Category: pop music

TreeMendous Holiday Fun: May I Axe You to Dance?

You’ve cleared the room to fit in the tree, so how ’bout a turn across the floor?

“Will You Dance With Me Around the Christmas Tree?” ask The Wiggles (through a tin can apparently). Country for kids. Gotta be the dinosaur.

Singin’ Steve elevates the kidsong to gospel chorale with “Waltz With Me ‘Round the Christmas Tree.” His footwork seems proselytizing, you ask me. (One, two, three, fir….)

Cowboys have been two-stepping around the Christmas tree since Pecos Bill was born, and ive already featured Boggus and Murphy bluegrassing this hit. Let’s give Riders in the Sky a dance in a cave with “Two Step ‘Round the Christmas Tree.”

Remix it up with the electronic dance music of Santa House synthing “You Make Me Wanna Dance (Around the Christmas Tree).” For the kids.

Less about dancing than romancing, Alex Pangman sings “Truckin’ Around the Christmas Tree” while teaching some finger waggling jitterbug. Boogie woogie blue grass.

Now you thought i’d have to include some Brenda Lee here… but let’s go more annoying with The Fabulous Gabriel smothering his efforts in tambourine and electric keyboard. “Let’s Rock Under the Christmas Tree Tonight” wants to be that original song no one else thought of. Barf.

If you wanted to boogie within infringement law to the old ‘Rockin” classic, let’s try “The New Old Way to Rock Around the Christmas Tree.” Crescendo supplies the a cappella to uplift your soul, if not your shoes.

I’m getting out of the mood, so i’ll listen to “The Tree That Couldn’t Rock” by Manos Wild. But that rockabilly sax is changing my tune and now–that’s better….

One doo-wop wonders, The Episodes, shake it to “Christmas Tree,” a 1962 Four Seasons Records 45 single.

Todrick (Toddy Rock Star) Hall (with Chester Lockhart) try their new viral sensation “Splits on Christmas Trees.” See if you catch the fever and strain your hammies in your jammies for mes amis.

TreeMendous Holiday fun: Costar

Runner up for tree topper is the Star in the East, the sign of the Messiah, Mr. Big Light!

Jim Weatherly runs us up the tree dressing all the way to “The Star at the Top of the Tree” with dime-store country synthesizing. It’s magical, and made by Dad… just like Jesus was.

Michael Warner’s corrido “A Star on Top of the Christmas Tree” explains how easy a cheat sheet the tree is: story of Christ… starts with… the star on high!

Breathy jazz from Anja Wintermantel in the amorphous “Star on the Christmas Tree.” The star is the love, the tree is your relationship… but, fear not, the Spanish guitar will lead us to Jesus.

Michael J Handley takes us another jazz route to regret that last night you tried to be the “Star on the Tree.” Lounge comedy with highballs.

Novelty don’t just mean you ain’t heard it before (well, for me, mostly it does). But don’t forget the Way Out There musical offerings. RuPaul embodies the pushed envelope, so here’s herself with “You’re the Star (On My Christmas Tree).” It’s a love song, natch, but in the spirit of queer tit.

TreeMendous Holiday Fun: Lights, Carolers, Ascension!

Don’t just let that tree set there… decorate!

Warbling like his string needs a fuse checked Randy Bryant & The Rockets jazz down “Christmas Tree Lights (Sparkle So Bright)” to no one in particular (well, some loved one).

Ruby Wright gets gospel on it (with so many children) (in 1957) with “Let’s Light the Christmas Tree.” Each twinkle gets her closer to Thee.

Winterval go deeper with “Hang the Lights on the Tree.” Alt rock navel gazing of the slow-dance persuasion.

Love me some Sufjan Stevens. When he begins his holiday chore list with “Put the Lights on the Tree,” he’s only getting started. Get your pencil ready–

TreeMendous Holiday fun: Cedar People Praying

It’s not just the lordling’s sapling, it’s a pipeline to his house. Pray to the Christmas pine and you’ll be herd.

Annie Sunde (feat. Paulita Todhunter) delivers unto us a “Prayer by the Christmas Tree.” That firry pulpit provides for some fine gospel octave soaring.

