Singing is part of the Christmas holiday. Hark, what did those herald angels do? Some songs even mention the act, in a fun ironic meta kinda way. No, they are not easy to come across, and some lines will be blurred in order to celebrate thusly.
Go with it.
Riders in the Sky have some virtuosic levity with the connectiveness of all carols with “The Last Christmas Medley You’ll Ever Need to Hear.” It’s largely instrumental, but they’re the cowboys who can swing it. JJ Dion has a “2.0 version” (now with a second verse) that really sings. Schticks to your funny bones.
Wendell Ferguson goes more melodic with “Why Does Every Christmas Song Have So Many Chords?” Slow country swing, deceptively so.
Belgian freedom fighters in 1950s comic book form are just as good of inspiration as any old Grimm’s tale. The Smurfs as a Saturday morning cartoon, however, are johnny-come-latelies to the smurf-capades.
Their execrable 1983 album Merry Christmas with the Smurfs offends with such morsels as the alphabet song inspired “Santa Claus is Coming Tonight,” the oddly downbeat “Smurfing Bells,” and the aptly old world oompah of “Christmas Presents.” But later (1996’s Christmas with the Smurfs) the dance party “Christmas Party” opens their isolationist utopia to more friendly possibilities.
Time Machine alert! If we were to go back to a time before the TV series, we might find the suddenly more valuable Father Abraham ’78 single featuring “Christmas in Smurfland.” Country twaddle with some Continental panache.
Love songs for millennials might be lazy, but they set their own standards. Netflix and chilly weather, anyone?
Kieron Liley realizes family fulfillment when they’re all gathered around the “Christmas TV.” Unplugged low-key alt-folk with an attitude.
Prettier pop strumming accompanies the fun flowers of “Xmas TV with You.” It’s a place and a time, but mostly, girl, it’s you.
Hot UK duo Slow Club seem to hope “Christmas TV” will bring them together. The many wistful ways of pop folk love slightly include the holidays and the boob tube.
Chris Isaak nails the loneliness and hopelessness of TV Christmas specials broadcasting in the background of that empty home. “Christmas on TV” is a country weeper with just the right twang.
Writing a song about a Christmas gift and stuck for a concept…? How about the song as the gift, you tautologist!
Bill Craft admits ‘this gift has no value’ in “A Gift of Song.” But it’s passable bluegrass.
Nugu Buyeng screwed up and got her “No Christmas Present.” Gets BLUE, backpedals, then tries to cover his ass claiming this song is the present. Lame-o. But fair folk rock rap.
Tommy Wiseau (awful movie “The Room”) has the gift of a “Christmas Song for You.” It’s almost worse than you suspect.
Kem has a ‘hey girl’ “Christmas Song for You.” I bet he got you something else, he’s that good. Slow soul.
Howard Livingston & Mile Marker 24 didn’t know what to get you. He went with his strengths. So “A Christmas Present” here is his mellow country. It’s for his mom and dad. Sentimental, and a spelling lesson.
Just say it. “This Song is Your Christmas Gift.” I hope you like it. It’s better than nothing. Pop from Fairmont. (Perhaps a veiled threat in there.)
Destitution doesn’t mean you have to cancel Christmas. Celebrate the indigent spirit of the Nativity!
Jimmy Charles loves this time of the year so much that he has no regrets in his profligacy. “Broke for Christmas” (country pop, natch) celebrates the poor house as home sweet home. Awww.
Some couldn’t spend to begin with. Pierce Avenue harmonizes even less country-style country in “Broke Christmas.” Pretty. Vapid.
Hip hop rasta from Joel Evans exchanges no presents for your presence on a “Broke Ass Christmas.” Romantic, mon.
Country rock drives the rhythm of life, not the emptiness of despair. Brenda Dirk’s “Too Broke for Christmas” may complain, but line dances while doing so. Mama!
Angsty ukulele (yeah!) via Steven “Christmas Steve” Hardy returns to embark on the folk saga about “Christmas Eve Shoppers.” ‘Ware and heed, children, to ye elders.
Kyle Boreing slings country hash with a catchy beat. His “Gotta Find that Gift” puts the pressure on, though you may feel nothing from his mushiness.
Driving hard (but still pop) country from Bill Engvall illustrates how to sell a song. “Gift Emergency” nails the tone and samples some wit. But, it’s the Here’sYourSign guy. Warm up those eye rolls.
Humble Tip hip hops with a certain weariness ‘cuz “Christmas Shopping” get ’em down. Heartfelt wallet busting.
