Countdown to Christmas Eve

Q is for: Queensrÿche, Empire (EMI, 1990)

The group that brought you the power ballad Silent Lucidity brings us a salute to the metal umlaut! Some über cool umlaut usage:

Mötley Crüe

Motörhead

Hüsker Dü

Blue Öyster Cult

Röyksopp

Björk

Häagen-Dazs (delicious, but has no meaning in any European language)

Fahrvergnügen ("driving pleasure" in German)

Spinal Tap (over the n; sorry no keyboard shortcut for consonants)

and...

Queensrÿche

Picture a couple of these examples without their metal umlauts. They wouldn't be near as tough and mean, would they? So I say purchase this album for anyone who needs to toughen up and quit being so much of a little sissy nancy boy. Nothing will ever be tougher than Silent Lucidity.

Äppärëntly thë Ünïtëd Stätës Cöngrëss knöws whäts üp.

Countdown To Christmas Eve

D is for: David Hasselhoff, The Night Before Christmas (Edel, 2004)

You loved him on Baywatch and Night Rider, now bring the Hoff home for the holidays. While this album is not as popular as the worldwide 1989 smash Looking For Freedom, it's festive and appropriate for our purposes. (Visit one of my favorite blogs, "Get Hasselhoff to Number 1" and help get his singles to the top spot on the charts). Word is he took some time off from coaching the German dodgeball team after their devastating loss to Vince Vaughn's Average Joe's Gym to make this album. Get this for any German friends or relatives you may have because, as we all know, "Germans love David Hasselhoff."