Year-round Yuletide oddities
A bit lacking in the piratical mien, El Camino rockabillies “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” about Big Red bringing this guy his gal. Then they can call out Yo Ho Ho. Always room for rockabilly.
Cowboy Andy and The Salamanders pop up the kidsong of “Pirate Santa.” This time, it’s Captain Blarg who impersonates the Red One, staving off ennui (mutiny?) by passing out gifts. Guess what he got Mad Monkey Man mark? Mostly a list, but jumpy fun.
CHRISTMAS CAT AND THE PUDDING PIRATES by married team Christopher Lillicrap & Jeanette Ranger is another kidmusical full of shouting and giggling. In a British way. On the SS Santa Claus the characters are colorful. The Captain checks in music hall fashion that everything is “Ship Shape.” Wot fun. “Myrtle the Beautiful Mermaid” is a siren song of fate and love. The old school R’n’R of “Pudding Rock” is a show stopper of enjoying the Christmas pudding. Danceable. The show degrades to treacle after that. No pudding thievery is sung about. Sorry.
Knight_Legend22 posts another collection of “Pirate Christmas Carols.” Well done musically. Not the funniest. Did like the line: a Santa’s life for me.
David Rovics fires up the kidsong to recall how Santa dealt with an economic collapse by becoming “Pirate Santa.” Man’s gotta treat, and without bounty–that won’t sail. Clever and well done.
Sean Leigh’s “Pirate Christmas Song” with lounge rock recounts the traditions of those lawless seamen: dirty jokes, homemade gifts, and Spam. Amateur amusement.
“Christmas with Alestorm” features the merry metal of the band Alestorm singing a true Gaelic ballad about Christmas Eve in pirate land. Most of the line ending rhyme with rum, and no one remembers the night before. But….
Cities Never Sleep take no prisoners in their grunge rocking “Yo Ho Ho, Merry Christmas.” They’ll steal your hearts and sail to new sunsets. Like pirates! Watch out for the spoken epilogue.
Mandrew the dog was The Yogscast’s amazing “Brand New Friend at Christmas Time.” He was actually a super-powered new friend, who fought robots, put the toilet seat down, and Rescued pirates from their sinking ship (and pulled Santa’s sleigh). Sadly this means he’s not home for cuddles as much as he could be. Frolicsome pop.
Swedish band Ye Banished Privateers have been dropping albums for a decade, but their Xmas offering A Pirate Stole My Christmas is only a couple years out. They had offered annual holiday/pirate stuff for years, and so finally compiled. This is straight up caroldies, or parodies of traditional carols. But their growlings are scary and their wit is sharp. Clumsy, but educational, is “Sulphur Ahoy,” a mashup of ‘Merry Gentlemen’ and ‘Pat-a-Pan.’ In it we fear the scurvy, as well as the antique treatment of sulphur fumes. Phew! Better is “O Cannonball” (‘O Tannenbaum’) about the high pitched fear of attacks from on far. And even more better “Drawn and Quartered” is ‘Ding Dong Merrily on High’–but about an executed pirate. Best is “Ring the Bells,” an almost unrecognizable ‘Jingle Bells’ about all hope being lost. Groovy. We approve.
Chris Jarvis presents a tutorial (with chord changes) in the exploration of what to do with “A Pirate’s Christmas.” What do you give a man who takes everything? Folk oddity.
Hotel Faux Pas fife and drum a grand pop tune about egregious souls hoping for a visit from St. Nick in “A Pirate Christmas.” Touching. Using that skull to roast marshmallows, however, may be an adaptation too far.
Jason Andre admits “It’s Hard to be a Pirate at Christmas.” Not just fighting the Kraken, but also being too naughty for Santa, and no red decorations. Visions of looting the sleigh, just isn’t enough. Well acted shanty pop.
Phreddcat pits Santa Claus against Christ in the allegorical “Merry Pirate Christmas.” This wild jazzy ride borders on rockabilly, so it’s fun and meaningful, too.
Ross Mayhew stands and delivers (somewhat effetely) “A Pirate’s Christmas Eve.” He’s hoping for plunder under his tree, but seems to be part of the hard-partying crew. Still, this jolly ditty is just off enough to arouse the blog.
The Jolly Rogers roust up some gee-dee fine pirate shanties if that be t’yer liken. But their One holiday number, “Loose Cannons” (AKA ‘Christmas in Carrick’)’ is all about the feasting and drinking and carrying on… and drinking. Cheers.
John Jacobson & Roger Emerson have one of those kid shows to lure in the parents to the grade school, A Pirate Christmas. Kids on a Caribbean holiday encounter pirates (more kids). The idea of stealing vs. giving gets some play in the pop “Give and Take.” Then Santa intervenes and whisks them all to the Pole where reindeer teach pirates to dance in the trad R’n’R “It’s Cool to be Cool.” Santa’s soft pop lesson, “Christmas Joy,” is a party downer–but a young pastor’s delight. The finale is easy listening mealiness, but could be our month’s theme song: “A Pirate Christmas.” Sing along! For your grade!