Rubettes (feat. Alan Williams) keeps it cool with the ‘Kung Fu Fighting’ parody (you heard me) “Christmas Shopping.” Why fight when you can spend?
Dunno is a bit mopey with their indie whining “Christmas Shopping.” The world might end, i guess.
Country swing along with ’68 Buck Owens (and his Buckaroos) as he frets over what to get for whom with his twist and shout “Christmas Shopping.” Boy howdy.
All this damn songstuff makes me wonder what that holiday foliage really means to you.
GOD, DAMMIT.
“There’s a Christmas Tree in Heaven” comes out from Eddy Howard and His Orchestra (sweet) the same year as The 4 Aces (swinging). That whole sky constellation up above… it’s the same as in your living room.
There are no enemies on Loretta Allen’s “Christmas Tree.” Sweet gospel bluegrass promises the peace. Come and join, it’s God.
Brent Hardesty goes OG inclusive God with “A Menorah and a Christmas Tree.” either way it’s still the Big Guy! (Although, this particular day does seem to be a divisive point, truth to tell.)
THE GOOD OLD DAYS. WELL, I’LL TELL YA.
“An Old Fashioned Tree” makes 1950 sound like a past-it time. Gene Autry bemoans the cowboy loss of way back when, with the whole symphony and back up seniors.
Memories feature into Jeff Meegan’s jazz trio (with scat & flute) “Christmas Tree.” But jazz poetry, man… where do i start?
W.D. Hay scrapbooks out his life with “Christmas Tree Memories,” a homegrown country flashback or ten.
CHILDHOOD, YEAH!
Telstar Ponies keep the experimental ’90s alive with “I Still Believe in Christmas Trees.” It’s a whole lot of garage noodling, but it has a maudlin message just for you… and you… and you… and YOU.
Shy nature sloshes around some indie pop with modulation for the kids to revisit their youth in “My Christmas Tree is Looking at Me.” So everybody had that same dream at eight-years-old?
Home and dead parents keep coming back to haunt Sonny James (w/Carole Smith) “Where the Tree Is,” a tinkly country number written by committee. Sonny’s reaching for it, give him that.
Similarly titled, “I Still Believe in Christmas Trees” from Ray Ray is power country about the magic in boyhood innocence. Perky nostalgia.
Yeah, yeah yeah. You want presents under the tree. Could you be more specific?
Inca Jones (as i’ve blogged) gets melted with he finds “LSD Under My Christmas Tree.” Don’t expect coherence from this electronica.
Here’s something you may not want: Beefus plays the blues (isn’t that trombone funny?) on “STDs Under the Christmas Tree.” They’re waiting for you.
Specifically, Brysi the Machinima Guy wants “Master Chief Under My Christmas Tree.” Pop culture begets fanfic and filksinging and other vaguely naughty-sounding made up words.The videogame Halo‘s protagonist has give unto us this folk number. Get on it.
Silent Stranger hard rocks (of course) “Guitar Beneath the Tree.” A tender tale of youth and obsessive thrashing.
Even better, John Jorgenson and Carlene Carter rock out a letter to Santa and the resulting “A ’55 Telecaster Under My Christmas Tree.” Okay, country rock, but still burning up the tinsel.
We don’t put a cradle in the room to celebrate the birth of the Lord, so that tree ought to have super associative properties.
Coyly avoiding the name, Sheree Brown and Ledon Smith sing about LOVE, which is “The Christmas Tree I See.” Motown adds legitimacy.
Barbara Fairchild comes right out and says the “Christmas Tree” is just like Jesus Christ. Her wavering ballad with smudges of country gospel make it so. (Roy Morris narrates some sermon to keep you on track.)
Sounding like a ’70s TV commercial Danadrienne folk lecture us to remember the “Forgotten Christmas Tree.” Remember? Christ?
For puppet show ‘Arnie’s Shack’ the star on the “Christmas Tree” is the star of Bethlehem. Electric pop–for kids!
Michael Warner strums some south of the border pop to also string together ornamentation and that Heaven stuff with “A Star on Top of the Christmas Tree.” This’ll get the kids believing in no time.
In fact the Nativity had “No Christmas Tree” at all, so cut that pagan stuff out–according to this marching country sermon from Mary Lee.
Sherri Gough crosses the line from rejoicing in the birth to putting that “Christmas Tree on a Hill.” It’s a pretty country piece though, so let’s listen. (And those other grisly tree as cross numbers come later on.)
