FIFTY DAYS OF ‘MERIC-MAS
Prairie State don’t preach too much about itself.
Sylvia Green Robinson lovingly pounds out the musical version of her middle school poem “Christmas in Illinois” for us on the ‘tube. It’s a heartfelt pre-teen polemic warm up with her newly adult warble. E for effort, SGR. (Neither an A nor an F.)
[A gentle reminder: I’m still not allowing for sports teams goofin’ on ‘The 12 Days’ or whatnot. Yeah, the Bears, Cubs, Blackhawks, etc. all have ‘senses of humor.’ But those stuttering travesties expire quickly year-to-year, and they belong to their own sub-genre niche outside of novelty. I need odd music by musicians, whether it be good or bad.]
And you came for the odd, did you not? The how about the “Christmas in Peoria” song?! It’s just a quick gag on a Top Ten list from the David Letterman Show, but Josh Groban sings it so… i mean… damn.
But, what about Chicago, where musical styles are born? Well, there are a few testifying ’bout the Nativity here. You’d think the band Chicago woulda mentioned their namesake in all that crappy Holiday album noise-making thing they do… but, no! If you desire the appropriate ‘soul,’ then check out J. Daphaney’s “Christmas in Chicago.” In “Christmas in Chicago” Rikesh and Jason break down the neighborhoods, in a playful rockin’ rap battle, to determine where to have fun. For that easy listening middle of the road mudsick, i recommend “Christmas in Chicago” by Silver by Fire. It leans into soul, but stops short of 1970s’ senior citizens’ dance stylings. To get your head straight, rock out to 7th Heaven’s “Merry Christmas in Chicago.” It’s overcooked (not raw), but fulfills that need you might have for 1980s’ pop vs. punk playfulness.
Now Leon Russell, that Rock’n Roll Hall of Famer sideman, makes music good. His “Christmas in Chicago” is some rockin’ blues for the yule, mmm-m. It sounds like Chicago, hog killer that it is.