Year-round Yuletide oddities
After we’re used to Santa up above, we at times feel little about this miracle. Or perhaps angst for all that could wrong from on high.
The Withers embody a naughty child who don’t want “Reindeer” to fly, they’ll pass him by. Beatles parody. (Their “Reindeer of Castemere” is not as successful, but certainly a downer.)
“Santa was Seen Flying through Soviet Airspace” is The Philistines Jr. tribute to trouble. Russianistic experimental pop. In other words, –what?!
A rooftopful of antlered rascals on a holiday eve (DAY OFF tomorrow!)–time to cut loose!
James Brown chats us up about “Reindeer on the Roof” while some music plays in the background. Shenanigans result. It’s all soul.
Taking the cue off the reindeer names, many celebratory Xmas songs about the sleigh pullers include the terpsichorean arts. “Reindeer is a. Dancer” may not be what you expect, as S.N.A.P!’s experimental pop evokes Martha Graham moves.
More sock hop, Blue Aeris (feat. Kelly Moneymaker) shindig through “Reindeer Know How to Groove.” It’s got the beat.
“The Reindeer Shuffle” may be based on Cupid’s ’07 modest hit, and cashes in on its danceabilitiness.
Music with Mar. does the same with “The Reindeer Dance.” A kid counting song marching through the genres.
“The Reindeer Twist” is some kids’ assembly noise-magnet. You might need to sit this one out.
Compare that to “Das Sexy Reindeer Danz” by the awful Rascal Rockhog (feat. Cemetry Gator). Completely and electronically inappropriate.
“Reindeer Rockin’” from Isaac Stancill is a retro-rock breathy call out for the party that might lower the roof.
The Heebee-jeebees get all Celtic with the rousing “Reindeer Ceili” [ceili (cei·lidh/ˈkālē/noun): a social event at which there is Scottish or Irish folk music and singing, traditional dancing, and storytelling]. NOT a sea chanty, but nearly as good. Your feet may move without you realizing.
If you wondered who was the most Cajun reindeer of all, Eric Stone has a tune-appropriate answer: “Boudreaux the Cajun Reindeer.” He apparently saves Mardi Gras by making the beer run. Wild piano solo.
Hurray for the holly and the ivy. Cue the music.
Hidee ho and a diggidee doo seems to stand in for Hooray in “Hooray Hooray It’s a Holiday” from the so-called Mistletoe Singers. This kidsong smacks of Aussie-ness, but it’s fervent. Kids like that. Apologies to Boney M. who started this so-called song.
Then Mishelle Bradford-Jones twists it up with “Hooray Christmas Holiday” in which the poppy kidsong celebrates the school break. Hey! Hey!
What the hell might be the chorus for “Hooray for Christmas” from the Red Army Choir. Of the recordings I’ve uncovered, 3.5 minutes seems to be silence (encoded???).
Philip Gallen takes his rockin’ time developing “Hurray! For Christmas Day!” an earnest progressive piece of emotionality.
Derek Griffiths, Carole Boyd, Denise Bryer, Nigel Lambert, Steven Pacey, Claire Hamill, and Tom Newman are all credited for bringing “Hurray for Christmas” to life. The finale to the third Christmas Story Teller book from The Little Storyteller series it goes on and on in a rousing fashion.
The Irish Rovers raise the rafters (and their voices) with the antic “Hurray for Christmas Day.” Celtic reel. Woo hee.
Can’t stop the Christmas music. Or the holiday from swinging back atcha again.
[A moment please, while Barnes and Barnes disarmingly soft pop “Kwanzaa’s Here Again.” Despite the sweetness and muppet growls, this is an existential cry of pain.]
Time for us to have some fun, purrs Rupaul when it’s the holidays again. Love returns in the electro-pop “You’re the Star (On My Christmas Tree).”
Peter deRoyce brings the music to bear when he compares Xmas to a drug in “Parang in Meh Vein.” Yes, the Caribbean serenade to wake you and make you party all night goes on and on. For 12/25. Again. Just go with it.
Cheer up! ‘Tis the Season to do that! Again!
Steve Gregory & Michel Fenderwoods as International Language attempt the up with “Christmas Will be Magic Again.” The pop crooning loosens stubborn crankiness what builds up in the heartstrings.
Struggling with the English language The Kavanaughs laud the bits and pieces of “Christmas Again” with bouncy rocking pop music.
P’raps too English The Transmitters find the prize in the Christmas cracker in their “Christmas Again.” Britpop tinged with a bit of the ol’ punk. Pain begone!
Giddy garage pop from Fruitcakes rejoices and “Can’t Believe It’s Almost Christmas Again.” I could almost explode!
Island jouncing from Kevon Kurt Carter praises the sharing and caring (and cooking) of “Christmas Once Again.” Yea.
The wheel of time turns and crushes those unable to keep up. Mad yet?
[Sidebar: Stanley Adams and Sid Wayne debate the merits of “Chanukah is Here Again.” This Wenceslaus parody mostly leans pissed, though. Oy vey.]
DDC is BLUE ALERT put off by “Christmas Time Again.” Angry, yet melodic, punk.
Patch is seething in “Christmas Time Again.” But parang is so party perpetrating, we’ll drink to that.
Can we begin to fathom the world when Christmas has left us? Poets and troubadours take this challenge.
January Zero can’t find the way back home “After Christmas.” This cacophony of coffeehouse pop waves its metaphors proudly to capture this (lack of) spirit.
Annie Lin is sorry she didn’t pick you up ate the airport in time in “The Day After Christmas,” a bangin’, unplugged rocker of a poetic traipse over mood swings and urban expectations.
Gar Cox goes Celtic folk epic with the drinking and head scratching all over “Too Late for Christmas.” This synesthesia of images and smells and despair needs a Joycean college class to explicate. I like that.
The closer Christmas gets, the further happiness happens. For some, the overshadowing omnipresence is a ruddy reminder of regret. Bummer.
The Twang slow rock a drinking song “On the 24th.” He loves her, he’s trying to forget her, there’s the tavern…. (I need a hug.)
Carla Hartsfield gets metaphorical with skates and wings and dogs but her “Almost Christmas” is despondent impatience waiting for him. Tinkly woman folk. Maybe my y-chromosome excludes my appreciation….
Droesem garage symphonies about the aftermath of domestic conflict. “Almost Christmas Time” sounds bleak as it is. I don’t think he’s going to make it….
Raggs Gustaffe (feat. Panama Scarrett) lays a Carrib dirge of dire proportions with “Christmas Just Around the Corner.” Now it’s scary.
Time travel time! Let’s listen to old times stuff about being close to the day of Christmas.
Reeking of ’60s TV specials, Larry Nestor’s “Christmas Day” claims to be not so far away, but the retro best buy date here was somewhere in the ’90s. Room temp pop.
Old World is the same as old, right? So let’s bask in the sad Irish family chanty “Christmas is Just Around the Corner” jigged by Finbar & Maura Dennehy. God bless you and keep you far away.
While we’re on the international subject, a quieter strummer allows for a more intimate moment. So “Almost Christmas Time” by The Bluegrass Brethren scores higher on the novelty-o-meter here. Still cheesy though.
The Celtic quality of the kidsong “Almost Christmas” here by Elizabeth Hanney brings a haunted, understated happiness to the repetition of joyous well wishing. Simplify thy carols!