Month: November 2024

Polysomnography: Bedtime

What time is it, kids?! Time for lying inert and unconscious, Buffalo Bob!

Charley Pride borrows some zydeco to jazz up the country in “Santa and the Kids.” If Santa sees you peeking, he’ll just go away! Git them long johns ta bed!

Stevie Wonder’s “Bedtime for Toys” addresses tin soldiers, cotton dollies, even a Mickey Mouse. The inimitable warbler souls out about getting down, getting fast asleep. Listen up, children.

The Dan Collins Band slurringly checks the clock for “Bedtime on Christmas Eve,” a soft pop lullaby of growing impatience.

Polysomnography: Nightly Routine

Is going to bed (Xmas Eve) just one more chore?

Joel of The Mik Maks childsongs his list preparing for night-night, but can’t seem to withstand the Zzzs “Before for Santa Comes.” Narcolepsy dis!

Candles, tree, food… it’s all gotta be done–before bedtime! Last minute carrib-rock from The Real Thing in the form of “Christmas Time.”

The groovy Candy Strypers wash out on all the chores when they “Forgot the Christmas Tree.” But they do remember to go to bed. Fab retro pop from 2023.

Polysomnography: Under Covers

Who goes to bed Xmas Eve? You do! Yes, you do, you good boy(s and girls)!

From Pete the Elf comes an obscure 1967 45 from Bill Lamb(?) entitled “Go to Sleep, Little Lambs.” This pedagogical rant puts kids in their place (bed).

Perry Como seems too old to be anything but creepy when he sotto voces the details of children’s bedtimes for “Christmas Eve.” A la la la of an easy listening journey.

Remember? Rob Lord’s “Bag of Coal” only goes to the kids who aren’t good. But our protagonist’s eyelids are getting heavy, so he’ll be okay and NOT get clothes. Pretty indie.

Rita Faye Wilson (as brought to us by John Waters) childishly exhorts us to behold “Sleigh Bells, Reindeer, and Snow.” But you better be good or you won’t see him. Under the covers may not afford much view, but that’s the bluegrass pop deal here.

Polysomnography: Heavy Eyelids

Speaking of counting, sheep. In Illustrations of Political Economy by Harriet Martineau (1832), the monotony of endless counting is said to occupy the mind, or at least divert the insomniac worrier from fret and allow fatigue to run its course. Since you can’t count sheep backwards (unless wolves are EATING them) like you should for your anesthesiologist, we’ll play this cultural idiom for trying to drowse.

1954’s Peggy King plays the ingenue in “Counting Sheep” this time for Christmas. Big band pop.

The Starshine Singers do the actual numbers in their “Counting Sheep” this time for the Baby King (who is not B.B. King). Kidsong with a sense of humor!

“Counting Sheep” from David Wood’s musical ‘ROCK NATIVITY’ doo wops the crooked crew to lying low. You know, in the fields.

Bing Crosby blesses us with a… song (occasionally included in Xmas albums cuz it’s from a holiday movie) that switcheroos the idea so you’ll “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep.” Same ends, but i only got about three, personally. Big band pop.

Polysomnography: Drowsiness

Counting sleeps is like waiting. No one likes that for Xmas!

Numberblocks does the kiddie educational thing with “How Many Sleeps ’til Christmas?” Put those fingers away and just envision sugar plums, hokay?

Close Kicks expands the same kidsong notion with the R+B soul play: “How Many Sleeps ’til Christmas?” Numbers are shouted, but it’s seductive.

The Speks rally ’round the manger for “How Many Sleeps ’til Christmas?“–a Celtic ballad with military leanings that bulls as much as lulls. Shout together now!

Polysomnography: Somnolence

The whole point of lullubization is going to sleep, of course. So let’s explore the REM stages from December Twenty-fourth musically.

Looking forward to sleep is a strange thing around the holidays. But it helps the time pass until the present’s wrapping may be ravaged.

Remember? Leona Lewis measures the nights before Xmas until she’s reunited with true love in her R+B pop “One More Sleep.” It starts with five, so buckle up.

Isabelle Cooper Murphy gives us the kid verzh with “10 More Sleeps ’til Christmas.” It’s a hyperkinetic countdown falling into… rap?

The marvelous Muppet Scrooge musical numbers have already been relished here on the blog. Covering “One More Sleep ’til Christmas” Randolph’s leap enlarge upon the casual celebratory intimacy of the original Cratchit + Tiny Tim harmony with an odd Brit-rock top 40 elevator cover. Electric guitar solo! Yeesh.