Category: pop music

Caffeinated pop from Grayson DeWolfe, “Have a Merry Christmas” is only half-serious since you broke up with him. Never thought that I’d be out a date this year, he moans. Then bebops the title like it ain’t no thing.

And you’re alone this Christmas Eve: I hope it burns every time you think of me; I start a fire, try to forget you–I hope you’re locked up in your room Forgetting about me, begins the emo-boy rock of Search the City. “The Holiday Song” is a poison pill of tribute to what once was. And it’s the 25th of December And I remember the times, The times I felt alive (didn’t you feel alive?). It’s not me, it’s you.

I’m better off without ya, raps Ree$s in a spin on ‘Last Christmas’ with “This Christmas.” He’s moved on, melodically. He don’t give a fa la la.

Digging the holiday season isolation, Author’s Bias warns I’ll complain until I ruin it for you too. “Don’t Call Me This Christmas” is a half-speed garage-pop moan of a diatribe. Terrible, unless you’re in THAT place. Then it’s perfect.

If you’re willing to work for it, The Buh House Band’s “Why Did You Break My Heart on Christmas Day?” is worth the scouring of Soundcloud’s files. Garage fun.

Boyband sounds from Dre Smuzic (feat. Ketandu) crying: But on the 25th day of December this year I’m not askin for a lot I just want my baby here. A “Christmas Miracle” is all he needs. And a lyricist.

Ethereal pop from Modern Drawing is hurting from that one empty space and wishes for “Christmas with You.” But It’s 25 outside, but I feel colder by a landslide Cause that day everything changed–when you left. I get a ’50s vibe, though. So, cool.

Leo SC raps friendlily “Where’s Santa Claus at?” Waiting and waiting: 24th, I had a dream that the day was here–25, I had a blast with all the Christmas cheer. Happy endings for Xmas!

Lively and shakin’ it, Sugies dances R+B into “25 Days (Into the 12th).” It’s prepped, decked, and ready. Happymaking.

Half rap, haf glee club, half autotune, “Once a Year” is a jubilant paean to Christmas from Buskin & LilJB. Infectious.

Childish BLUE ALERT set to ‘Nutcracker,’ Seriously Sam endears us with his enthusiastic (and competitive) love of that time of the year in “Bitch It’s Christmas.” Damn.

Can Xmas bring out the little one in you? I could really use a good pick-me-up; Can December 25 hurry up? beckons the pop “Roll on Christmas” from George Pelham. Persistent timpani.

Or the full-grown fools never adult at all. “Beat 5” by Kingdom of McChikcen rando-raps the wishes and ‘responsibilities’ [Grab the keys to the Saturn, turn on the ignition  Gettin’ home for December 25th is our mission] of the greedy. Grow up already!

Walking around in the 25 degree-ed weather, Kval miss being a kid in “Christmas is Bliss.” This sad, plodding alt-pop requiem for lost innocence haunts our Christmas spirit.

Numerology reaches into “Christmas is a Special Day” by Fats Domino. Since the difference of the digits of the 25th is 3, Jesus rises on the 3rd day, but lived until he was 33. (What was a good life span back then??) Sounds like an Easter message, but it’s honestly a go-to-church message. To the blues.

Alt rock from The Fall jumbles Jerusalem with Prestwich while observing The Laird’s birth and death (at the age of 33 Which is as good a time as any). “Xmas with Simon” is a true curiosity. Celebrate it!

Ted Leo gets punk with his requiem “Annunciation/Born on Christmas Day.” The Falkland Island War may have done in a mate of the artist’s as in Matty, you were born on Christmas day And just like the one they call Jesus Christ you had thirty-three years before they sent you on your way. Holidays, at times, are more than a celebrated mass, they are a way to mark your calendars. Legit song.

OneNamedPeter was not happy during COVID-19 when “Christmas is Cancelled.” His Brit pop bemoans the losses, including the wasted ten-ton turkey enough to feed 33.

Jamie Grace conjures Christmas any time when My 33’s on my Panasonic Like a cotton candy maker spinning with harmonics And my mama’s singing to it My daddy’s dancing to it…. “Christmas Together” is a real celebration, because of the music (wild, hand-clappin folk-pop). I mean, that’s my mission statement.

Over the Rhine takes us back in time [saxophone recorded forty years ago] to dwell in the sad past for “All I Get for Christmas is Blue.” Desultory jazz.

Tipped over 40 seems to be the appropriate age for a particular melancholy that requires the rationalization “It’s OK to be Alone (This Christmas).” Faithful Johannes (feat. Benjamin Amos) sways the funky pop to cheer me up and bring me down all in one song.

