Category Archives: blues

TreeMendous Holiday Fun: Noble Spirit

Let’s not leaf off the religion. We sing about trees because we need to get us closer to God.

Bing Crosby leads the congregation with “O Fir Tree Dark.” It’s a symphonic sermon to put us on the straight and sylvan. Not so much about Christmas, though. Double your Bing, double your troubadoring: “Is Christmas Only a Tree?” searches through the trees for more Xmas meaning. (I’m gonna say Mr. Crosby’s a hater of trees.)

“There’s a Christmas Tree in Heaven” may have been a minor hit for The Four Aces, mixing prayer with doowop. It may have originated with Eddy Howard and His Orchestra–they wah-wah out a nice little mixed beat to their big band rhythms. But they both came out the same year. Johnny Collins & The Caravans countrify the rock (with mocking horn–!?) to appeal to the youngset, but this time it’s a real country howler about Mommy and Daddy up there.

When Jane Irene Farley asks us “Let’s Dance Around the Christmas Tree” she is, in a stentorian (and off key) fashion, instructing us in all the Biblical connections. It’s a spelling lesson full of pop timpani, and whiff of Island sauciness.

Shortly and sweetly Al Jarreau sings a rond “By My Christmas Tree” which puts me a spiritual way, more than reminds me directly about only God can make a tree.

Marvelous Marvah asks for a whole Nativity scene and a “Golden Christmas Tree” to help with this holiest of nights. Parang time!

Rollicking disco electric blues from Inquisitor Betrayer claims that “The Christmas Tree Blues” are about the confusion between the secular spruce and the reason for the ball-hanging.

Anthropomorphic Snow Sculpture: abominable detour 7

Self proclaimed children’s songs do best when they’re strictly other genres but with an agenda and a lesson to be learned.

Jad and David Fair have a blues number that’s hard to beat about “Abominable Snowman.” Be kind to one another and don’t smell each other so closely. And dig the blues.

Snow Way: in

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING? You’re welcome, you conspicuous consumers.

As a sequel to Snow Day–this time for newly adults who don’t have that school-age connection–the romance of being stuck together can get all stoked and flaming. Mindy Smith’s folky “Snowed In” is pretty hot. Her smokey vocal is asking for just-us.

Likewise Breathe Carolina wanna spend all night to get it right for their electronic pop “Snowed In.”

In the same vein Chance the Rapper and Jeremih beat out “Snowed In” for Li’l Mama.

Moreover Martin Carlberg feat. Tanja Doko (from the free Epidemic Sound Music Library) delivers the dream of jazz time with you “Snowed In.” Cool cat, cool kitty.

What’s more Over the Rhine lowers the lights for adult jazz with “Snowed in with You.”

Additionally Kyle Kupecky pops the pop with his teenybopperish “Snowed In.” He’s so pretty!

Ditto, John Berry ‘s “Snowed In” country adores you (in a church approved way).

Encore! Dani & Lizzy got cuddling in mind for their “Snowed In.” Jazzier pop this time.

Alternately J. Christopher hollers some ’80s sounding pop about young love, “Snowed In.”

Haven’t i heard this already? “Snowed In” by Twin Kennedy is sultry country neediness.

Not as certainly, Haley Green has alt-regrets she’d like to fix being “Snowed In” with you.

Making the best of the bad news Linda Davis goes classic country with “Snowed In Christmas.” JJ Nolis gives us the guy take on it.

Ultimately Albert Collins lays down some mean electric blues (and found poetry) for his talky “Snowed In.” It’s not a happy day for ol’ Al.

Snow Way: that one day

“There Ain’t No Snow Like Christmas Snow,” proposes Jeff Michaels. And we all know what he means with his samba jazz pop. Any old snow is so so snow. 12/25 weather is made sacred by association.

Women in Country paint a perfect picture with their “Christmas Snow.” It seems an essential piece of the pop-polluted country music puzzle.

What should have been dreary amateur pop gets an experimental tweaking from Jen Hanson. “Christmas Snow” is middle class scrapbook of memories, but haunts regardless.

“Snow Business” is mostly about Christmas, but it mentions snow. Shane O’Brien is backed by St. Michaels College for this old fashioned carol.

“It Could Snow Tonight” asks for hope and love with earnest 1970s electric pop from George Dare. It’s always more than just frozen water.

1970s treacle in the form of “Christmas Snow” I guess by Arthur Lowe, about Mr. Snow, one of those  Mr. Men characters from the annoying little books back then. Soaring pop.

Intimate and warm, Kelly Morrison unplugs for her country lullaby “Christmas Snow.”

Jazz counterpoint from Lindsey Webster purring “It’s Gonna Snow on Christmas.” There’s an ellipsis implied there that leads to….

