Category: pop music

Reducing the Christmas flying routine to a little toy might trigger iconoclastic ideation.

Rowdy House has got the number with “Toy Plane Christmas.” Boy does this song deliver the goods on–everybody. Pop irony.

Sometimes flying high is just tripping out. If reindeer can do it, stoners can too.

Previously noted “Walking in the Air” from the UK Xmas cartoon ‘The Snowman’ has left a legacy for druggies. Aurora’s rendition is ethereal. Pop with only high notes.

A dated comedy reference, “Flying Over Colorado” depicts Santa’s reindeer encountering a mysterious cloud over the first state to legalize marijuana. A showtune of, uhh, i dunno, proportions. Ho koff ho.

What else could go wrong with those aerial antlered ones?

Sleeping Dogs Lie detail the toughest gig in the sky with “Another Drunken Santa Claus Christmas.” Harmonious light folk pop with a warning in its tale. Whispery fun.

The robot uprising will not be televised. ‘Cuz the screens are all robots! Can Santa’s reindeer be updated with machines?

Rappy McRapperson presents Wing as an I-dare-you-to-listen execrable novelty smash: “Santa Claus on a Helicopter.” Dance, helicopter, dance! Uncategorizable.

Plenty o’ ditties claim Santa drives a cool jalopy, some even fly. But The Beach Boys elevate the subject with “Santa’s Got an Airplane.” Soaring pop of the novelty brand.

How do Santa’s reindeer fly? How do you ask so many questions!

The Withers step all over Burt Bacharach wonderin’ how those “Reindeer Keep Flying” overhead. But it’s not worrying them.

“What Makes the Reindeer Fly” asks Ryan Rasmussen with a little soft shoe accompaniment. He says magic, but i’m guessing drugs: the grass tastes like popsicles?!?

Strawberry Traffic Jam double barrels the questions from the little one to Daddy in “How Do Reindeer Really Fly?” The kidsong goes for more than the high hoofers, but overwhelms with childlike curiosity. Or is it annoys? (Dad’s answer: wait ’til you’re older.) (Really.)

Oompah pop from Anacapa digs deeper with “How Do Reindeer Really Fly.” The blues-tinged diva vocals compel us to actually wonder– and tap our toes.

What we treasure about Santa’s reindeer is their Superman power–levitation. They don’t ‘fly’ like birds or planes, but merely lift off and hover and maneuver like a video game toy balloon. So, let’s spend a month lighter than air with reindeer, Santa, angels… all the Xmas aerial phenomenon.

The Chimney Tops are a welcome find with their symphonic pop expose “Reindeer Flight Instructor.” The excitement builds and builds in this epic number–or was it a myth (now with outro mall music) the whole time?

Sometimes a reindeer isn’t here for Santa Claus’s sleigh. The nontraditional carols that corral the Christmas critters lead us a merry chase, i must say.

The precious grunge sendup “I See Reindeer in the Clouds” seems to be about the prep work for Christmas crudités. But the singers do indeed imagine reindeer, for some reason. Maybe it’s just a good story to tell.

Also an outstanding parody, The Withers’ “Reindeer on the Moon” takes on R.E.M.’s ‘Man on the Moon,’ but seems to visit a dire world of No Xmas due to the unverified passing of Rudolph. (Do you hear ‘Reindeer on the Roof‘? I do. ‘Sbetter.)

Gregg Donley makes the case that you need to search Ireland in order to find these beasties. “The Reindeer Song” is more music hall kidsong than Celtic hop, so take it with a grain of salt.

Ken Herzog’s Christmas tragedy “The Dead Reindeer Song” reads like a sitcom theme song, but the lesson is give peace a chance… or stop reading the papers… or whatever you will. Okay.

The harnessed might chafe and rumble about working conditions. Will Claus’s reindeer unionize?

In The Substitutes’ alt rock odyssey “The Reindeer will Fight for X-Mas” Santa seems to uses violence or at least technology to keep the big guys in place. It’s charmingly brutal.

Starting out as a clever mashup of ‘Ghost Riders in the Sky’ and ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas,’ The Carolyn Sills Combo’s “Ghost Reindeer in the Sky” takes a grisly closeup of the wretched conditions these creatures fly under. Brrr.

Bah & The Humbugs cry out for action with “Free the Reindeer,” a rocking pop protest ballad. This might take a while, better call Aaron Sorkin to option the rights.

Deer Valley Trio seem to care little for lyrics or production values, but Mr. Christmas pushes too far “When Santa Claus Got His Ass Kicked by the Reindeer.” Chatty desk knocking pop, almost kidsong, with a resounding yeehaw!

Sleeping Trees itemize the PTSD of the eight in graphic detail. Synth pop sensation “The Ballad of the Reindeer” wishes you well, but the reindeer–they resign. Brit silliness.

An eight-pack plus of massive herd animals on the housetop? How loud does that get!

Tom Paxton goes nonchalant kidsong to name the possible sources of the clatter in “Reindeer on My Roof.” Some lovely pickin’.

Also bein’ cool, Coach Kody raps out the racket with quiet glee in “Reindeer on the Roof.” Names ’em, too, case you lost track.

Terry Turtle sets the complete soundscape with carols, bells, AND “Reindeer on the Roof.” Freaky kid folk and a froggy vocal that might scare more than endear.

Making ‘Up on the Housetop’ refreshed, The Rosebuds jam out “I Hear (Click, Click, Click)” to my top forty Xmas tunes of all time. Pop done right.