Bible verses are read as chapter and verse, so we’ll allow a bit o’ stretch here to include the ominous tale of 10,000 Maniacs’ “Jubilee” in which Tyler (as afflicted perhaps as the son for whom mercy is asked in Matthew 17:15) takes time off from fixing up the Nativity scene for the church to burn down the licentious tavern nearby.
Christmas Countdown: 1772
One of the ‘cousins’ of Christmas music, the hymn ‘Amazing Grace’ seems to have an curious backstory. Christopher Smith and Arthur Giron wrote a musical about it and its author, John Newton, a slave holder turned abolitionist. Here is “Nothing There to Love” about the love that inspired.
Christmas Countdown: 1775
Paul Revere and The Raiders did in 1967 what many pundits (esp. Garry Trudeau in his comic strip Doonesbury) tried: talking smack about the Vietnam war by encoding references to the Revolutionary War. “Their “Valley Forge” is about suffering young men who would rather go home (for the holidays) than understand what the war is for. Psychedelic pop.
Christmas Countdown: 1789
The Cuntifiers want you to know that since the constitution of this united nation, pretty much only the whites have happily celebrated in ways like Christmas. Their “White Christmas 1789” attempts to expose the disconnect if you didn’t know about it quite yet. Screaming punk metal.
Christmas Countdown: 1793
Some of these numbers must be code. In “1793 Christmas” 7 Alkaline describes a Holi-date that begins at Rockefeller Center and ends at the North Pole. What the enumeration denotes i couldn’t tell ya. But this fella’s trying hard and i sympathize with his lovin’ rap.
Christmas Countdown: 1-800
The 800 toll free phone number was meant to fire people so that busy businesses could do without long-distance connections. Hotels and car rental companies began this streamlining in the ’60s. Today we could care less. Who gets charged for Long D anymore?!
Humbugz revisits the ’80s with a “1-800-Christmas” number about the worst presents ever. Then the poor country-song victim has an idea… (it’s the phone line to buy this album)!
A surprising message comes from an 800 number wishing “Merry Christmas Mr. Peng.” This indie goes places you dmight not expect. I mean, IS it a happy ending?
Christmas Countdown: 1800s
1800 perished according to Brooks Hubbard, representing the Rebs in “Blood on the Cotton Fields.” Mere days after Christmas 1864, Sherman’s march to the sea settled the Civil War. Those 1800 Yank casualties were but a blip on the way to defeat for the Rebels. Country rock calls out many subjects, but this silver lining of death is hard to take.
Rounding out, Team StarKid disco ‘A Christmas Carol’ into “Bah Humbug!” it was 1800-something, yaknow. Fairly faithful, in a rock-opera way.
Christmas Countdown: 1805
Not a year this count, but a line.
Ian Anderson (of Jethro Tull) bemoans spending his life on “Trains.” But he’s got ’em figured out. On the 17.30 he usually finds friends at the end of the day. And he heard there’s an office party on the 18.05 You’ll be home for Christmas if they Take you alive. Groovy pre-Milennial pop.
Christmas Countdown: 1823
Kids, rap was different in 1979. There was more melody than malaise in the intonations, ‘tho the rhymes were a bit more basic. That’s history! Kurtis Blow’s “Christmas Rappin’” points our this ain’t 1823 and we need updates on our Xmas sentiments. Like Merry Christmas and to all a good night!
Christmas Countdown: 1828
The past warn’t always golden years, kiddos. Bishops Green rock out a polemic about “Christmas in New York” way back then. Not pretty. Cool tune, though.