Category: pop music

Most of the handful of carols dedicated to WWI are British about their dedication and sacrifice (and that one about the soccer game on the front lines).

But we’re being national here. So we’ll leave the patriotic history in the hands of the Royal Guardsmen with their capitalistic sequel to ‘Snoopy vs. the Red Baron’ song “Snoopy’s Christmas.” That beagle’s kinda Yank.

Psy’s 2012 cultural phenomenon ‘Gangnam Style’ spawned as much laughter as dance. So here come the parodies. (I can only stand a few–there are dozens!)

Supposedly Psy does his own “Santa Style.” But i’d sashay past if i were you.

Just as pointless, but with the moves demonstrated NYC Santa and friends (the guys in Time Square who want 20 bucks for a photo) skit out “Oppa Santa Style.” Not much to it.

Imitator Tots list out Christmas symptoms to the beat with their “Christmas Time (Gangnam Style).” You can feel the dub step. It’s a 4 on the fun scale.

More clever, “Santa Style” by nyrbness delivers the sound, the wit, the feeling of dancedancdance.

I guess my favorite, is an AM radio gasser parody (Mark and Brian) with drunk pointlessness. “Christmas Style.” I love over attention to detail without an exit plan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHH-NF-9ELo

Mambo is one of those great dances named for the music, like disco. It may have been hatched down south in the ’30s, but no one cared until the big band concerts, movies, and radio shows of the ’40s made us Cuba-crazy.

Sadly most Merry mambo tunes simply torture old standards with a salsa beat. But this is such primal music it has generated a few original songs.

Billy May with the Orchestra capitalize on the fun with “Rudolph Mambo.” While not technically a song, the few interjections: ‘What the heck is the ma-ambo!’ jazz up this swinging ballroom routine.

“We Wanna See Santa Do the Mambo” by Big John Greer picks up its feet and moves surprisingly gracefully across the turntable. This is doo wop done mambo.

Jimmy Boyd followed up his voyeuristic success with ‘Kissing’ with “I Saw Mama Do the Mambo (with You Know Who).” Kid’s getting creepy.

“Mambo Santa Mambo” has become an important December dance tune, The Enchanters deliver a perfectly passable paso doble version. The Bobs whoop and groan through every maneuver, but keep it light hearted and lively.

For full club flavor sample Cabaret Diosa keeping a bongo beat with “Merry Mambo Christmas.” Ay Santa!

El Timbo may tug at your heart strings, however, with his poor childhood Christmasses warmed only by the mambo. “Mambo Christmas” tells a story with funny voices, two languages, and an odd pop-electronic beat. Beat that.

If Santa’s so cool, should i worry about my girl?

Straight up and tragic yeah.

Santa likes a little nookie with his cookie, and he gets around.

You have probably known this since Clarence Carter’s motown “Back Door Santa” from 1968. That delivery man has got libido out the back door.

In the same vein, “Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin'” has been covered by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Albert King, Tinsley Ellis, Larry McCray, Dan Lawson and The Christmas Jug Band. But let’s give it to Bill Murray (and George Clooney) with a laid wa-a-a-ay back rendition.

Bob Rivers’ take on this is the classic Springsteen turn on ‘Coming to Town’ with his parody “Santa Claus is Fooling Around.” Classic comedy (and i do mean OLD).

More outraged (and rightly so) come The Mistreats and the punk screaming fit “Santa Stole My Baby.” Vent along if it’s happened to you, too.

Gotta hear the blues, though. Bobby Parker gets angsty with “Sandy Claw Stole My Woman.” It’s painful, that’s what it is (not the guitar).

Here Comes the Mummies do a word-jazz heavy number on that Fat Tub of Goo with “Secret Santa.” That’s is one merry mo-fo you should not let down your chimney when she‘s home. Great fun video, but this may not be about Santa after all.

Best party music for your girl getting’ birddogged by Babouschka is “Santa’s Beard” by They Might Be Giants (not a remake of The Beach Boys), a real crowd pleasing stomp in honor of jealousy and heart-broken-ness.

Okay, chicks dig the sleigh, but in his off duty hours, doesn’t it jive that Father Christmas is riding that hog low and slow through town, giving every little girl and boy visions of chopper burns. Get out of his way if you know what’s good for you!

The Rocking Scoundrels give us a “Sidecar Santa” with a hard-driving electric rhythm and a dash of rockabilly. Sons of Advent ride!

“A Harley Davidson Christmas Song” by Richard Steel Hemingway adds hard country rock to some odd mumbling about that weird old beard-o with the motorcycle. It’s lulling me to sleep….

More fun is a ditty posted by Texas Outdoor and Motorcycle Roads club. It’s uncredited and of poor sound quality, but “Biker Santa” is a moral tale of misjudging a man by his leathers–country western style. A flashback to the ’70s.

Tony Vosik & The Kids nail the awkward-rhythm of novelty music (off-key electric piano, lackluster back ups) better with “Santa on a Motorcycle.” You may be singing (in order to drown them out) and swaying (from nausea), but you’ll be glad when it’s over.

What’s it mean to be a pimp? Frontin’ for the ho ho hos? Running the whole dang show like a master mack daddy? Pimpin’ is bein’ in charge. Leave it to Sleigh Boss.

Louna Maroun & RefugeFromReno claim only that he’s a ladies man when they outline his proclivities in “Santa Claus: P.I.M.P.” but they sing it so party-time i gots to give it to ’em.

The Broadlawn Posse motown up their hip hop for a melodic melt down on “Pimp Daddy Santa.” Good and bad girls are covered.

But, in our reggae styling Determine determines that “Santa Pimp” is merely a hard man not to be messed with. Or he’s not real.

Our friends from Saturday Night Live have also determined that the godfather of naughty is ol’ “Sump’n Claus.” With awesome power (and cash) he rewards the naughty, by means of his own code of rap rules.

Clever clever Mistletones pay homage to blaxploitation with “Chimney Shaft.” Shut yo mouf.

Michael Tolcher has the skinny though. In his ballad “Santa is a Pimp” we learn how the magic of Christmas Day rolls easily off his mighty mighty gloved fingers. That’s the power of pimpin’. Listen for the last line of proof and you too will believe.