Year-round Yuletide oddities
Given the options, I simply will not entertain the holidays without you by my side. Can’t. Won’t. Not a possibility.
There won’t be a “Christmas Without You” croons Xscape with a spoonful of soul. Miss you so much, the calendar just stopped.
*NSync spell it out with interwoven boy band harmonies in “I Don’t Wanna Spend One More Christmas Without You.” Now you know. (The Ready Set punk this one up just a smidge. You might not have known that if i hadn’t warned ya.)
At the bottom of the well you can see stars… That is to say, the heartache of heartbreak compounded by the universal union of Christ + candy canes causes a song or two to think the world is over, all over, not just at home.
It was s’posed to be ever-after, but Jay Brannan is in a doom spiral with “Christmas Really Sucks.” I’ve played this before, but, well, really listen this time to this beatup poet’s machinations.
Sylver gets cosmic with “Lonely X-mas,” slithering pop poetry that pairs flirty vulnerability with pouty passion. Coo.
It’s not just me, it’s the whole household you’ve abandoned! On Christmas! Only Virgin Mary would do that! (Well her parents, but you see whaddeye mean…).
The Growlers extend loneliness to the whole household with “Lonely This Christmas,” a swingin’ Elvis-stylin’ (karate chop!) bluesy rock crowd pleaser. Alan Williams fronts the Rubettes with this as well. Perhaps a dollop more pathos. K.T. Tunstall also warbles through this. More quietly = more endearingly.
The kids! What bout the li’l ones?! George Jones AND Tammy Wynette separately belabor the ordeal with “Lonely Christmas Call,” corning the pone slowly. So, who left whom? Let’s clear the Ol’ Opry stage, however, for offspring Georgette Jones and her lugubrious own offering.
There you go, buying and exchanging, caroling and greeting–How Could You!? I’m extra sad because I’ve been left!
Transference from Chris Stalcup & the Grange repeating “I Hate Christmas” since you left me then. Bluesy honky tonk.
Green Cherries revisists ’60s pop with “It’s Christmas,” an ode to one-sided endurance. Just listen. Then you’ll feel as bad…. (It IS pretty.)
Just let it out! And get out! And over it! And then some holiday spirit….
While puddling, Martin Nievera soul wails “Christmas Won’t be the Same Without You.” It is to cry.
B2K black boy bands the R+B pop pitiful meltdown of “Why’d You Leave Me.” ‘Cuz you got no dignity, fool. Embarrassing, man. Soulful, too.
1970 wants its emo back! Jermaine is crying and the Jackson 5 explain the R+B with “Christmas Won’t be the Same Without You.”
Corby Sullivan turns the pain back on her with “Black and Blue on Christmas Eve.” Getting mad here in The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical – Original Cast Recording. Bluesy pop sells it.
The basic refrain for seasonal severance gets its due serially from the music-makers over and over. Let’s admit that pain creates great song. But sometimes, wallowing in the dumps it seems like a better song ‘cuz IT’S ALL ABOUT MY PAIN RIGHT NOW.
Joss Stone and Mick Jagger should be golden together, but “Lonely Without You (This Christmas)” is just words said during a rock tune.
Prince gets a bit more poetic with “Another Lonely Christmas,” but this dream-fueled rampage of experimental rock doesn’t touchdown into our reality but twice. Can i get a huh?
Darlene Love wails girl doo wop with a killer sax for “All Alone on Christmas.” This is loneliness with a raw edge.
Call off the holidays! I’m miserable! We’re apart! No joy! No Jesus! Can’t be!
Big Sister comes back with “Christmas in July” the metaphor of topsy turvitude for the breakup. Get it?
Erasure insists he’ll be your “Loving Man” even though you said goodbye. Easy, man, there’s more lutefisk on the holiday smorgasbord.
Light rock from Jim Croce posits “It Doesn’t Have to be That Way.” You could be here. With me. For Christmas. Tonight. He’s coming over NOW!
The O’Jays shaboop the problem with “Christmas Ain’t Christmas Without the One You Love.” Motown, mo’ mopey.
It’s infidelity! It’s always cheatin’, why they leave–Christmas or no. Who was it? You can tell me.
Monty Lane Allen has a follow up from his spoofin’ ‘Randolph the Reindeer’ with more honky tonk, “She Left Me for Randolph.” Oh, deer.
Barbadian Eric Lewis parangs about the whole mix-up with “She Mistake Me for Santa Claus.” How long has this been gwan on?
Gobsmacked, shellacked, benumbed… the aftermath of the Xmas breakup is stronger than anesthesia.
“It Must Have been Love” was some kind of hit for Roxette when released just before Christmas 1987. The later lyrics of this pop sobber were later altered NOT to reference the holidays specifically.
Manic Mark includes snippets of 27 takes and part of an actual folk song, “My Wife Done Left Me & Took Everything but Christmas.” His Gary Busey routine is tiring and the song is hardly worth it. But, on point.
The Orioles spin us a 1948 croon-y toon-y about loss and hurt with “(It’s Gonna be a) Lonely Christmas.” I hear ya, brothers.
Dude York delivers the ’90s pop/rock fix with “Break Up Holiday,” with the need to leave. As pity parties go, it’s rockin’.
So he didn’t walk out on you, he passed on from you. Still a rough candy-cane strewn holiday road doing without.
[Momentary digression to mother-issues: Bud Davidge suffers to figure out “Christmas Without Mama.” Lilting country catastrophe.]
[And, oh holy yeah, “There’s No Christmas Without You” Kirk Franklin and The Family soul/gospel up the dead Jesus reason for the season.]
Everything But the Girl has an alt-folk soft lilt to their loneliness that smacks of mortal grief. But “25th December” is more than eulogy. It’s a poetic remembrance of loss that doesn’t belong in my categories of sadness or blues. This hurts so good.
Mark Arnett has a true eulogy over his love. But it’s SANTA mourning MRS. CLAUS. What the actual folklore? “I Miss You Most at Christmas (Now that You are Dead)” is a ’70s psychedelic ode that starts you scratching your head, then gets you bobbing, then swaying. Go with it.