Category: folk

ELP’s prog-rock “I Believe in Father Christmas” has whined on the blog before, but other versions both punk and NewAge/Celtic and gal cappella (holy moly) and even ‘on quaaludes‘ hover nearby. So, why not? I mean, okay, this is an existential crisis of faith–but it turns out relatively cool, or at least called on rain. All right, all right. Next month I promise: songs about ambivalence and disbelief!

Make Like Monkeys treats “I Believe in Father Christmas” with more pop permissiveness.

The Clapis Cousins represent the millennial slacker with raw strumming and struggling whistling in their folk-rock manifesto “Dear Santa.” Rap solo!

Squirrel Nut Zippers offer variation to their “Hanging Up My Stockings” with some odd broke-down Victrola filter. But this childish act of beggary is testament to belief, i believe.

Tom Kenny’s SpongeBob SquarePants leads the cast in their vote of confidence: “Santa Won’t Let You Down.” It’s pop showtune certainty.

Heather Noelle Holley tries to trademark Christmas with “There is a Santa Claus.” Cheesy pop heuristics that makes it so.

In 1897 The New York Sun editorialized the fact o’ Santa for little Virginia. Erasure recites the article (including the girl’s street address) for our elevation. Neil Spence (from 1966) syncopates the spoken word a touch more. Bryce Wood gets rock’n’roll showtune on it all. Holmes Outdoors features a clip from some other musical that gets chorally quite Great White Way (not sure who’s singing). Bruce Enloe gets down and country (nearly honky tonk) wit it. Jimmy Dean famously gets the name wrong when trying to rewrite the story as his own in 1965. Copyright issues?! Most strangely, Your Marginally Talented Photographer Girlfriend gets garage meltdown with it.

Whoa ho ho… Scottish band Pilot parlayed their pop hit into the holidays with “It’s Christmas.” Never believe it’s not so. That makes money, yeh?

Tim Noah rattles off all matter of beliefs in the retirement home pop “Just Because.” Pro whistling.

Matt Roach struggles through heartbreak with the alt-folk inner monologue “Christmas Encore.” He believes in all of it. Why won’t you? In him? Emo.

Groovy Uncle schools us in retro pop via “(I Do Believe) It’s Christmas Eve.” Is that sitar?

Ian Coss plays tennis with his vocals in “The Believer.” Old timey ragtime pop that reevaluates the belief levels Xmas morn.

Fleshtones club rock “I Still Believe in Christmas” with bounce and body and everything else that makes a hair do. It’s proselytizing!

Mary Smith (feat. Tyler Schaefer) reduce folk to easy listening in the platitudinous “A Christmas to Believe In.” Cliches falling like gentle snow.

Marc Broussard hammers out piano easy listening in “When Christmas Comes Along.” It makes him believe again. You know, in magic.

Yvonne Lyon adds an edge to her indie folk “I Believe in Christmas.” A tale of hesitant celebration is told.

Trying again, Kelly Nolf & Wyndi Harp look from a Santa doll to a Nativity scene and realize “I Believe Again.” Clip clopping country with perspective.

Pistol Annies will do it for love. “Believing” is a seasonal folk country anthem. Toys, reindeer, and snow rate on their preferences. Disillusioning baby brothers, however, is a turn off.

Ellie Laver brings back 18th Century hymning in the form of diva pop. “Rejoice All Ye Believers” translates well into today’s music morass.

From the musical comedy ‘Welcome to Virginia’ “Anything Can Happen” is the palate cleanser belief provoker that makes you shift uncomfortably in your folding chair and go Hmm.

Dolly Parton is here to stir you back onto the right path with her country-gospel “I Still Believe.” She spends most of the song giving you reasons to give up, but brings it back around in the end.

Razzamatazz Productions wind up the Whirlitzer for a special grandparents’ show featuring “I Still Believe in Santa.” A show tune from Vaudeville times!

Ron Lehner uses angels to ask “Do You Believe in Him?” Resonant folk that makes you look up.

