Category: folk

Sometimes them government issued guys show talent and keep it all in perspective. Danny Rongo’s “A Soldier’s Christmas Song” has guilt-free lilt. It’s not a spiritual, or otherwise sad song. I took it at first for a protest. But it’s just matter-o-fact tellin’ it like it is.

Listen.

With the explosion of the web, amateur and independent songs decorate our Xmas trees, especially from far away.

Mostly these carols are about not being home. That’s the American Way (variously: you can’t make it home, you don’t want to put up with those at home, you don’t have a home).

Josh Logan digs deep country for “A Soldier’s Christmas Day Prayer.” Tough god-fearing hombres, but too much want-to-be-home to make me trust the guys in this song.

Master Sgt. Robt. Allen sings about missing his missus over the Christmas break. He bangs on the guitar filk singing style (endlessly). But he means it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWBjHqOH_d4&spfreload=10

Keith Roberts sings a funny little folk grass tune entitled “Three Soldiers,” all about marching off to the American Civil War. (Not sweet, but not the bloody horror show you might’ve thought.)

Some kids KNOW what they want. Some keep working and worrying it out. One such stream-of-conscious wonderer is featured in a fine folk bit by Professor Steve. In “A Letter to Santa” we learn no lessons, we reach no conclusions, but we kick back and have a fireplace moment with pencil and pad. Enjoy.

Let’s tone down the irony just a scratch with some heartfelt 1980s folk rock.

First, a retro She & Him evaluation over what a “Christmas Wish” ought to be for.

Then Timbuk3 lay into your merciless mercantilism with “All I Want for Christmas.” It was on TV and everything.

If Santa loses his job, he probably got sued out of it. Maybe he should get more comfortable in a courtroom (not just on 34th Street).

As defendent, Santa also had to put up with dumb old Dr. Elmo who gratuitously stretched out his success of ‘Grandma Got Run Over’ with “Grandpa’s Gonna Sue the Pants Off of Santa.” The Caribbean beat is a nice touch, but this is novelty by the numbers.

Bill Engvall paints his funny li’l ol’ redneck ditty “I’m Getting Sued by Santa Claus” to tickle your funny bone. Honestly, he spends more time on twangy country tuning than larf out loud wit. Singable.

Lawrence Savell has quite a little sidebar writing and singing about legal hijinx. His “I Dreamed I Saw Santa Working in the Library” is one of his better electronic folk numbers, though if you listen to it, he’ll probably bill you.

If Big Nick ever picked another job, it would be because he was adventurous, whimsical, reinventing himself–right? Right?!

Surely that ol’ chimney skater wouldn’t ever simply LOSE his gift gig?

Titty Twister spins the sad yarn of Santa going homeless and his gang going criminal in “Santa Claus is Unemployed.” Smelly hair metal.

Jeremy Lister posits this worst case scenario with “Santa’s Lost His Mojo.” Fortunately this is only a cry for help, so all you rotten ingrates will appreciate him again. Enjoy his pop rocker but think about what you did.

Theocracy tells the story we don’t want to hear the night before: the economy dragged Santa down to the coal mines in their “All I Want for Christmas.” BTW all they want for Christmas, despite their hair metal, is ‘their old job back.’ Makes you think.

Odds Bodkin gets more serious with an old school folk protest song jollied up children-style. “The Takeover Before Christmas” does unwind an epic yarn, but make sure you’ve got arms on your chair to clench and an edge upon which to sit. Santa gets run out of work by Big Toy and forced into early retirement. But… keep listening… that Christmas magic isn’t done with our favorite fatman….

Is Santa a day-saver? Can he make things right? Well, he is a hero to many children… maybe he has a second calling fighting zombies and aliens (and i presume ninjas) as a samurai. Actually he is more of a bubba-san.

If that’s unclear please take a psychedelic trip along the corrido ballideering of Chuck Pickelsimer and his ode to “Samurai Santa.” If you can follow any of it, you may never be the same afterwards.

The Pever Pan Carolers (as the Peppermint Kandy Kids) have a scheme when posing “Santa Claus for President.” that is to get Christmas all year round. I guess the Pres has got nothing better to do than hand out stuff.

Sammy Kaye and orchestra seem more genuine in their vote for “Santa Claus for President.” I guess we’ll all still 365 toys, but it’s ’cause he loves us back.

Kenton McPeake has more of o grassroots folk take on “Santa Claus for President.” Here we have a political statement thumbing our nose at D.C.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRNO8krwh4g

 

Well, if Santa’s NOT God, maybe his job is balancing the celestial scales by incorporating ultimate evil.

Aurelio Voltaire spells it out for you (just move one letter!) with “Santa Claus is Satan.” Despite some goth trappings, this smacks of children’s song. He’s having enthusiastic guitar fun.

Tony Martin similarly strums up the Santa myth (albeit with more production values) in his “Who Put the Devil in Santa?” This is ’80s pop turned on its ear, winding itself up louder and louder. A real showstopper. Testify!

Screaming and syncopating (barely) Toykillers lay down some club feedback with “The Devil May be Your Santa Claus.” Headbang on the chimney with care.

Those with a casual Christmas connection sometimes think of all of Santa’s multicultural helpers (Black Peter f’r instance) as Santas themselves. It’s NOT TRUE. But, to have some fun, let’s include The Bearded One’s head punisher Krampus in Rusty Cage’s “The Krampus Song.” It’s more folk fun, with a family style round of chords that should have all of you singing along.

Something Fierce lays down the garage rock for their rollicking “Satan Claus.” Now we know the truth. And we can dance to it.