All around the world… all across the seven seas… “Thanks for Christmas” pops up XTC. It’s catchy. The strings help.
Lighter, but just as catchy of pop, sails in The Crowd at Dexter’s Theater with “Thicken Thinner.” So the tale tells: Traveling the seven seas, It’s hell out there I can really tell you; But I’m gonna make it home for Christmas–I gotta decorate a tree. I’m getting seasick!
The other reason to measure such an endless expense? jardinière‘d sail seven seas, Walk pole to pole, crawl on my knees–If it would only bring you home. “Christmas Grieve” is a driving folk ode to remember.
Bringing the funk (and the Grinch) Snoop Dogg and October London and Cocoa Sarai’s “Funky Christmas” don’t want no Christmas... Heaven knows I did seven shows; No Santa Claus no ho-ho-ho’s. It’s a downer you can dance to.
Lohmann and Ballinger send up the ’70s with “Santa Claus is Coming to Our Disco.” Not only that, but Hanukkah and Kwanzaa Is coming to our disco, Seven candles and Muhini. The reindeer are in drag and Baby Jesus is feeling the beat. Everybody get down tonight.
365 overflows the calendar with possibilities. But Christmas is too special to generalize.
The frustration of The Bank Cormorants over missing out on “One More Christmas Tree” during this year’s shopping results in a dixieland jazz promise to decorate that ultimate tree with 365 ornaments next year. So there!
In memoriam, Rowlette and Craig Cooney preach that next year will be a New chapter, new story, 365 pages. “December” is the time to gospel/rap the message of taking a moment to consider. Just consider.
Specialness time! This is One day out of 3-6-5, so LiCon revises “I Wish You a Merry Christmas.” with his own individuality. Rap lyricality. And slurring.
So let’s party. Jiggley Jones is wiling to set aside foolish pride for “Christmas 365.” Harmonic pop with a touch of country unites all Christmas song titles to make some point.
Let’s end with the party to end the year of parties. There’s 365 days a year Hey there Santa, are you really really there? concludes “Santa’s Rap Party.” This is rap from 1980, so it’s disco rap. Yeah. Super Jay walks you through how to set the scene, how to respond to the music, and what to put on popcorn. Ladies, watch yo’ panties.
Starsky and Hutch‘s own Huggy Bear, Antonio Fargas, tries some Motown rap-patter with “Christmas Eve 1953.” It’s a ‘Christmas Carol’ what suffers from disco fever. And time travel (or drugs.)
Getting spotty for the songs dedicated to honoring the particular years. Carbon Leaf’s bluegrass racer “Red Punch / Green Punch” does mention the greatness of Christmas in the ’70s and the early ’80s.
And i’ll stretch my taste berms apart to allow “12 Days of My 1970’s Christmas.” Charlie Hines gets disco steady for a cavalcade of appropriate toys: six-million-dollar man, rock ’em sock ’em robots, sizzler cars… so much plastic! (Think it only goes up to 11, though.)
I’m susceptible to cool jazz, R+B soul–the sort of aww shucks that Black culture can inject into a silly season. As an outsider, natch, but an outside avid listener. Can you hear what i hear?
J Fresh gets the electric worm out of his synthy sexiness. “Can’t Wait Until Christmas” is a mess of R+B playfulness, but from a lounging posture.
Also synthesizing the bejeepers out of R+B, Desmond Dennis dance-conjures the scene with “Can’t Wait for Christmas.” Seductive, and party friendly.
RuPaul interrupts the mellow with a gospel-soul take down of traditional values. “I Just Can’t Wait (‘Til Christmas)” is a sing-along about how Xmas makes us all one (just not the one you expected). Yowza.
Electro-pop crowds the soul of Honey Doll’s “I Can’t Wait for Christmas.” Hokey smoke, that’s cute. The girls’re after you, Santa. Hee hee.
Aloe Blacc’s fulla funk with his near-disco “I Can’t Wait for Christmas.” Furzz up those speakers! Let the beat drop! ‘Sime talkin’ ’bout.
Les Baxter’s Orchestra has the best standard here with big band beats in “Santa Claus’ Party.” Weee. (We’ve played this before.)
The Incredible Casuals admit the big guy sure knows how to party. Nawrleans down tempo jazzmunching in “Santa’s Gonna Party.”
Johnny Earle resurrects Elvis for “Santa’s Party.” Blues country cool.
Nick & Simon know everybody wants to go to “Santa’s Party.” So they get awfully pop about it.
Top prize at “Santa’s Rap Party” takes home the peppermint microphone. Super Jay gossips about how that jolly old elf is sizing up the ladies at his little get-together. Disco word jazz.
Mrs. Claus deserves more than a peck on the cheek. Santa’s old lady needs some action.
Eddie Florano lays down a disco rhythm for a tropical reinterpretation: “I Saw Daddy Kissing Mrs. Claus.” Dial it into your next dance party and see the fur fly.
