synonymous with UK shortly after a 6-2 football victory over Illinois on Oct. 9, 1909, on the road.

Commandant Carbusier, then head of the military department at old State University, told a group of students in a chapel service following the game that the Kentucky football team had "fought like Wildcats."

Later the name Wildcats became more and more popular among UK followers as well as with members of the media. As a result, the nickname was adopted by the University.

Wildcats Mascot

The Wildcat mascot originated during the 1976-77 academic year at UK. Gary Tanner was the original Wildcat, dancing and entertaining thousands of UK fans at Commonwealth Stadium and Rupp Arena during athletics events.

Today, the Wildcat mascot also attends several academic functions as well and generally serves as a friendly ambassador for the University.

Blue and White

The University of Kentucky adopted blue and white as its official colors in 1892. Originally, however, UK students had decided on blue and light yellow prior to the Kentucky-Centre College football game on December 19, 1891. The shade of blue, which is close to a royal blue, was chosen when a student asked the question, "What color blue?" At the time, Richard C. Stoll (who lettered in football at UK in 1889-94) pulled off his necktie and held it up. The students then adopted that particular shade of blue. A year later, UK students officially dropped the light yellow color for white.

Kentucky Songs

On, on, U of K, we are right for the fight today,
Hold that ball and hit that line;
Ev'ry Wildcat star will shine;
We'll fight, fight, fight, for the blue and white
As we roll to that goal, Varsity,
And we'll kick, pass and run, 'til the battle is won,
And we'll bring home the victory.

The sun shines bright on my old Kentucky home,
'Tis summer, the time to be gay;
The corn-top's ripe and the meadow's in the bloom,
While the birds make music all the day

The young folks roll on the little cabin floor,
All merry, all happy and bright;
By'n by hard times come a-knocking at the door,
Then my old Kentucky home, good night!

(CHORUS)
Weep no more my lady, Oh! Weep no more today!
We will sing one song for my old Kentucky home,
For my old Kentucky home, far away.

Hail Kentucky, Alma Mater!
Loyal sons and daughters sing;
Sound her praise with voice united;
To the breeze her colors fling.
To the blue and white be true;
Badge triumphant age on age;
Blue, the sky that o'er us bends;
White, Kentucky's stainless page.

Another notable track is "Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy," a playful and lighthearted song that injects a dose of humor into the holiday season. Brooks' infectious energy and irresistible charm shine through in this upbeat track, bringing a smile to listeners' faces as they imagine a Santa Claus that bears a striking resemblance to someone familiar. From heartfelt ballads to toe-tapping tunes, Brooks' album offers a well-rounded selection of holiday favorites. Whether he's crooning a tender rendition of "Silent Night" or delivering a lively performance of "White Christmas," his passion for the music shines brightly. With each note, Brooks effortlessly captures the spirit of the season, leaving listeners feeling uplifted and filled with Christmas spirit. "Garth Brooks & The Magic of Christmas" is more than just a collection of songs; it is a testament to the power of music to bring people together and create lasting memories. Whether you're a longtime fan of Garth Brooks or simply seeking a fresh take on Christmas classics, this album is sure to delight and inspire. From the twinkling lights to the joyous melodies, let Garth Brooks' enchanting voice be the soundtrack to your holiday season and experience the magic of Christmas like never before..

Reviews for "Garth Brooks' Christmas Duets: Celestial Harmonies for the Season"

1. Sara - 2 stars

I was really disappointed with Garth Brooks' "The Magic of Christmas" album. While I am a big fan of his country music, I was hoping for something more inspired and original for a Christmas album. Unfortunately, most of the songs were generic covers of classic Christmas tunes, and I felt like I could have just listened to any other artist's rendition of these songs. The arrangements were lackluster, and it felt like Brooks was just going through the motions. I was really hoping for something more from such a talented artist.

2. John - 1 star

I cannot express how disappointed I was with Garth Brooks' Christmas album. The whole album felt incredibly cheesy and uninspired. I was expecting something magical and heartwarming, but all I got was a collection of generic Christmas songs that lacked any sort of creativity or innovation. Brooks' voice didn't seem to fit well with the holiday theme, and the production was subpar. Overall, this album was a major letdown, and I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a quality Christmas listening experience.

3. Lisa - 2 stars

As a longtime fan of Garth Brooks, I was excited to listen to his Christmas album. However, I found "The Magic of Christmas" to be a bit underwhelming. While I appreciate his attempt to bring a country twist to some classic holiday tunes, it fell short for me. The arrangements felt too predictable, and Brooks' renditions lacked the energy and emotion that I usually associate with his music. It felt like he was just going through the motions, rather than truly connecting with the material. It pains me to say it, but this album didn't capture the magic of Christmas for me.

4. Mike - 1 star

I regret purchasing Garth Brooks' "The Magic of Christmas" album. It was a complete disappointment. The songs lacked any originality or creativity, and I found myself getting bored after just a few tracks. Brooks' voice also seemed strained and tired throughout the album, and it was evident that he wasn't fully invested in the material. The production was lackluster, and overall, this album felt like a cash grab rather than a genuine artistic endeavor. I wish I had saved my money and invested in a different Christmas album instead.

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