Steve Williard gets matter-of-fact with the rocking “Wake Up (It’s Christmas).” But it’s essentially kidsong. Awww.

Eric S. Donaldson sets the ideal novelty stage with forced folk, shouted chorus, and silly children’s antics in the groovy “Don’t Forget Us Up for Christmas.” There’s an Or else… so i suggest you listen carefully.

There’s little point in us delaying/Everyone can nap while I’m playing chortles King Everything in the delightful ditty “Wake Up! It’s Christmas!” This folk indie only shouts and wheedles, yet it speaks volumes towards the child mindset Xmas A.M. Insightful.

Screaming punk from Scumbags orders you to get up, get drunk, and–i guess–get feedback. “Wake Up, It’s Christmas Time” is not for the weak of spirit.

Dark Globes ‘covers’ an Andrew Hart folk rock exploration entitled “Wake Up Everyone.” The overdubbing and background chaos don’t interfere so much as urge on this message of hope v. expectation. Kidding, it’s mostly noise. Heh.

Roz turns the R+B bucket round and round to churn out “I Wake Up to Christmas.” It’s about capturing that one special moment and holding onto it.

Sam Rodewald seems to channel his inner Sufjan Stevens for an exclamatory “Wake Up It’s Christmas!” Bluegrass indie of few lyrics. Great sitcom theme song, though.

Also simplistic, the folk fable “Wake Up to Christmas” from Kyle Henrickson is melodic merriment in a two minute package. Comforting.

The children wake up excited for their toys making the scene Red Queen Hypothesis’s “Crockpot Barbecue.” Clanking indie celebrating chaos.

The “Christmas Morning” of Three Day Threshold & Summer Villains is no less messy, but more giggly glee is interwoven in this folk pop. All is good. Weee!

Superior ‘grass folk from Trout Fishing in America works over the refrain “You Gotta Get Up” from the overexcited child’s point of view. New bike, Bethlehem, bargaining are all worked in. Wonderful.

“Awakened” is Rob Lord’s salute to crucified Jesus just in time for Christmas. Folk so full or regret as to be soulful.

Placeholder Confidential bends their garage folk to spirituality with “Put My Soul to Bed and Wake Me up on New Year’s Day.” It’s the bargaining stage.

Shad Weathersby rings one tiny bell “One Christmas Morning.” Guess why! Lovely folk pop that rolls into almost a Celtic round.

Mumbletron ZK12 slur out the command to Mom/Dad: “Outta Bed.” This indie piano rock harps on the needs of the few outweighing the needs of the homeowners. But, hella fun.

VERY brief comical piece from Mighty Magic Pants tracks Becky “Waking Mom and Dad.” It’s not subtle (balloons are instrumental). Spoken word.

The Ornaments of Bowling Green riddle us about Christ to get us to “Wake Up, It’s Christmas.” Slow rolling folk pop that underlines every phrase. Lemme check my Cliff Notes on this topic.

I lost my place… WHO is supposed to wake up for Xmas?

Krista Detor does that whiskey-voiced seduction with “Awake the Voice” in which her indie jazz has angels whisper in order to bring out our good. Layers.

“Awake Ye Scary Great Olde Ones” refers to Cthulhu and other Lovecraftian horrors. Set to ‘God Rest Ye’ by the HP Lovecraft Historical Society, this parody proffers dotty followers to invoke endtimes for Xmas. (My sister gave me a whole other collection of ‘Horrifying Holiday Hymns’ for last Christmas, so it’s officially a thing.)

“Shepherds Arise” is an earthy ancient folk harmony round about how those guys lying about in the fields might wanna grab a spectator spot for the whole birth thing bing in 0 A.D. It’s usually a caterwaul of annunciation, as with The Young Tradition, But i find Voice Squad adds a bit of tonality to the product thus imbuing it with more soul. (Thomas Schippers · Gian Carlo Menotti · Chet Allen · Leon Lishner · David Aiken spookify it to unrecognizability.)