Category: big band

“christmas dream” by Christina perri is a recipe for gluttony, sloth, and love. Treacly pop. But you know you want it.

“The Christmas Dream” is James Chapeskie (with Nicole Beer, Maryna Kluban, and Carolina Engering)’s escape valve against the cruel world. Notes of prog rock and Celtic, but this is New Age aspiration.

A dramatic re-singing of Quirnius’s prophecy of the birth of the Savior is handled deftly by the talented Roger Whittaker in “The Governor’s Dream.” Hymnistic showtune of swelling altitudes.

CG5’s “Christmas Dreams” are a bigger ticket, at least a big band bash of a number. It’s still love.

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.

What happens when there’s a damaged gift receptacle on the mantle?!

C’mon back! The Cricketones deal with a “Little Christmas Stocking with a Hole in the Toe.” Orchestrated kidsong, like we had in the ’60s. Watch out for that ruthlessly selfless kid, though.

Poverty, am i right? “Christmas At The Old Home Place” is bluegrass from Joe Mullins & the Radio Ramblers (feat. Earl Barnes). Everything’s got holes in it, including stockings!

“There’s A Hole In My Christmas Stocking” bewails The Caroleer Singers and Orchestra. But this kidsong admits the sentimental value of Grandma’s heirloom precludes any present loss. Pay it forward!

The Keith Richards Orchestra (!) scats up a storm back in 1959 with “There’s a Hole in My Christmas Stocking.” Darn it!

Are you looking for trouble?

Encore! Dave & Jeanine caution you to “Put Out the Ol’ Yule Log.” It’s not just for Santa, it helps with the not burning to death thing.

Bah &The Humbugs recommend “No Smoking in the Chimney.” The Surgeon General backs up their folksy pop.

Nice amateur parody from The Dodge Family: “He Must’ve Come Down Through the Chimney.” Didn’t anyone hear him?

Traffic jams?! Desperate Band Appreciation Society recount via R+B chattiness how “I Met Santa in the Chimney.” They have a comical moment there.

Keenan McKenzie swings the big band worries with “You Can’t Lock the Chimney.” Worry much? I mean what comes in must go out and all that jazz.

Short and electronically to the point The Death Panels exhort “I’m Santa Claus.” That’s it.

The ever-scary Shylo pops “Feelings on Christmas.” Without going into detail (as pop is loath to do), the admission of being Santa slips.

Dr. Elmo plays a Scrooge in “Santa Ain’t Comin‘.” No more Ho Hos! Pop country so-called comedy.

The Glenn Crytzer Orchestra swings us back to the jolly times “Playing Santa Claus.” Gee I’d love the chance to be Kris Kringle for the day!

Worth Repeating: The Marquees whistle up some doo wop for “Santa Done Gone Hip.” Believe it, Jake.

Zendaya develops her chops as a Disney baby way back when flouncing some kid-friendly R+B in “Shake Santa Shake.” That’s how we do.

The Withers wanna get down with Mr. Cookies & Milk in the Men Without Hats parody “Santa Dance.” Get down, get frosty.

The Wiggles also move hyperactively with their kidsong “Reindeer Express.” It’s more block chain than twisting.

Three Day Threshold says it in so many words: “You Can’t Slow Santa Down.” His sleigh will beat a Ferrari!

Louis Prima dances big band jump blues with the 1951 excellence “Shake Hands with Santa Claus.” It’s a mad euphemism for partying, loving, and letting loose.

Worth repeating: “Santa’s Disco” is the party to party all parties. The Superions add a step of disco to their alt-pop.

David W Watson drawls out real slowly “Santa’s Party Sled.” Folk (or just real slow country) outlines the guest, activities, and appreciations. I may have fallen asleep and couldn’t tell you.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy admits “Last Night I Went out with Santa Claus.” Too cool swing that skirts the law with good times. That pointy hatted rascal!

“Let’s Go Dancing with Santa” is KC and The Sunshine Band’s boisterous attempt to observe the holidays. Danceable. Not much else.

Not keen on uncredited songs, but “Santa’s Party” composed by Mike Kenel/Ian Grant rocks the ‘billy just right. Thanks, Pete the Elf.

Party the Hut and Friends bang on garage rock to hail “Party Claus.” It’s brah-tastic. He’s hanging with Jesus and Monica Lewinsky.

“Santa Claus’s Party” is originally from Les Baxter and a more sprightly kidsong i would have trouble finding. Tom Rankin & Dan Zimmerman make a dirge of it with synth and modulations galore. Eww.

Dadaist experimental word salad from Limp Dick and The New Christians, “Santa’s Sweaty Beard” seems to have no beard in it at all. Only vulgarity.

Perhaps all the mysteries of the holidays are powered by “Santa’s Magic Beard.” Stardeath and White Dwarfs approach psychedelia with their pop xylophone puffery.

“Santa Claus with His Long White Beard” is wacky big band reconstruction by Kathy Reid-Naiman. The wah-wah hatted trumpet is fine foolery. …and splat.

We’ll skip the foreign language songs (mostly German). But Krampus gets play in some truly offbeat holiday offerings.

“The Night I Battled Krampus” Deseis admits he didn’t win… a rap battle! Yet, Krampus went away with his tail ‘twixt hoofed legs. Tune in to find out why.

Flesh Eating Foundation shouts out the polka-based “Oh Krampus!” basically begging the fiend to relieve the poor singers of their brats. You’re our only hope.

Spelling it out for our benefit Make Like Monkeys pop sing “K-R-A-M-P-U-S.” These are the kids begging to not be taken/eaten/whatever.

Gary Roadarmel & The Parish Commissioners retro rock the same plea in “Here Comes Krampus.” Yeah yeah yeah.

Krampus-philia from Actually makes “Krampus Redux” a bit squirmy. That thirteen inch tongue! Girl pop, but not that way. [As a ‘redux’ you must be wondering where the first rendering went. It went into nearly amateurish “Krampus Christmas.” It’s celebratory.]

RaSquatch waxes the ska dance floor with a premium “Krampus.” Put on your red hooves and get up!

AAIIEE gets quietly philosophical for their “Krampus Is an Evil Man.” But this confrontation between gruesome and attitude doesn’t fare well for the little boy.

Getting lazy Krampus Claus vrooms “Krampus It’s Cold Outside” by substituting every fifth word with Krampus. Does it work?

Folky country from Twitch n Jimbers evokes Elvis when we’re invited to keep “Kreepin’ with Krampus.” It’s a marvelous time. That does work.

One last parody from Tom Smith. “We Need a Little Krampus” paints the furry freak with rose colored glasses. Funny.

Swinging big band music from The Glenn Crytzer Orchestra jazzes ups ol’ “Krampus.” Mercy!