Anti-racist parody “Leroy and Roosevelt Reindeer” features the only black members of Santa’s crew pushing the Caddy from the back. The raucous background laughter cues us in to the jokes. The R+B rhythms help, though.
Joe Diffie wrote novelty country reindeer songs when novelty country reindeer songs weren’t cool. 1995’s “Leroy the Redneck Reindeer” placed well on Billboard’s Country Singles chart. It’s got gusto, but the humor is past its sell by date. Or maybe too many of these reindeer songs are yokel hokum.
Were there any famous reindeer before the Big Eight? Try “Bucky the One-Eyed Reindeer,” a lovely cowboy ditty about the great reindeer crash that resulted in the great stock market crash. Santa’s Elves deserve a posting on the great parody parade. Their album is good stuff.
A favorite epithet among the rednecks, Bubba sounds like a punchline. Just add sass. Naming a mighty magical mythical beast that creates comedy, no choice. Or does it?
Donald Pinkleton tries the Ray Stevens routine with “Bubba the Redneck Reindeer.” Better country song than hee-haw comedy.
Robert (‘Dr. Bob’) Blake slows country down to morose monotone with “Bubba the Buck-Toothed Reindeer.” This fill-in for Rudolph bites more than he can chew (get it?), but this Army vet surprises all of them by whipping them into shape. Huh?
What’s up with greeting the holidays? Songwriters think this is some amusing apostrophe to the personification of an institution, or sumfen.
Gabriela Radu sings like an impatient child calling out “Hello Christmas.” But the sultry rhythms and slurring diva tones creep out the kidsong genre. Run, Christmas!
(Maybe) not as skin-crawly, Peter Joannou (Brighton’s Singing Barber) galumphs through “Hello Christmas” as a maudlin, inescapable hearkening to olden times in that old smokey lounge lost from a distant decade or two. Shiver me Decembers!
Thwp adds “Hello Christmas” to their chorus to let the calendar know they’re on to the imminence of that festivity. Kid rock that stinks of pop.
Aging dad band Robocalls (fronted by Roger Bogren) rocks the Kohl’s with “Hello Christmas.” Creaky and not fully fluent with English, they get it their best.
Les Fradkin may have been something a while ago, but his grandpop pop “Hello Christmas, Goodbye Year” is too measured and mannered to be the rock he’s looking for. Trying to be hip without breaking one.
Newlife Music reminds us in “Hello Christmas” that the King is born. A little gloria is interjected thusly and this indie pop falalas hither and yon. It’s engaging stuff, but light on lyrics for all its message.
Josh Ingyu uses “Hello Christmas!” as a rollicking pop intro to the whole year of holidays. My calendar says otherwise, but i threw it on the floor when i heard this stomper.
Myla Smith demurs in her coy country-band yummy “Hello, Christmas!” (Finally: full punctuation!) Her reticence is from being on the receiving end of cheating, so it’s a wonder she’s as perky as this. Got a real Dolly-warble going for her (that’s a good thing).
More affecting, Patty Blee (w/Ernie Trionfo)’s whiskey throated country strummer “Another Lonely Christmas Eve” barely makes its trembling way through the tough times.
Soul sets the sad scene in Aaron Skyy’s “Another Lonely Christmas.” Every instrument is set on weepy.
Country bummer is its own sub-genre, represented here by John Eddie’s “Another Lonely Christmas.” Heartfelt hokum.
Jackson Taylor’s “Another Lonely Christmas” is appropriately twangy country, yet the hint of zydeco makes me feel upbeat. The magic of music heals.
Sometimes i’m stumped by the sentiments of the Xmas song i’m compelled to share. But these earfuls must needs be heard.
Randy Rainbow’s “Hey Gurl, It’s Christmas!” traipses all over the agenda with show tune anger. But he does sashay with cachet that it’s not so bad because it’s Christmas again.
LaGlavas (feat. Viktor) veers wildly from middle of the road easy listening to (attempted) angry rap in his “Christmas Again.” But he won’t stay in his lane–didgeridoo fade out….
The Chandler Travis Philharmonic screeches and sleazes through “It’s Almost Christmas Again” like a drunk overloaded train. Yes it is that much fun. Blues pop, i think.
Marty Robbins seems to be country scolding with his cowboy pop warbling in “Christmas Time is Here Again.” Lot of shoulds and mights leave this all up in the air.
Did we forget Jesus again? Is Xmas the only time to remember?
Matthew West’s “Day After Christmas” is the syrupy pop that bridges the musicphiles with the eager Christians. It’s tasteful, yet certain. Merry rest of the year.
The Glenn Mohr Chorale take us to church with “The Days After Christmas.” Strong message, lots of good voices, not so much with the harmony though.
Richard Sponaugle, however, walks us through blasphemy, epiphany, and the forgiveness to go on with his bebopping country song “52 Weeks Until Christmas.” No longer to complain and cuss.
Sometimes the mixed up feelings after Christmas has rolled over us cause hard to define anxieties/peevishness. Let’s suffer along….
No more presents to unwrap is metaphor for Lonely Robot in “The Morning After the Night Before Christmas.” It’s all just marking time, this march from birth to death. Garage-fueled pop. After the unwrapping, the ennui.
That countdown may devour one’s soul. Without a sense of time, John Gannon’s protagonist is fretting about the “364 More Days.” Showtime pop with a clarinet edge.
Cledus T. Judd also expresses math angst with his silly country smiler “364 More Shopping Days ’til Christmas.” Heard this one before, but he’s funny.
Remembering this Christmas love “Long Past Christmas Day,” Terry Wetton dwells in a mandolin riff of almost Celtic country wistfulness.
Channeling their inner Elvis, Beatnik Turtle wishes “The Morning After Christmas” to just have a little more with you. Pretend, in rocking doo wop, it isn’t over.
Ken Kondrat and Dave Uchalik figure that “After the Holidays” there’ll be more time to be a couple–even if it takes all year. Sock hop bebop.
Plunking hard on that pee-yanner, Bob Malone bemoans the afterness of Christmas in “The After Christmas Song.” But he still wishes you love and stuff. That gravelly voice makes you believe.
Hilariously awkward, “The Day After Christmas” scripts the wrong guy at the wrong time (with the wrong gift) not making a dent in love, despite his worst intentions. Pretty folk pop from Delightful Young Men.
Brad Paisley agrees. “364 Days to Go” slow waltzes the country music to maintain Christmas did it’s job. We’ll stay connected for the next year.
