Category: bluegrass

Not Adelle, not Ella, DELLA still means noble. Just not Adelle noble.

The big deal here is the 1905 O Henry short story ‘The Gift of the Magi‘, here retold by Kristen Chenowith with The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square backing her. (The original is better, sorry.) Della and Jim poor, wretched loved ones give up everything so that nothing matters on Xmas. The irony of it all!

Several songs celebrate the mini-tragedy of it all, no names named. One even gets her name wrong. Crossfox’s “Bella and Jim” alt-rocks grunge while seeming to prefer Twilight.

(Let’s acknowledge the Conte/Giardini operetta and move on. No one wants to hear that. Nor the other ‘musicals’ for regional consumption.)

Cris Williamson uses alt-folk to talk-sing the story. Her “Gift of the Magi” swings as spiritual, but drops nuance.

Lumibeatz · Umesh Shukla use rap (and AI) to retell their own “The Gift of the Magi“. It had to happen.

“The Gift of the Magi” by Jed Larkin’s directed AI tries for showtune bombast.

Darryl Purpose sneaks funk into the folk with his “The Gift of the Magi“. Ready for the quiz yet?

“The Gift Of The Magi Holiday Fair” From the Antlers Basement includes the plot highlights without as much editorializing. Then it veers sentimentally into a flea market for extra impact. Folk plus a dash of klezmer.

Joe Newberry (feat. April Vetch)’s “Della and Jim” borrow lines from the story to construct their own blue grass quiet weeper.

DARREN hails from many a Northern European folk. In Gaelic it means Oak Tree. In Old English, darling one. In French, from Arielle. Terribly unpopular at the beginning of the Baby Boom, the Swingin’ ’60s brought it back.

Perhaps a nod to a British showman, “DARREN CHRISTMAS DAY” by Canadians In Space intones the name as a celebratory chant. Huh.

Nightheart entitles their what-to-do Xmas list “Darren“, possibly because he’s the naughtiest druggie biker ever was. He’s the opposite of nice. Don’t. Just don’t. Bluegrass pop.

A simple mispronunciation, DARLENE means darling. Duh.

Cody Johnson returns for his “Hat Made Of Mistletoe“, made to seduce Miss Darla, his eighty-year-old contemporary. Sprightly blue grass suitable for square dancing.

It’s a “Sad Teenage Christmas for Kebin and Oscar!” according to Kebin and Oscar. Apparently some Hawaiian vacay separates them from their girlfriends, Sweet Baby Raye and Darlene. R+B hair metal. Totally heinous.

Similar troubles for Matthew McLaughlin as sung in “Chestnuts“. Missing family they hope Darlene will sing help (ie, Darlene Love will sing his signature ‘Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)’ number).

In “12 Days of Amnesia” The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical reveals the hook of the plot: mean old fussbudget Darlene won’t join in on the trailer park decorations until she’s been hit on the haid. Country rock showtune.

Slidawg & the Redneck Ramblers bluegrass up “Did You Heared What I Heared?“, a tribute to Hey Watch This as a means to impress Darlene ‘cross the trailer lot. No Grandmas were killed in the promulgation of this prank.

From the French from the Latin, CLAIRE means clarity. Memorize that if you dare.

Clara is the name of the little girl heroine of ‘The Nutcracker’–as introduced with junitoni’s “Scene 01 The Party“, complete with ballet steps called out (like we’re at a barn dance). Yee en haut.

She’s also mentioned in the summary “Dance of the Gifted Night” by Quincit Peter, It’s AI so i wouldn’t take notes.

Not canon, “See You Again” is Urban Fu$e (feat. KarlaGod & Fee-Z)’s epic fight for Christmas rap with a dollop of soul. Clara and Santa go for it.

Perhaps ironically, Maddie Q compares herself to Clara dancing in the plea “Why Can’t It Be Christmas?” Modulated pop declaration. Don’t wake her up.

Reference to Black American icon Miss Clara Brown doesn’t help the AI reggae mess of “Tidings (Pop Mix)” by Laury Webb. There’s odd, then there’s OD.

AI kidsong, “Clara’s Christmas Concert” twiddles and twinkles about some little old concert. Blame Shu Chen Hou.

Even less human, “Clara’s Christmas Cookies and the Orange Cat!” tries for heartstrings. But Rhyme Time Surprise’s got another algorithm coming.

Clarice is the name of Rudolph’s squeeze in the Rankin Bass cartoon, so she gets press. Schlocky lounge from AI from Fons & the Chargers “Red-Nosed Romeo” seems to be half a song. Hey-o.

The New Carpenters try on a B-52s kind of sound with “Merry Christmas, Clarice.” It works like all get out.

Sapere Bloom dip into some Sufjan Stevens for their “Rudolph & Clarice“. I likes it.

In “Rudolph the Blood Soaked Reindeer” Roadside Attraction reveal Clarice was her stage name. Real name: Shauna. Reindeer games get lethal.

Tracy C. Mansfield uses AI to express his stuttering love for his wife to be Claire, and the baby/puppy he can’t seem to name (‘Fart’?!?) in “Merry Whatsis!“. Anomic aphasia set to lounge easy listening.

The Norm Bassett Band allies AI to “Jingle Swing“–but it’s infectious. Tommy’s spinning Claire here (and Susie’s there, ignore her). Yeah, swing.

Sometimes i sit back and just enjoy the kooky ride. Za’s Stair seems to load “Holy Claire” with international political intrigue. Can’t quite put my finger on what’s the what. But saving Christmas with her butthole is either a terrific mishearing of the lyrics or a lyric in a dynamite novelty. Hypnotic alt-pop.

