Category: folk

Skiing (my favorite word with a double i) probably predates skating. But like most cool European inventions, it may have originated in China (i’m looking at you, notebooks of daVinci). This is not a backyard/neighborhood activity, like sledding. You won’t see Charlie Brown schussing in the cartoons. Which means… these songs don’t exactly spring out of the snowbank. I ask you to make some allowances.

Perhaps you’re familiar with “It Happened in Sun Valley,” a lovers’ meet-cute on the Idahoan slopes originated by the Glen Miller Band (feat. Paula Kelly, Ray Eberle, Tex Beneke and The Modernaires) from the motion picture ‘Sun Valley Serenade.’ For all that, it comes off as the documentarian or forensic analysis of some rom-com. South Park does an irreverent big band update.

To help pad my month of interesting Xmas/wintertime tunes, i may finally stoop to lyric-less instrumentals–provided they got class out the ass. F’rexample, Al Caiola & Riz Ortolani’s “Holiday On Skis” is just the right blend of electric jazz guitar and batch’ pad cool.

The novelty gold comes from R. Wyly with poor sound and VHS striations: the wry funky folk of “Skiing for Jesus.” Xmas adjacent.

Tanya Rivera doesn’t want you to break her “Candy Cane Heart.” So, her pop music instructions include drinking, skating, and dating. Then, love. By the book.

“The New Ice Skates” carry her away. He knows she’s leaving so, at least in the Faint Lights alt folk song, buys her a mode of transpo. For when it’s cold enough.

Joni Mitchell’s second most covered song is the anti-Christmas folk mopery “River.” She wishes she had a river she could skate away on… See ya! (Okay, beautiful song, beautifully sung–but, wotta bummer.)

The Easy Button picture a picture postcard when you are skating across the lake and on the frozen streets. I picture infrastructure failure. But “It’s Christmas Time!” is energizing rock/pop, so let’s delude ourselves.

Showing off a few English language traits, David Cavada uses mystical pop with his hoarse vocals to craft a “Christmas Present.” I got: everything is fine. And snowman getting a smile. Not sure about the skating.

Rane has “(No Need for a) Snowy Christmas” because he has ice skating. Not sure how that works, but the folk-pop insistency convinces me he’s on the level.

Rockefeller (Center) returns as a skating destination in the soul-pop of “Christmas in New York.” Joe soothes with his tenor tweaking croon. It’s all about the love.

For Jesse Biondi, “Christmas Means to Me” a crowd of loved ones. And, if you’re taking notes, hot cocoa then skating. Punchy showtune flavored pop.

Ginger Cat recalls jump blues with their uke-y folk “Christmas With You.” Lots of hugging, snuggling, cuddling–even while skating. Comforting.

Bear Cat munches on the innocent outing invitation with their alt pop “Ice Ice Skating.” Then they gargle into this mash the absurdity of modern living. Weirdly hypnotic.

Swim Rest wants to skate away the breakup angst with their “Skating.” Slightly jazzier alt.

Welfare gets unplugged for the tender meltdown of “Ice Skating.” Later he goes fishing, then swimming. Folk pop thinker.

Megan and Shane update an old Bing toon-a-noodle-hoo into bluegrass rockabilly fun: “White World of Winter.” Falling in love hard, you might split your noggin on a toboggan.

Canadian bro and sis team Love Note to Dexter impress with their certain uncertainty in “We are the Wreath.” This ode to Xmas includes toboggans, and a rainbow of colorful doodads, and a Nativity. Weird and wild folk.

Love Note to Dexter again with “Anthem for the Big Christmas Brawl.” More wild poeticizing: And toboggans they rise From the grave of that guy Who invented sleds in the first place puts this folk drug trip into first place.

Baby Jey alt-pops their “Toboggan” to a swing and sway party for one. Or two. Whoever can fit on the slippery thing.

“Toboggan Trip” is conversational word jive from Bobo and The Unusuals. Don’t flip, baby. It’s hip. Wa-a-ay hip.

I’d be suspicious of “We are Toboggan” by Toboggan, too. But i’d like you to try out this garage rock and hold on tight. That’s something.

“Big Ol’ Toboggan” by Terry Tufts (w/Tobias Meis) is the epic buildup for the kid shenanigan. Folk anthem. Stand up! I mean, watch out! Those kids’er crazy!!

Regina Spektor takes a ride on “2.99¢ Blues.” This jazz/blues crash course flies hither and yon with yodeling and rapping. It’s about… 2.99¢, I guess.

More snowbound and holiday driven, “Winter Wonderland” by Sparrow Heights is a weird alt (Japanese influenced?) pop imagining.

Ramona Silver has a winner with the syncopated folk of “Sled Song.” Her verisimilitude of strumming and humming makes for fun ups and downs,

Santa surfing? Yeah, let’s get him back on the water.

Ukulele Jim (previously on the blog here as Surfer Jim) narrates “Surfer Santa Claus” as an Hawaiian icon. Tender ballideering.

Gene Mitchell blames The Beach Boys for when “Santa’s Gone Surfing.” Name dropping song titles like they’re the innards of a piñata, this surf rocker is kid friendly playful.

At more of a stoner’s pace, “Santa is a Surfer Man” by The Snow Man loops de loop with radical reverence. He’s got that frothy dog.

Tarzan & the Beachwaiters return with their hard rock “Riding the Waves for Xmas.” Thanks, again.

“Christmas Wave” from G Love is harmonica driven American rock. Weird, like reading the word orange written in green ink.

Mad Caddies get super cute with their ukulele Music Hall funny business “I’m Going Surfing for Christmas Day.” We are amused.