“Christmas Snow” is such a strong symbol, electric blues from Michael Burk compares it to his pure driven love. ‘Sgotta melt her, man.

Snow Way: winter, duh

Some songs simply celebrate the season. Winter, snow, lyrics, done. I suspect druidism.

Now it can be totally Christian. Audrey Assad sings “Winter Snow” for Chris Tomlin, making the storm the metaphor for the First Coming. Deconstruct that, English majors!

Or wait, it can be night (Winter assumed) as with En Vogue’s “Snowy Nights.” R+B bubblicious.

Oh, let’s cut some Celtic cloth! Orla Fallon gets some Old World mystical plucking happening for her “Winter, Fire, and Snow.” Scary out there.

Marching with the white walkers Enya timpanizes “White is the Winter Night.” Pagan.

St. Alban’s Abbey Boys’ Choir lift voices into dog whistle range with “Silent Falls the Winter’s Snow.” Moody still. Holy as well.

Just as medievally, Annie Lennox croons “See Amid the Winter’s Snow.” Uplifting at last. (And so very Christian.)

But it’s snow–back to tragic with Isaac Hayes and “Winter Snow,” a 1969 weepie Motown blues ballad. Damn, got some snow in my eye.

Parodies’ Paradise: 2015 “Uptown Funk”

The Bruno Mars/Mark Ronson song became a worldwide phenomenon with its major impact on pop culture… according to Billboard, it remains the biggest hit of the 2010s… spent 14 consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, seven non-consecutive weeks at number one on the UK Singles Chart, and topped the charts in several other countries including Australia, Canada, France, Ireland and New Zealand… second best-selling single of 2015… one of the best-selling of all-time… won two Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year… 2.6 billion views YouTube making it the fifth most viewed YouTube video of all time

.If Bruno Mars didn’t do so famous for the Mark Ronson wouldn’t be so many mockers mucking.

NOTE: Some of the home grown attempts are fun for family, but incomprehensible. Let’s skim off some creme…

(Don’t judge: watch the Byl Family with “‘Uptown Funk’ Holiday Parody” and you tell me you want to see twelve worse versions.)

Chris Carmona takes a very long coupl’a minutes of skit to get after his greedy spoiled targets with “North Pole Funk!” C’mon, let’s GO!

Long Island’s WBLI funnymen go a bit faster if not any funnier with another “North Pole Funk.” Nice alcoholic outro, tho.

Is it the song that inspires insipidity? High Society feels the spirit with “Uptown Funk–Christmas Daddies Version” for a telethon, but i can’t charitably share the fun. It’s like a musical exercise. B+

Amelia Carella of Paromedy mumbles up “I’m St. Nick” to remind you what a badass the gifted be. Hot Damn! Believe!

Dan Taylor brings the parody with Playa Santer in “Santa Funk.” Uh hunh. I’m deckin’ i’m trekkin’ i’m wreckin’. Uh hunh.

Parodies’ Paradise: 1973 “Money”

Pink Floyd’s single became the band’s first hit in the United States… reached No. 10 in Cash Box magazine… No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100… noted for its unusual 7/4–4/4 time signature, and the tape loop of money-related sound effects.

Despite the obvious tie in to Xmas shopping, Mike Wallace makes a merry masterpiece with “Christmas Money.” He’s gifted.

Parodies’ Paradise: 1972 “Walk on the Wild Side”

Lou Reed’s journey of seediness peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts… in the United States, RCA released the single using an edited version of the song without the reference to oral sex… in the UK, the reference slipped past the censors, who were apparently unfamiliar with the term ‘giving head’… the term ‘colored girls’ was also an issue in the US and RCA provided radio stations with a version in which it was edited out.

The Blenders get pretty damn funny with their “Sleigh Ride.” And a cappella, too. Damn.

Parodies’ Paradise: 1967 “Sunshine of Your Love”

Cream’s first and highest charting American single… one of the most popular singles of the year… a modest chart hit in the UK… several rock journals have placed the song on their greatest song lists, such as Rolling Stone, Q magazine, and VH1… The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included it on its list of the ‘500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.’

It’s prophetic that ApologetiX would spin this mind melter into “Some Sign from Above.” Whoa.

Parodies’ Paradise: 1963 “Louie Louie”

The fabled Kingsman song is notorious for errors and profanity and was considered bad music, but it entered the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for December 1963, and peaked at number two the following week, a spot which it held for six non-consecutive weeks–remaining in the top 10 through December and January before dropping off in early February… did reach number one on the Cashbox pop chart for two weeks, as well as number one on the Cashbox R&B chart… quickly became a standard at teen parties in the U.S. during the 1960s, even reappearing on the charts in 1966.

The ’60s Invasion, of course, honors “Santa Santa” with all the slurred and repeated lines of the original. Sell it, boys.