Year-round Yuletide oddities
Ray Mizzi refers to the summer, sand, and surf as Christmas attractions in his peripatetic jazz party tune: “Wave (Australian Beach Christmas).” But that wave was made for riding, just like a present was made for opening.
Even MORE Aussie, Libby Hammer smacks around the kidsong to feature “Christmas in the Summertime.” Dance pop.
Almost time for the good stuff.
Chilling on the lanai, Styles Dangerfeld is not big on lyrics. “Merry Christmas, I’m Going Surfing” is the title AND the libretto. Still, pretty cool for light rock.
Gray sings us a lovely love song with alt-garage emotionality, but “Fall v2” mentions Christmas lights wrapped around something, and some silliness with a rented surfboard in Galveston. So let’s sneak a peek at it.
They say that by Christmas, surfing is not as good in SoCal. Still, gotta ride. Maybe not coolly, but–
“California Christmas” by Manafest is prettified rap without much rancor. Seems the West coast IS the best coast.
The surf in America’s “Christmas in California” is the roll of the ocean waves. But this easy listening elevator rock makes that the least of our concerns.
Billy Roach’s kidsong mixes surf rock with bubblegum. “Come to California Santa” has trouble getting upright on the board. Fun for kids, though.
Christmas in Los Angeles, California is all about the sunburns and freaks, yeah? Oh–and surfing!
Let us not forget The Boxmasters crooning “Christmas in California.” Loungey doo wop shines a light on the plastic culture. We may hang ten.
Heather Noelle Holley gives us “Merry Christmas from LA” with all the pop trimmings. I guess surfing gets a shout out near the end.
Sameer Whittle layers electronica over jittery vocals for a “California Christmas.” It’s a bit blue, but so’s the ocean
Last call for Santa Claus to surf.
Eric Stone comes on back with “Hang Ten Santa.” He’s just one of the boys in this overly sweet surf rock.
ABC Kids play the Australian card with the kids pop of “Santa’s Coming on a Surfboard.” Some swell guitar way back in there, but it’s pablum for the preteens.
The Dimmer Twins also bring Down Under to the table with “Surfin’ Santa.” This pokey western puts the old guy on the point break at high noon.
Norwegians Naomi & Goro go for a Bossa Nova Christmas with their “Santa on a Surfboard.” Take that back. I am not kidding.
You ready for Santa Claus to show you the moves? On his blade? In the racy?
The Ramblers take us back to the ‘6os (again) with their salutary “Surfin’ Santa.” Way more pop than rock. That background chorus competes with the gull noises.
“Summertime Santa” by Jason Didner and the Jungle Gym Jam is perilous pop as well. Plenty retro for pop, but the elevator music sort.
Honestly, i don’t get Santa surfing. That’d be like a prairie dog burger. Doesn’t fly. Santa should not be wet. But, then, are the greats ever drenched?
Jody Whitesides encores “I Saw Santa Surfing.” This alt country/rock epiphany plays fast and loose with our Big guy myth. For funsies.
“XXXmas” by BEAAST MOBB is rap that transfigures Santa into a bad mo-fo, and surfing into a sex act. But it’s seasonally appropriate.
The antidote to that is “Santa on Vacation,” a slurred lounge act from Brice Salek that’s for kids. Santa goes where Bermuda shorts are the uniform. But it’s permanent.
Santa surfing? Yeah, let’s get him back on the water.
Ukulele Jim (previously on the blog here as Surfer Jim) narrates “Surfer Santa Claus” as an Hawaiian icon. Tender ballideering.
Gene Mitchell blames The Beach Boys for when “Santa’s Gone Surfing.” Name dropping song titles like they’re the innards of a piñata, this surf rocker is kid friendly playful.
At more of a stoner’s pace, “Santa is a Surfer Man” by The Snow Man loops de loop with radical reverence. He’s got that frothy dog.
Some songs tribute Christmas and then get around to surfing.
I recall Brave Combo’s wild zydeco “Christmas in July.” Santa wants to rethink the whole cold weather thing. And, plus which, if the Son of Man was born then, You’d see the Lord could surf Without a surfboard. Convinced?
The Kinks go travel agent with their rocking “Australia.” We’ll surf like they do in the U.S.A.; We’ll fly down to Sydney for our holiday On sunny Christmas Day. Not a surfing song, per se. Nor carol. But… The Kinks!
Another day for Santa surfing.
Darrin Mazzilli and The Alpha Waves return and get the sound down cold on their “Surf’s Up, Santa!” Points for jargon, too. But the nasal vocals make me pause.
“Santa’s Gonna Come on a Surfboard” is twangy western music, oddly enough. But Adam Brand slings it, swings it, and brings it.
The Hollyberries top the crest with “(I Wanna Go) Surfin’ with Santa,” wild and wet surf rock with all the right guitar riffs. I’m on the edge of my board to find out if they got to go.