Category: pop music

“Truce for Christmas” indicates that the German/Brit soccer game of 1914 wasn’t a new thing. Apparently the Rebs/Yanks got to singing together for a bit, too. Colby Gray goes ethereal pop, which is better than a Sousa march, i reckon. Oh, all right, i dig this.

“Christmas, the Roaring ‘Twenties” is merely an impression of what music’d’ve been like then. It’s a bit of doggerel, as if for those times all were drunk/stupid, but The No Name Band lean into this so it’s either brilliant or embarrassing. Which means i gotta post it. We’ll call it pop music.

A crazy, caffeinated pop waltz “Beautiful World” rewinds the wildness of the past century, including: So it goes the bird said, Merry Christmas, baby, 1921. Not sure where we’re going, but what a flashy ride.

If you haven’t heard the–BEGAN in 1937–“His Favorite Christmas Story,” count yourself fortunate. It’s a catchy, haunting story in the vein of ‘Christmas Shoes’–maudlin, torturously sentimental. But, hell, it’s effective AF. Finally found someone beside Capital Lights who covered this. Suite Serenade featuring Laney Yelverton and Luci Feie clone the original. (Perhaps you’d prefer to waste time with the sped up [not quite chipmunk] version from some Nightcore project.) Pop.

Redhouse Gasoline whitewashes a bit with “I Love Lucy,” a satiric pop piece that thinks the whole of the US of A behaved like they did on this sitcom. No talk of nuclear weapons and struggling through… indeed! Did the USA of the 1950s Act like Jimmy Stewart in the Christmas holidays? becomes the question (though ‘Wonderful Life’ came out in the ’40s and was set in the ’30s…)–apart from do you love Lucy, too? Danceable.

The old standby “Santa Baby” asks for a light blue convertible, which should be a ’54. Not into tired old traditionals here, so let’s try punk: welcome The Dollyrots!

“A Little with Sugar” is a hard life for a young man and the problems(?) he’s got with his mama. But it starts Xmas of ’54. Walter Becker and Donald Fagen swing it. Before Steely Dan.

Jay Stansfield (feat. SAY) get poetical and altpop with their “Christmas 1954.” Not sure how this picturesque scene is the ’50s (‘ceptin’ for saying gay for gleeful). Maraca out!

“Flappie” by Youp van ‘t Hek is a funny little lesson for a child back in Xmas of ’61, well funny for the Dutch. If you want in on the dark bunny joke, check out Todd Rundgren’s translation: “Floppie.” Holy moley.

Bob Tupper’s recollection of 1962 begins folk gently on the way to “Grandma’s House for Dinner.” Then–surprise–it mystically rocks pop music to a transcendent experience. As an adult he realizes/relishes its perfection. You WISH your Christmas was this fulfilling.

Christmas in the ’60s was fine maintains Fay Lovsky in “Christmas was a Friend of Mine.” Odd brassy slow-mo pop. Nick & Simon mainstream it. Not as good.

“My Christmas is Better Than Yours” is the war of the ’80s ‘gainst the ’60s. Don’t Call Me Ishmael seems to prefer the later (Instagram?!) but a ding dong daddy case is made for the old timey. Big band pop.

The Rebel Yell admits that for “December 8,1980” christmas not too far away— but John Lennon was gunned down in front of his home due to the socio-political climate. Punk infused metal and, boy, is it pissed.

Missed chances are recalled with “Kodachrome Ghosts” by James DeanBradfield. Just happens to be a holiday candid in there to stir up hard rock emotions.

Let’s round down. Marshal Keep’s “Winter Blues” measures heartbreak with–well, not exactly yodeling–uncertain percussive pop. Looking back a ways, he’s mumble mumble sorry. He eventually admits This song is more about the breakup, it wasn’t really about Christmas.

The Merry Kinsers tout “Christmas in the ’80s” as a materialistic wonderland before Facebook went and ruined our family. Pop shebop.

On the other side of the pond, “Xmas in the 80’s” pops wise about media overload and–duh–toys. Scouting for Girls adds to our downslide.

“Christmas was Better in the ’80s” rants The Futureheads. Not a polemic, but a strongly held UK pop belief for the childish innocence lost.