Corny much? The nonsense of the routine may get our wits in a twist but, Got our cameras, we’re recording Cause we’ll watch this when we’re forty–so sez Jamison Gray in his fine subtle pop “Christmas Morning.”

1980s humor dates the Fallen Angel Chorus making hay with ’12 Days’ in “For My 40-Something Christmas.” Work that vibrating thighmaster, girls!

“40 Years of Xmas” is an amazing countdown of the lives of Connor Ratliff & Mikey Erg. Folk strutting that borders on rap whirls my wind.

Jethro Tull’s back, but allowing Jesus some time off for good behaviour. Forty days, give or take a few in “Birthday Card at Christmas.” Poppin’!

“Not Quite Almost Christmas Time” is an unbridled celebration of the joy and stress of to much holiday calendar. Tom Hardy sings not quite children’s music, but not quite fun pop [So imagine how stressed he (Santa) gets when he sees people hanging ornaments A full forty days before Christmas—pretty stressed, right?]. Informative Aussie fun.

Somewhere around Christmas look out for “The Snow.” Seth Rhodes plays pretty pop about watching All the people on 51st street Our eyes covered by an ice sheet. Watch you dance step!

The TV with the 5.1 sound makes it hard to relate to family all trapped together for the holidays. But Sam Newton trudges out a reluctant, dutiful “Merry Christmas” with notes of country in his pop.

If it were “Christmas Every Day,” then it would be 52 weeks in a row–so says the pop music math of SimplePlan. Count on it. And dance to it.

Richard Sponaugle can complain and cuss on 12/26, ‘cuz it’s “52 weeks Until Christmas.” Straining folk/pop with agenda.

Amanda Shires trembles when she gets “A Real Tree This Year.” She’s been waiting the whole 52 weeks for this. And–whew–it smells like menthol and Old Spice. Countrified pop with some funky honky tonk. In her companion piece “Gone for Christmas” her list of wants includes fifty two weeks paid vacation. (Uhh, that’s FROM you.)

Mandy Rowden tickles the strings (of a bouzouki??) with her hopeful plan: “Christmas with You.” West 56th Street is too cold for her, so she’ll catch a flight to get there. Melodic. Sweet. Insistent.

Getting colder!

Even when “It’s a Texas Christmas“ it’s sixty-eight in the shade ya’ll. Rock leads and country follows when Demir Demirkan (ft. Lance Keltner) wail.

“Arizona Christmas” is When the weather cools down it’s a biting, chilly 68 degrees. Abby Walker blends folk and pop to cheery ukulele effect.

Pissed off at his own childhood nostalgia, Frontier Ruckus leads us a merry garage chase to “Orion Town 2.” The brass is brassy, the poetic lyrics beat: I-75 is the swallower of Christmas; The gloom of its gladness is night on our shoulders Connecting our sorrows like ponds with an isthmus. Grow up already!

Back onto the same route: I-75 is a dark roadway lined With the wild electricity of the Animal behaviors… Frontier Ruckus backtracks into banjo strummin’ screaming. “Driving Home, Christmas Eve” drives home the melancholia of Christ’s Mass.

“Rudolph Did a Whoopsie on My Rooftop” includes three quarter of a hundred weight of residue. Ivor Biggun does his music hall burlesque with a jazz bent here, and it’s crap-tastic.

A bit off topic, the talky experimental “Comatose Cakes Penguin” deals with the wintry feel of a dangerous flightless bird. ColdmaN5 explains that He takes a lot of naps 75 hours at a time–These aren’t naps; These are comas. There’s even a Xmas part where he decorates his room like a holiday with the dismembered parts of his enemies. It’s the merriest!

Brad Brewer is south of the Georgia line “A Palm Tree at Christmas.” This country folk is homespun and home-recorded. Kinda rocks, though.

Also deeply South (and warm) Craig Croker Jr. gently strums and folks and pop of “It’s a LowCountry Christmas.” I just about smell it….

Eighty degrees in The Keys is the least of Grandpa C’s problems. Featured in The Christmas Workshop Band Jingles’s “White Christmas Dream,” the rapping oldster is stuck in a horrible holiday loop. Don’t let it catch you. But, if it does, Pass the beer.

Also Floridian, Artie N croons the pop “Xmas in the Sun,” a Calypso-adjacent chill party. Not sure why he’s pretending Mexico–guess 80 isn’t warm enough.

On the other coast, “Boost Christmas” is much more Caribbean (?!?) from SUPERCHARGED (feat. Kwanza Jones & Matty). Pop bubblegum party spew.

Palm Beach is the high pitched pop squealing second-best for Kara Colvin “‘Til I’m Home.” If you can’t be where you want to be be where you are… i guess.