Anna Marie Burden exhalts with each ornament on “Our Special Christmas Tree” for the love of God. That’s some serious decoration, with some slight country skill.

“Christmas Tree Shine” by John Tracy salutes the evergreen as a symbol of the everlasting love, or peace, or power, or what have you from God. Tender folk expression.

“Gather Around the Christmas Tree” from the cast of yet another ‘Christmas Carol’ musical is yet another Olde excuse to pray to JC directly. Fine chorale. Better than The Caroleers. More serious than Kidzone. Better harmony than the Robert DeCormier Singers and Ensemble. More Christmassy pacing than The Ambrosian Singers.

Namedropping a little bit of messiah, Matthew Brandon Carlson expresses love for “Christmas Tree Lane (Let It Rain).” It’s a story of pop song romance while shopping, but–you know–and God too.

TreeMendous Holiday Fun: Tree’s Company

There are so many trees when you realize how many people want one.

“Chris McCree by the Christmas Tree” is a pop rock thrasher from Councilpop about meeting that special someone by the special someplace. Over here!

Porter Wagoner gets talky with a letter to Santy asking for “Johnny’s Christmas Tree.” The twangy country makes me wonder, doesn’t he have trees right outside? Aw, give the kid a miracle.

“Sally Go ‘Round the Christmas Tree” merely calls out square dancing moves, but Ingrid DuMosch adds spirit.

Much more melodically, The Johnny Mann Singers get intimately chorale with “Johnny Bring the Pine Tree in.” Uplifting… and that smell!

Tremendous Holiday Fun: Whaddya Need-le?

The yearning for spruces leaning in to you come December!

Kid pleasing The Animal Band give in to arboreal lust with “I Want a Tree,” but their cajun-rock allows for religious motivation.

Lacey Roland also stirs the kids up with “I Love a Christmas Tree.” Blue grass middle of the road.

The Jamborees also need “The Christmas Tree.” A notch above usual kid stuff, this agitated pop haunts and earworms equally.

One more kidsong, p’raps a bit lowkey here… Pauline Burr (as The Little ‘Uns) plaintively wails out for that “Sweet Little Tree” as if all our hearts would break.

Music Hall maestro Roy Hudd from 1978 explains “(Everyone Needs a) Christmas Tree” at Christmas. Pretty, tinkly pop.

Tremendous Holiday Fun: Plant a Suggestion

People ask about trees. You better have answers ready.

‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ may be the most heavily footnoted James Bond entry, and it also gives us “Do You Know How Christmas Trees are Grown?” (Hint: with love.) The original comes from Nina van Pallandt, although ’60s UK charter, Jackie DeShannon, has a more lugubrious try also from 1969.

Harold Rippy asks “Baby, What Kind of Christmas Tree You Want?” with pop alt folk trippiness. It’s all in the name of love.

Anthropomorphic Snow Sculpture: funny 6

Yellow snow is an old joke. Yellow snowman is the obvious evolution. These joke songs are fitter to survive!

Bryant Oden warns us with hyperkinetic children’s music “Don’t Make a Snowman with Yellow Snow.” Breathe, dude.

“Travis the Yellow Snowman” shines a spotlight on Travis Creep’s redneck hardworking putupon larborer and his travails. Twinkling trailer folk rock.

2B Recording (or not 2B?) have an elaborate production of “Yellow Snowman.” Pop ballad/hip hop/dance.

Anthropomorphic Snow Sculpture: pop 3

Twirling flakes and ice skates makes ya wanna dance (if you’re younger than 16). So, let’s get semi-nauseous with pop tributes to snowmen.

Technically a parody of the ‘hit’ ‘Chillin’ like a Villain’ from the Disney Channel’s Descendents show about offspring of cartoon bad guys, “Chillin’ Like a Snowman” is still so forced, so vapid, so MADLIBS tween slang edition that it qualifies as its category: sugar. Thanks, Sofia Carson.

While on the Disney juggernaut, travel back to ‘The Mickey Mouse Club’ to see Annette Funicello dancing and (eventually) singing “Hap-Hap-Happy Snowman” for all the leering cowpokes.

