Year-round Yuletide oddities
Were there any famous reindeer before the Big Eight? Try “Bucky the One-Eyed Reindeer,” a lovely cowboy ditty about the great reindeer crash that resulted in the great stock market crash. Santa’s Elves deserve a posting on the great parody parade. Their album is good stuff.
Vixen’s down with the flu! Who you gonna call?! “Brutus the Backup Reindeer” comes to the rescue thanks to Phil and the Osophers with ’70s pop crooning. Too bad the washed-up loser ruins everything–to upbeat scatting.
Badly Drawn Boy to the rescue with a hip symphonic cartoon song that uses “Donna and Blitzen” as the Xmas magic metaphor for love. Soaring pop.
[Compare to the hipster head case of a beat love ballad “Donner Blitzen” by Tom Baird, in which reindeer are the key to understanding life. Good luck with that.]
Simplefish (ft. MC @isnorris and MC Stabby) worry “Where is Dancer?” in an experimental pop procedural that will leave you wondering if that was really one of Santa’s reindeers’ names.
An interjection good enough to end Finnegans Wake, YES may be what Christmas is all about.
“Yes It’s Christmas!” is Illingworth’s country rocker on Adderall. Meaning, it’s for the kids. Brace yourself.
Ender Bender’s “Yes It’s Christmas” is also hyper, but that suits dance pop better. You might wanna caffeinate up to keep up.
Randy Becker slows the mood way down with his jazz solemnity “Yes It’s Christmas.” Did somebody die? (Wait, that’s Easter.) (Not really.)
Bebe Winans tries to up spirits again with a heavily orchestrated anthem “Yes It’s Christmas.” Biblical show tune.
The Hipwaders go right for the kids with their folksy pop rock. But “Yes, It’s Christmas” has a Celtic declamatory riff to it that demands obedience. Sign me up.
Oh is a gateway interjection for so many idiomatic phrases. And they can be shouted for Xmas.
“Oh My, Oh My, It’s Christmas” is the gospel exclamation from the Wilmington Celebration Choir. Salty.
Some funk from Carly Jamison worries about the accessibility of the home to delivery in “Oh No Santa Claus.” Get it.
“Christmas Time is Here (Uh Oh)” subimposes the interjection after the statement. But that’s the thing with mistakes. Telekinesis presents piano pop.
Pop oopsy from Trillian Miles, “Uh Oh Christmas.” It’s what it says it is. And whistling.
A pedestrian hallelujah, hail can be just an old hello. But, coupled with Christ, HAIL means a great deal more.
The Decca Chorus sings “Hail to Christmas” as a selection from the operetta ‘Babes in Toyland.’ This oldie timey symphonization comes off almost as ragtime. Have fun with it!! (Or take succor in the early ’60s version on Golden Records. It’s safer.)
Elektra Women’s Choir & Alicia O’Brien bring the solstice Wiccan power to “Hail, Christmas Day!” Piercing, man.
Call back to Teen Titans Go! with their “All Hail the Jolly Fat Man” as a smart march intro for the mean Santa.
Who else–? Oh that’s right, Mother Mary gets a hail now and then. Many take the prayer/penance and sing it. Few swing it. So let’s turn the light on Joy Riding, whose “Hail Mary” is an alt-pop trip to the beach. But it’s about Christmas (i suspect), and being out of place. Youngsters!
Saved the HEY! best for HEY!! last. HEY!!! ‘Cause shouting HEY in Christmas songs never gets too annoying.
Call me a softie, but Wells Cathedral School Records put all their overachievers together for a mishmash of holiday glitz “Hey Ho, It’s Christmas I Know.” It’s a mess, but a special episode of Glee mess.
Backroom Stereo band rocks the laid back alt fun out of “Hey Ho Ho Ho.” It’s that kind of party.
1960s scat pop revives in Merrill Nisker’s “Hey Ho Christmas.” Wired shenanigans.
1980s soulful syncopop from York Patrick expresses a breathy cheer “Hey Soon It’s Christmastime.” It should repel, but the insistent backbeat gets to me. Cuddling, hmm-mmm.
“Hey! Look! It’s Christmas (Christmas has Finally Gone Away)” had me at existential dread. Handclapping and ironic, mechanical pop shove the sentiment out of the way. That, Kimo Nevius, is that.
Who do we really Hey around Xmas?! Is it Santa?! (Listeners, a whole month-load of songs exist to call out Big Red; let’s reduce our consumption to a handful of odd ‘uns.)
The Something Awful people (well, Kruxy) take on Carnie & Wendy Wilson’s pop nonsense with an unending hell of “Hey Santa.” DJ = demented jokery.
Awkward girl rap from Jocie Dena, “Hey Santa” is neither angry nor profane. Nor do the rhymes bust.
Pleading ’80s style lite jazz relays a personal message to help repair a bad breakup. Pricey Diggs’s “Hey Santa” is wet snow on the carpet.
Better is the dad rock of Kerr Donnelly Band’s “Hey Santa.” Elvis fossils.
Beating out Brian Setzer by the hair on my chin chin chin, Royal Crown Revue lays “Hey Santa” into jazz band heaven. You brazen hussy.
Sweet, Hot and Sassy take the ‘Santa Baby’ bit to swing nightclub lengths with their “Hey Santa (Hey, Daddy).” Cue the bluegrass fiddle!
Well, The Moonglows might just own “Hey, Santa Claus” in terms of doo wop, heartbreak, and overall cool. Dig that licorice stick.
So many more… Then there’s the alias–
In all their music video finery Showaddywaddy pop out some 1974 party fun with their hymnal “Hey Mister Christmas.” It’s all fun and games until somebody puts out. Vice Squad improves this with a touch of punk.
One of our older interjections is the simple hey. Which means it no longer represents mere attention getting, but can be greeting, challenge, orgasmic outcry, or–whatever. The trough of novelty songs that hey Xmas will take us a week, kay?
Kids need more interjections to get their attention, so let’s start with swishy kidsong. John Oates (is it Daryl’s ex???) monotones “Hey! Happy Christmas to Ya!” in appropriately singsong playfulness. Yawn.
Seia Yano does the pre-teen bedroom band routine with “Hey! It’s Christmas.” Nasal, youthful, but uninhibited talent shines through with superior piano pop.
The Go Go Cult beat the drum slowly to punctuate “Hey Hey It’s Christmas.” This drug-dreamy doozy of alt-garage should alter your attention toward the holidays (not sure which ones).
Jody Whitesides slow it down even more with “Hey Today is Christmas Day.” This pokey folk pop love ballad declares kindly, but with commanding assurance. Do not deny it.