Category: Soul

Amid the caroling and snowing, Randy Travis wants to know “How Do I Wrap My Heart Up for Christmas?” Country, twangy country.

Unironically Donna Summer checks off the lights, cookies, and carolers with rising pop glee. She’s pretty damn happy that “Christmas is Here.”

I wasn’t sure “Carols by the Fire” was AI, but the named artist was Christmas Song, Music and Carol. So, this symphonic puzzle celebrates a moment from a Target commercial, i guess.

Despite the storms and Soul-calling to “Let It Snow ’98” Boyz II Men (feat. Brian McKnight) notice the sleighs and the carolers out there. Invite ’em in, dummies.

Reprising “I Saw Santa Dancing in the Dark” Gary Wilson jams electronically about that time someone saw something and didn’t say something.

Sometimes it’s not where you see Santa, it’s WHEN. The Naughty List’s “I Saw Santa on Halloween” raises more questions than it answers. Awesome garage.

Nicky Ager & Debbie Isitt sling soul from 2014’s ‘Nativity 3 Dude, Where’s My Donkey?!’ in the form of “Stay Up All Night (To See Santa).” High production values run out before we find out what they saw and when they saw it.

What do you need before you’ll go to sleep? A story?!

Sawyer Brown realizes on this night of all nights: No bedtime stories — just questions instead. “Where Christmas Goes” is quiet country, almost lulling.

An actual bedtime story from Low-Maintenance Perennials, “Bob Costas and the Magical Christmas Egg (A Bedtime Story)” fills time whilst the wee ones settle down. But this post punk experimental theater has a shocking twist ending.

The Christmas bedtime stories old people tell is just one more thing in the busy “Ornaments” from Christopher Kenny (feat. Valerie Aurelia). Choppy pop.

“Christmas Magic” is the symphonic nasal pop from Adlith Mondejar in which the bedtime stories are all The Christmas Story. A carousel ride of parental emotions. (Black Friday at Target??)

Smoke and mirrors can hide the tricks of the trade. Let’s get euphemistic!

“Chimney Smoking” is the drug reference (finally) with R+B rapping from Duds (feat. Maine the Medicine, Mike Tek & Gus the Savage). Swirly twirly.

I prefer the sexual innuendo, so let’s dial up Coco’s “Chimney.” A Carib-beat for some eyebrow waggling suggestion or two.

Confidence Man portrays a gal waiting for when “Santa’s Comin’ Down the Chimney.” She wants a dance, or a beat, or both. Things that make you go Hmm.

Brad & Barry know the ambience of a “Hot Sexy Chimney.” Halting R+B that suggests a mood.

Barbara Carr means more than one thing when she asks Santa “I Need a Man Down My Chimney.” Funky, funky, nasty soul.

Funky? Santa?? Boomdaddy starts our journey of discovery with a child’s garden of cool in their “Funky Santa.” Enough soul to appeal to the funk-impaired.

Robert J. Walsh ups the gnarly quotient with “Funky Funky Santa.” Starting to lose control here.

Wookiz layers in the ol’ whisper technique for more “Funky Santa.” A smattering of scat don’t hurt none neither. Unh!

Lee Harris adds sexual innuendo to heighten his “Funky Santa.” He’s a saint’s saint.

White Chimney’s “Funky Santa Claus” leads talky cool to soul-type rap. It’s a fab precursor to ’90s pop.

Bamtone uses more music to muscle up the funk in “Funky Santa.” It works.

Red and Blue simply note that Santa is a “Funky Santa.” So laid back, it’s cool.

The Salmons chant in step and it’s actually pretty funky. Call and response makes him a “Funky Santa.”

Teacher Feature & Rusty Gallant go the disco route to empower their “Funky Santa.” Their talky approach elicits call outs (from me at least). Yeah! Go! Man!

Kicky garage pop from Winter Vacation wonders about the fun “On a Ski Slope.” You may wonder as well. Or listen. Both are fun.

Piamini’s “Skiing” features quiet noodling on an electronic keyboard–on a loop, with an occasional Hey. Hypnotic lo-fi.

Funnier, for an instrumental, Arne Hanson & The Guitarspellers romp through the big band polka of “Ski” just for mogul merriment. Hee hee.

The Invitations wax their slats with soul for “Skiing in the Snow” The funk power and a tom-tom beat shreds the hills. 1966 Motown. [Oops, looks like The Beach Girls may have dropped this first.]

Henny Queenz gets a second chance with her rapped “Christmas Season.” I mean she suggests read a book. Is that a new theme for me to build a month of Xmas songs around, or what?!

“Worn Out Skates” may not feature any skating, but lots of heartbreak. Heavy strings in alt pop makes Happy Heartbreak all that and a bag of tissues.

Jada is so in love she’s skating on a cloud. Her “Christmas Love” is checking, decorating, and making snow angels in the driveway. Really loud soul.

Gary Wilson chortle-sings “A Sled Ride Tonight” as an imperative, not of romantic intent, but as a rite of passage. It runs–so fast.

“Calling All Kids for Christmas” is R+B kidsong that belongs. The call to open gifts and sled, also includes peace. Badanamu turns up the pop.

G. Love & Special Sauce loves/hates the cold in “Winter Days.” Folk pop kid complications.

Scatting and hand clapping, Ned Harris fills his “Christmas Time Again” with soul. Just as chestnuts, presents, sledding.

What’s longer than a year of love started at Christmas? A year missing your love at Christmas! That’s relativity, that is. Einstein told me to tell you.

On the one hand, Office Party wants you to know they’re better off without you (but I’m not gonna lie, Shawty, you’re on my mind three-sixty-five twenty-four). “Santa, Please!” is a fun back and forth (Sorry/Not sorry) rock piece that pivots like a dance floor star.

Dustin Bermuda admits that 365 you were on my mind all day in the auto-tuned R+B reach-out “Nothing I Want More.” Hints of overspending, desperation, and pit stains.

Jacques slows it down with R+B rap in his acceptance speech “Christmas Without You.” See, she done pickup up with someone else. Well, I done sacrificed 365 days, he admits, ticking off holiday moments that won’t include you. He’ll still leave your present at your place. In case.

Alex Goot is gonna wait 365 days. But loneliness wins out in the soul-pop torture “Next Christmas Eve.” He’s not exactly delusional (I bet you’re looking lovely). But he’s hopeful (Are you thinkin’ of me?) Okay, i felt that. Ow.

2020 gets all the noise, but i wanna include Brett Laffin’s highly amusing “Christmas in Lockdown [2020]” here because this pop banger sadly reminisces about the innocence off 2019. And bc otherwise i wouldn’t have enough songs to fit here.

Malinda’s back (ft. schmoyoho) with climate change (& Greta inspired student walkouts) and–even worse–the Game of Thrones finale. On the bright side, Baby Yoda! “An Honest Christmas 2019” runs for cover for the next year with its a cappella parodies. Whoops.

Chuckklez goes BLUE ALERT about what 2019 can do in “Silent Night Unholy Night.” Tinkling metal.

Industry electro-pop hymn always has a home here. on the blog, so yung walnut’s “Christmas Special 2019” is the lead-in music we HAVE been looking for. Thank you, it was quite a wait.

Colin Carbonera gets fingerpoppin’ and bongo(heart)beating with some soulful “Happy Birthday, Jesus.” He wants to party like it’s 2019. Me, too. (This was also published in 2020.)