Year-round Yuletide oddities
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
Elizabeth Mitchell brings us that age-worn hymn “Ain’t That a-Rockin’ All Night” but it’s not what you think. Rather than worry about any old Herod thing, Mary is meant to rock that baby into comfort and joy. Timeless.
“Alleluia (A Christmas Lullaby)” from Skip Ewing is a pop song transitioning into gospel. But the tinkly piano motif urges me to put a five in the goblet.
Back to Brahms for Spike Jones and His City Slickers to orchestrate the “Christmas Cradle Song.” Children! Prayers!
The Pizza Carolers make it indie with extra sass in their “Christmas Eve Lullaby (Demo).” It’s that snare that walks me off the beaches of wary and into the sea of nod. Zzzz.
Huguenots get poetically personal when they alt rock to Emily about hounds and dancing and the Spaniard’s Inn in their “Post Christmas Lullaby.” Do with it what you will. Oh, i will.
Powerful pipes from Alison Trelfa draw out the same old same old “Christmas Lullaby.” But that voice is like a warm hug.
Speaking of VOCALS, Tennessee Ernie Ford booms out “Sleep, My Little Lord Jesus” commensurate with the importance of the sleep therein. Back it up, manger animals.
Stephen DeCesare uses his vocal strengths to sound like every other singer in “Reading Three with a Christmas Lullaby.” Sorry, i’ll stay up.
“Even as a Baby – A Christmas Lullaby” is Graham Davis0’s religious rite to proselytize with smart indie chords and sharp jazz changes. Respect.
Suo Gan’s “Welsh Christmas Lullaby” retells JC’s arrival with a slow tempo and lots of recorder. In two languages.
Amati Bros. stop the sleep and sail into blues with “A Christmas Lullaby for Me.” It’s moving, mushy, AND meta.
“A Christmas Lullaby” by Louisa Manuel peels off the softness and revels in jazz diva-ship. It’s a country warbler full of love and uncertainty.
Laura Ridgeway’s “Christmas Lullaby” is not about her baby but about The Baby. Unimaginative soft pop tells The Story. You know this one.
Brad Tassell (feat. Steve Goodie) make complete sense with a rostrum of reasons why you should “Sleep Til Christmas Morning.” Great kidsong rock.
The “Midnight Christmas Lullaby” figures all the children are asleep. Which gives The Predicates the opportunity to sound off with New Age pop about how good life is now. Ahhh.
Practicing his operatic pipes, Len Francis Monahan sings “Christmas Lullaby” as a country gospel piece with crisp cutoffs and succinct syllables. Not gonna drag out the bedtime routine.
The Bug Club rocks out their “Christmas Lullaby” with no hope of respite. In space?? Two sucked-thumbs up!
Erasure sets up something like a cartoon scenario with the electronic tempo and over-hoarse ‘scary-guy’ voice in their “Sleep Quietly.” Pretend, then run!
Sotto voce goes far for a lullaby, but Jim Dimzey’s adult “Christmas Lullaby” is more husky, throaty, predatory… back away slowly. Great guitar work for this indie seduction.