Lundy has apparently been sending “Drunk Texts to Santa” about Clara. Santa country sings his AI replies of understanding. Disturbing.

Being left on Christmas Day is bad. Finding out from a “Note on the Fridge” is worse. But then, she jumped in a taxi with Claire. Bluegrass with an actual breakdown by Felix Johansen.

While on nicknames, BUDDY may have been a poorly pronounced brother, but boy oh boy does it now hold a place in the pantheon of Xmas monikers.

Gorgis harmonize some weird off key light indie with “Buddy the Gingerberry Elf“. You’re thinking of somebody else.

Perhaps you’re thinking of “Buddy’s Christmas Wish“, a not-so-horrifying AI pop ballad from Trollworthy Media. Yeah, that’s him.

Also about him, Pop Culture Harmonies lessens the quality of music with their AI ‘rap’ “Call Me Buddy“. That’s his name!

“Buddy the Elf“–still more AI–from DJ ABC tries out rat pack lounge lucidity. I’ve heard worse.

So let’s call it: “My AI Buddy For Christmas” by Antonie Bolland & AI vies for EDM quality, but it’s just noise.

To make up, “Buddy the Elf” is a falsetto barbershop rap from The Wobertz that lightens the music.

BLUE ALERT when your new friend Bicycle Trip hates on the holidays with the peppy rock of “Christmas Buddy“. He’s lonely without you, so it’s understandable.

You’re also friends with Andina & Rich who serenade us with the country light “Buddy, I’m Just Sick to Death of Christmas“. Take the opposing side!

Advance Base winds through a shaggy dog tale, “Blue Christmas 2“, in which a loner at a diner then at a motel suddenly has a holiday bank robbing partner who calls him Bud. Crime, however, does not pay. Maudlin indie, but good stuff.

The Under Cover Boys ratchet down the AI to country pop the tale of the cat “Mr. Bud’s Christmas“. All the usual love and mischief.

I wish “Cuddle Buddy (This Is Too Much Pressure Uhhhhhh)” was better recorded by Zach The Human. This sci fi escapade is either Xmas on the moon, or brain tampered delusion. Either way, cool cool cool.

Some authentic bluegrass by The Mountain Band leads us to Uncle Bud’s where we’ll be drinking “Christmas Spirits” all day. Pull up a pile of pallets and join in.

AURORA means dawn, which is already a name. Guess we gots too many people.

NAM VUONG BAO LE, Timothy Pham, DJ BYOUNG throw a little personification on the Aurora with their country/pop/rap “Under the Christmas Canopy“. Lively, yes. AI… hmm?

Michael J Goujon Jr also personifies in “Alaska Christmas Morning, Vol. 16” a proper country pop crooner.

“Aurora” by John McCutcheon finishes up our figurative language. She’s dancing! Great country reel, dance all!

“It’s Christmas And You’re Boring Me” warbles out Slow Club with petulant indie monotone. Appropriate.

Unintelligibly, Dirt Vultures set the garage to eleven for “Christmas Could Be A Bummer“. Solutions? Anyone?

Not much positivity when Christmas is “Just Fine“. Ciao overlays Xmas music on top of vibrating pop to get their lack of point across.

Christmas Day is boring as well, maintains D’Modes in the iconic “Christmas is Crap“. Chanting rock. Why can’t every song be like this?

Beatnik Turtle sum up the indifference with the boss bluegrass of “Goin’ Through the Motions This Christmas“. Jittery insouciance.

The hectic nature of the holiday season inspires much metaphoring and carrying on.

F’rexample, Andy Race opens his “Christmas Race” with fussing over penning this particular song in the summer. Two for whining! Easy listening glory.

Aisha Ray folkifies “Christmas Race” as endless chores twist and bind a romantic couple. And… it’s a happy ever after ending!

The Currys have a lively bit of bluegrass folk describing the family rushing around the house, “The Annual Christmas Day Race“.

A lute, this is the soprano member of a family that uses picks and includes the mandola, octave mandolin, mandocello and mandobass. Usually somber. Can be merry.

Jingle Bots goes with the latter in the hoe down party “Cheer So True.” Proper bluegrass with the mandolin strumming.

Lunavare’s “Fresh Air” posed the simple life where mandolins play and christmases are white. New Age folk.

Jingle Bots’re back with a hyper jig “Jingle All Around.” Fiddle and a mandolin, now. Speedy grass.

The Devil’s Box can turn a hoedown into a ho ho ho down.

“Grandpa’s Christmas Fiddle” is probably the same as Grandpa’s everyday fiddle, but with The Barefoot Man’s bluegrass breakdown it seems more magical. Go, Grandma, go!

Glen Duncan wants his own “Fiddle for Christmas.” Give it him says i. Gnarly bluegrass.

Shouldn’t Celtic rock have fiddles? Allan Schau answers the riddle with a snowed-in “Christmas at the Pub.” Drinking and cavorting, they prefer fiddles to carols. Tough fun.

Look out, country’s back. “Cowboy Santa” by Deanna D’Amico-White comes off as a gushy girly wish list. Though she does want Santa to meet me in the barn where the fiddles play. Uh oh.

Aurosa sings “Christmas on the Country Road” with a scosh of polka, but there’s plenty of guitars, banjos, and fiddles mentioned.

Did you say POLKA? The Andrews Sisters front Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians (1949) for “Merry Christmas Polka,” where they’re tuning up the fiddles. Why? Because they like you!

Betty Overstreet stirs monotonous kidsong into her bluegrass for “Billy Bob the Hillbilly Goat.” And suddenly it’s Christmas.

Richard Melvin Brown spices up the bluegrass with downbeat party pop for a “Tennessee Bluegrass Christmas.” Spare the fiddle, spoil the season.