Michael Franks tries to pop the jazz with “When the Snowman Sings.” Ook ook a choke.

Just as jazz band fun is Ya Tafari’s “Mr. Snowman.” Yawn.

Vegas pop from Fancy travels back to the ’90s for which we are barely nostalgic yet for a heapin’ dose of “Snowman.” I am trying to avoid drug references for my snowman songs, but here–i can’t tell.

UK pop from Nathaniel Forrester in the bouncy form of “My Snowman.” Couldn’t get a date?

Pop pop from The Icicles (a Heyheyhey) fulfills emotional shallowness to the tune of “Snowman.”

Rock pop when Danny and Cindy Schneider ask the “Snowman” what he sees, thinks, feels, etc.

Nashville recording gamin Evin has a particularly puffy dance number in “Love Song for a Snowman.” She’s lonely so she makes an imaginary (boy)friend. That’s cool, innit? (His eyes are cookie dough, fagudnessake.)

Fun mod pop from Johnny & the Raindrops remind us these should be Xmas songs! “Someone Stole our Snowman”  is a search engine for where that ephemera went! Wot fun!

Retro romperama! The Del Zorros ’70s the pop with “Snowman’s Holiday.” It’s all cones and caps, baby!

Encore: The Crystalairs re-doowop up a flurry with “Snowman.” Put this on repeat, cats.

Back to the past for the actual fun! 1963 gives us Jaynetts’ “Snowman, Snowman, Sweet Potato Nose“–a real dance sensation. Dottdoo doddadoot doo.

Millie Small (‘My Boy Lollipop’) pops her heart out from 1964 with a similar sentiment but an opposite R+B tinged “I’ve Fallen in Love with a Snowman.” Twist and shower him with icy kisses!

Anthropomorphic Snow Sculpture: pop 2

Initial hopeful love must always lead to woe in the snow.

Don’t go away, pleads Daisy May Erlewine with some seductive uke folk in “The Snowman.” It’s making me firm up, too.

The Henry Girls want to know where “Mr. Snowman” went last night. Faultless bluegrass from some suspicious women.

What did you expect of that “Snowman“? asks Jan Krist with feminist folk (and a theremin?!).

Gotta toss in a pretty, odd original “Snowman” from Sam Hart woo-woo-ing about the sad life of the cold. Folk weariness.

Speaking of gotta–you gotta glimpse the odd Frank Sinatra Bing Crosby duet barely salvaged off old radio telling the tale of “The Snowman“–brave, but doomed, poor fellow.

Did i say cold? Don Campbell does some mild yodeling to new age/country for the message “Even the Snowman Knows It’s cold.” Take notes.

Talky bare folk by Andy McGaw who’s missing you, but wouldn’t “If I was a Snowman.” He’d figure out something at that point–something fantastic, something Dylanesque.

Pete Galub also posits the “Impossible Snowman” faced with love’s quandry. Alt pop/folk.

Bears break hearts with the heartbroken altrock “I’m a Snowman.” He’s cold when he’s with you.

The Snowmen introduce themselves with “Here Comes the Snowmen.” Menacing pop.

Gloom-pop from White Ocean: “Snowman” is the talk of the town. What a loner! What an outsider!

The Backbenchers warn you ladies “Don’t Let the Snowman Melt Away.” Put that blowdryer down. Pop psychedelia.

Don’t go! cries Positive Zero, knowing his folk pop “Snowman” will be gone with the daylight. Creepy vampire ideas for me now.

Jalena stutters like Gaga, but her pissed off song “Snowman” is all wishy washy pop crying. If you’re leaving, just do it!

Perhaps you’re just to dance naked in the falling snow “Like a Snowman.” Kiki And Herb (feat. Justin Bond & Kenny Mellman) put this to you in a slow burn show tune build up. Pick a key. Stay there.

Even weirder is the experimental “It Hurts When I Melt” by Merwin. Countdown to puddle.

More pop dreariness from Barenaked Ladies. But their anthem for the overlooked stalwart sentinel gives us a shiver of pride and hope. Melancholic merriness from lords of the oxymoron.