Category: folk

Yee Haw-liday: equal ranch amendment

Now that girls have been mentioned, let’s allow they can ride and rope and rape the environment like their white counterparts.

The English Brothers pick and grin and yodel up a bit of fun with “Cowboy and Cowgirl Christmas.” Cattle’s out of the bag.

Nevada Slim and Cimmaron Sue depict the hard life of a “Cowgirl’s Christmas.” She’s all alone, you see, so it’s tough. Quiet, unplugged pathos.

Well, let’s welcome them back for a more upbeat wanna-be dream. “The Cowgirl who Lost Her Jingle” is the bouncy tale of a li’l one who outgrew her boots. Don’t fret, we’ll wrangle a happy ending out of this muddle (no, it’s not sexist, i swear).

Born this Day, twenty-five (King of Kings)

A birthday song can just be Hey. Even for the Messiah. I mean, hosannah.

You may have caught Nassiri earlier here with his opulent routine “Happy Birthday Jesus.” Raga just opens up more possibilities.

Kurtis Parks and friends folk around with happiness and the whole nativity story in “A Christmas Birthday.” Kids all sing along ‘cuz it’s fun.

Born this Day, sixteen (Newton 1)

Celebrating the opposite of faith, some kids observe the birth of Sir Isaac Newton on twelve/twenty-five. I say kids ‘cuz so many students make music videos for extra credit in their physics class.

For example Francesca DiMare and Mary Pyrdol jumping a lot to ‘JBells’ and singing out “Newtonmas.” There oughta be a law, or three.

An original (short) amateur bit celebrates “Newtonmas SOTU 305.” Pabrizzer is an Australian ukulele maestro and senior member of Ukulele Underground who conjures short sweet oddities (i suppose SOTU is Song of the Universe, not State of the Union).

Born this Day, five

Jim Beloff is the entrepreneur of Flea Market Music a movement to put a ukulele in every pot by Christmas. His own music, in the case of “When You’re Born on Christmas Day,” is a smash-up of folk, blues, pop, and something that always feels Hawaiian to me. Nice noodling on the little box, but also nice imagining about the other holiday-birthday coincidences. Just celebrate, mate!

Xmas Tech Support: skype

This Dick Tracy telecommunications video chat popped up early ’00s, but picked up an audience by 2010. Millions do it.

Joe Bello wants to know “Why Don’t We Skype for Christmas?” Grandpa folk on the uke doesn’t sound like trying to hard or weird aged cool, but an earnest plea to connect with you, loved one. Yodeling.

Xmas Tech Support: computers

Computing devices have been around since the Bible (when was that?!), but the electro-version that has become our beneficent overlord kicks out in the 1930s (thanks, WWII). Most every bit of tech we will concern ourselves with in our little timeline hereafter is some weird descendant of this mechanical thinking apparatus. So let’s sing!

Brian Gari admits “I Want a Computer for Christmas” with retro shu-bop rock naming all the components, cuz it’s funnier that way.

Joe Algeri has a precious folk/pop ode to “Computer Xmas.” I dig the dial-up intro, psychedelic outro, and can’t-turn-off-the-drum-machine interlude. Dynamite stuff.

Xmas Tech Support: television

Where would Christmas be without television? In the home, individual, special. Instead, we have the homogenized milky white dreams that all see when we close our eyes. Ahh, America.

Oh, i’ve supplied you with Xmas on TV type songs before. There’s always a couple more….

The Skootles point out (with alt-jingle bell) that “Christmas on TV” is not the same as reality. It’s rather soothing, think i’ll just turn my mind off for a minute–

Justin Lacy serenades us in that’s-not-quite-english folk with a hope for better. He wants a “Christmas on TV” then it’ll all be better. Then he woke up.

Xmas Tech Support: technicolor

The Twentieth Century begins with tweaking and developing the great inventions of the last century. Hence we jump ahead a few years. Adding color to motion pictures begins in the 1910s, but Technicolor (as a trademark) takes another decade.

Tommy & The Greyhounds are actually emphasizing something culturally significant in “It’s a Technicolor Christmas When You’re Jewish.” See, the cinemas are more empty on the 25th of December and some (chosen) people get them all to themselves. Ragtime folk fun.

Xmas Tech Support: radio

Wireless is magic! Like Santa! Radio connections are made well before 1900, so maybe the songs here might sound a wee bit old fashioned.

Pop music sounds way been-there done-that to me. Olivia Newton John loves “Christmas on the Radio.” She’ll even throw in a doowop or two. But it’s modulated mainstream.

Finding Favour instills more funky soul (and God) into the bluegrassy folk of their “Christmas on the Radio.” It’s third degree nostalgia.