Category: paro”deus” (pop tunes into Xmas)

Parodies’ Paradise: 1972 “Walk on the Wild Side”

Lou Reed’s journey of seediness peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts… in the United States, RCA released the single using an edited version of the song without the reference to oral sex… in the UK, the reference slipped past the censors, who were apparently unfamiliar with the term ‘giving head’… the term ‘colored girls’ was also an issue in the US and RCA provided radio stations with a version in which it was edited out.

The Blenders get pretty damn funny with their “Sleigh Ride.” And a cappella, too. Damn.

Parodies’ Paradise: 1972 “Me and Mrs. Jones”

Billy Paul’s only #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100… for three weeks… also achieved this feat on Billboard’s R&B Singles chart… for four weeks.

Kevin and Bean featured someone by the band handle MMM with a raunchy “Me and Mrs. Claus” back in 1997.

Bob Rivers handles his ’02 samey with masterful soul. “Me and Mrs. Claus” underplays the wacky and turns up the wit. Nice.

Parodies’ Paradise: 1971/1985 “Jealous Guy”

John Lennon’s introspective wandering was released on the Imagine album in 1971… not released as a single until November 1985, five years after Lennon’s murder, and (four-and-a-half years after Roxy Music’s cover hit number one)… the single reached number 65 in the UK charts… in the United States, the single reached number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100… also peaked at number 22 on the Hot Adult Contemporary chart.

Let’s give Duncan G and Brian the benefit of doubt here taking an odd hit and making it high concept about a regular guy apologizing to St. Nick for his bad roof conditions in their “Careless Guy.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_miZ7f-dNbQ

Parodies’ Paradise: 1971 “Iron Man”

Black Sabbath’s single peaked at number 52 on The Billboard Hot 100… VH1 ranked the song as the greatest heavy metal song of all time…  Rolling Stone awarded it spot number 317 on the list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Bob Rivers makes this the star of his parodies with Ozzy vocals and elegant reverb. Ladies and gentlemen, “I am Santa Claus.”

Parodies’ Paradise: 1969 “Sweet Caroline”

Neil Diamond’s super smash was completely titled ‘Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed so Good).’ It hit #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart… eventually went platinum… hit #3 on the US, Easy Listening chart… might’ve been about JFK’s kid… still gets play in Fenway Park, many Irish football games, and cricket.

Joel Kopischke sings a Christmas song about singing Christmas song singing (i’ve got to devote a month to that) in “Sweet Caroling.”

Parodies’ Paradise: 1969 “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head”

The number written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid won an Academy Award for Best Original Song… was recorded by B. J. Thomas in seven takes… the single reached number 1 on charts in the United States, Canada, Norway and reached number 38 in the UK Singles Chart… topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks… spent seven weeks atop the Billboard adult contemporary chart… Billboard ranked it as the No. 4 song of the year… according to Billboard magazine, itsold over 2 million copies by March 14, 1970, with eight-track and cassette versions also climbing the charts.

The Happiest Guys in the World tackle this frivolously with “Snowflakes!” Not too faithful to the source.

Moke Hilding gives “Snowflakes Keep Falling on My Head” a turn. It never gets too deep.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvfU59Kj8RQ

Parodies’ Paradise: 1968 “Sympathy for the Devil”

The opening track on the Rolling Stones’ 1968 album Beggars Banquet charted only up to #10 on the US Billboard rock listing… #2 in Finland… Rolling Stone magazine placed it at number 32 in its list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.

Rolling Stones gather little mock, but juggernauts must be teased at times.

Balderdash and Humbug sub Santa for Satan with “Sympathy for Santa.” Writes itself, dunnit?

Parodies’ Paradise: 1968 “Helter Skelter”

This avatar of punk-metal originally appeared on the Beatles’ so-called White Album… a product of McCartney’s attempt to create a sound as loud and dirty as possible… Rolling Stone magazine ranked it 52nd on its list of the 100 Greatest Beatles songs. (So much for inspiration.)

Kris Sciba delivers a plugged-in slow-moving “Helter Santa.” I dig this.

But i dig THIS more: cutbacknj has the same “Helter Skelter (Christmas Parody)” with bells and whistles. Psychedelic.

Parodies’ Paradise: 1967 “Purple Haze”

Jimi Hendrix’s second record single by the Jimi Hendrix Experience hit in several countries… UK Official Singles Chart at #3, Us Billboard Hot 100 at #65… #7 in Austria and Norway charts…  (it was many people’s first exposure to Hendrix’s psychedelic rock sound)… inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame… included on lists of the greatest guitar songs, including at number two by Rolling Stone and number one by Q magazine.

ApologetiX has got this with “Excuse Me, Pal, It’s Christmastime.” Boys can PLAY.

Give Bob Rivers some space for his “Holiday (‘Scuse Me I’ve Got Gifts to Buy).” It’s quite hectic.

Parodies’ Paradise: 1967 “Incense and Peppermints”

Strawberry Alarm Clock reached the #1 position on the Billboard Hot 100 with this single… sixteen weeks on the charts… gold plated by RIAA…. failed to break into the UK Singles Chart.

The ’60s Invasion keeps double entendre drug rock alive with “Incense and Chia Pets” dedicated to stocking stuffer nonsense gifts. Love ’em.