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.
How long did it take before we listened to a Journey parody? A week?! “Don’t Stop Believing (In Santa Claus)” is almost what you hoped for. Awkward.
With great rhymes like Have you tried his pasta sauce? and Are you always grasping at straws? Zansman garage down “Do You Believe in Santa Claus?” Let me answer that question With a question: Are you still dating Roz? (Rhymes.)
Thurl Ravenscroft (awesome!) and The King Sisters help out Billy May & His Orchestra with the bass booming kidsong “Do You Believe in Santa Claus?” Careful with your answers, there’s a twist.
Navel gazing in a mirror factory, Make Like Monkeys retro rocks the poser “Who Fathered Christmas?” Wait, was it God?!
“Wake Me Up: The Christmas Song” is Parliament Brawl piling punk atop goth garage until spittle covers everything. This is the seasonal variant of their hit.
Amo Joy’s “Wake Up (To the Christmas Spirit)” is goofy brass noodling all over a rich Tin Pan Alley mug’s worth of rich musings. I mean, you tell me.
“When I Wake Up It Will Be Christmas” by Megan and Tom Carnell is an etiquette guide to Xmas Eve behavior. Heavy rock over toddler song makes for an interesting mashup. Off to bed I go!
It was all a lie. Wake up, sheeple! “Wake Up It’s Christmas” is the broken-heart letter from Janet Devlin that deploys indie pop to warn you to Watch the Lies! He’s coming for your presence!
Lori Lofstrom just wants you to hold her all night. Her nasal paean “I Wanna Wake Up on Christmas with You” is twangy Baez folk rock that is so into you, you might want to set some boundaries. Now.
“SEPTEMBER or Wake Me Up When Christmas Starts” is Joey Slater bemoaning the tentativeness of some relationship. It’s not here, it’s not there, it’s September. Poetical rocker that makes you go Hmmm.
Remember 2023 when, on the blog, Clint Black brought us “Slow as Christmas“? That’s you, the slow part. He was up before the dawn with some nearly authentic country featuring fine fiddlin’.
“Wake Up Daddy (It’s Christmas!)” is an Or Else scenario from Gator and the Gator Boys. Zydeco with a macabre edge. Daddy just won’t wake up. You don’t think…?
The Hipwaders retro the rock with “Wake Up.” A wonderful alarm to lift up the spirits AND the parents. It’s all good!
Trouble with the warm bedding holding you down? Even Xmas morn?!
Babbie Mason (with Chaz Mason) reveal “Christmas Is A Time For Children” who–BTW–can’t go to sleep. They won’t awaken ‘cuz, you know, they’re kids. Easy listening kidsong that’s both adorable and off-putting.
“Wake Up the Children” fights the paradigm with peppy pop indie shouldering the burden of opened eyes onto others. Yet the drug-smearing imagery and romance within the lyrics speaks of stranger things.
“I Can’t Wake Up at Dawn” club rocks Bacio with stylish elan. They were out late last Eve, so–sorry.
The Grand Gestures speak their truth/rap in “I Never Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus.” Apparently NOT seeing such results in a life of quiet desperation. It’s a TED Talk in resignation.
That Francis P. Church editorial from over a century ago gets the gospel treatment from Andy Beck in “Yes, Virginia, There’s a Santa Claus.” Here, seeing ain’t nothing.
“Baggage Claim” from Smash Mouth allows nostalgia to ruin all those childhood myths, including: never saw Santa’s face. Proper rock for the disenfranchised.
