Boys set loose with sound equipment usually do better than The No Hits, No Wonders. So, unless it’s a song-prank, the angry amateurish “There Ain’t No Santa Claus” is on the naughty list.
Starting with ‘Sleigh Ride’ Tenille Primus & Tenielle Lewis dance carefree around “There’s No Santa Claus” with electronic easy listening and parang.
Jed Davis mashes retro rock with elctro-pop in the inspiring “There is No Santa.” Quite a ride, but i’m not sure of our destination.
Boys, straightened out by the parents, might moan the blues rock like we get from Baxter and The Basics. “There is No Santa Claus” is a roller coaster of belief suss and disbelief mistrust. I need a scorecard here.
“I Don’t Believe in Santa Claus” care of The Matt Lewis Experience also takes its time with carefully considered nihilism. Rocking folk pop that makes you think/not care.
Again: “Santa Is a Fake” by Arne Hansen & The Guitarspellers is the hard (dad) rock that digs deep into the heartache of growing up. The word’s out.
Little Suzy also faces reality in News at 5’s “Calling Out for Santa.” This is the hard-nosed takeaway from Mom’s unremitting cancer. Then Timmy suffers from Dad’s alcoholic abuse. Janey’s son gets it worse. And Santa won’t help. Brutal folk.
Summer Camp poops all over your beliefs with “Here Again.” Indie cynicism to feed your depression.
The Vandals decide gift-giving is moot since “I Don’t Believe in Santa Claus.” Punk dissection of our hypocrisy. And humor.
I have about a dozen versions of “Don’t Believe in Christmas” from Smash Mouth to Pearl Jam. But they all repeat without embellishing upon the original verzh from The Sonics 1965 (except perhaps for some of the foreigners).
Again: Otis Gibbs ups the skepticism with “Lookin’ Like a Hippie.” Groovy fiddlin’ makes this blues, but i’m bustin’ my sides on this one.
Merrill Leffmann presents “Daddy Says,” a cute bluegrass ensemble about a dubious kid. Tough logistics. Good stuff.
After an awkward gift exchange among millennials, Santa shows up shouting I’M FOR REAL! It’s all part and parcel for the garage fun of Corbeta Corbata’s “The Spirit Of Giving (Santa’s Lament).” Intense.
Libandano Urfam (ft. Libandano Urfam) tests our patience with the experimental rock “Awful Christmas Rap.” I don’t believe it.
Gaspard Royant brings The Continent to indie pop with “I Can’t Believe It’s Christmas.” Builds symphonically, yet that country twang keeps it grounded.
Is Santa a legend based on history? Or a myth that fills the hole of dread? Or a lie parents find deflects blame? Or a gateway to Christianity? Bring on the Doubting Thomases!
Again: Augie Rios returns with the fun R’n’R kidsong “Ol’ Fatso.” This refuser yells at that guy on the roof… until faced with the absence of presents. Switcheroo! (The Caroleers make mincemeat out of this replacing rock with symphonic.)
Beatnik Turtle gives the holidays the third degree with the investigatory “Santa.” This slow club rock deconstructs the myth and doesn’t like what it finds. Loss of credibility follows.
Daniel Dennis brings back the rock (wrapped in country) with the concept that You Don’t Believe, but “Santa Still Believes.” That’ll do, figment of my imagination, that’ll do.
These protestations of determinacy are beginning to sound like each other. Let’s keep going then!
Trying again, Mehghan Trainor swings the pop declaring “I Believe in Santa.” She does. Do you? The choreography writes itself.
The Statler Brothers get all sit down, son and we’ll talk with “I Believe in Santa’s Cause.” There’s lots of country topics they can’t prove (less filling/tastes great), but they are convinced of the inner meanings. Something like that.
“Santa Claus (I Still Believe In You)” is Alabama’s attempt at country kidsong. Good harmonies lead into gospel, so this is the IDEA of the fat man.
LeAnn Rimes torch sings the lounge-wonderful “I Still Believe in Santa Claus.” Maybe you saw Slinky on the kid’s list and thought he meant job description.
“I Still Believe in Santa” as DeVita sings it is cheeseball pop with synthed vocals and little message. If this is your thing, go with God–figuratively speaking.
“I Still Believe in Santa Claus” by New Kids on the Block is more contemplative pop, from when they had baby voices. Still plenty of cheese.
“I Still Believe In Santa Claus” from Arielle Perez is almost showtune in energy, evolving from slow and uncertain to steady and loud. Still pop.
Full Service adults the pop a smidge with “I Still Believe in Santa Claus.” Nice folk influence, but it’s for the young ‘uns.
Brent Evans brings us back to country, sort of, with “I Still Believe in Santa Claus.” It’s a compare/contrast of boy to man. Is one better?
SuicideFriendly switches us up with bluesrock in their “I Still Believe in Santa Claus.” It’s tradition here despite the iconoclastic riffing.
Club rock from Lennie Gallant featuring John Dunsworth connects us better to “I Still Believe In Santa.” Well, those of us who got it figured out. Twangy!
Trying again, Shel lounge divas the indie “I Know You’re Real, St. Nicholas.” It’s penetratingly emotional and disturbingly sensual.
Steve Smith artistically folks over “I Believe.” Mostly it’s about you. But it’s moving.
The Moody Blues piddle all over prog rock with “Yes I Believe,” a reverential peek at Jesus’s legacy. Guys, prog rock is for elves and stuff.
Vocally vibrant, George ‘Georgios’ Mavridis plies us with “Just Believe (in Christmas).” But he’s telling us with his primal beat, not asking us. Tres tremolo.
Sarth Calhoun gets thumpy, but it’s not bible-thumping… it’s washboard thumping! “I Just Believe in Christmas” is a roustabout of personal conviction. Hold onto yer socks.
BlitZ’s “I Believe in Christmas” flat out rocks. No whingeing, no conditions, no adulation. Manifesto music.
