Domain and Rangifer: turnabout

The harnessed might chafe and rumble about working conditions. Will Claus’s reindeer unionize?

In The Substitutes’ alt rock odyssey “The Reindeer will Fight for X-Mas” Santa seems to uses violence or at least technology to keep the big guys in place. It’s charmingly brutal.

Starting out as a clever mashup of ‘Ghost Riders in the Sky’ and ‘A Visit from St. Nicholas,’ The Carolyn Sills Combo’s “Ghost Reindeer in the Sky” takes a grisly closeup of the wretched conditions these creatures fly under. Brrr.

Bah & The Humbugs cry out for action with “Free the Reindeer,” a rocking pop protest ballad. This might take a while, better call Aaron Sorkin to option the rights.

Deer Valley Trio seem to care little for lyrics or production values, but Mr. Christmas pushes too far “When Santa Claus Got His Ass Kicked by the Reindeer.” Chatty desk knocking pop, almost kidsong, with a resounding yeehaw!

Sleeping Trees itemize the PTSD of the eight in graphic detail. Synth pop sensation “The Ballad of the Reindeer” wishes you well, but the reindeer–they resign. Brit silliness.

Domain and Rangifer: party animals

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.

Domain and Rangifer: noises off

An eight-pack plus of massive herd animals on the housetop? How loud does that get!

Tom Paxton goes nonchalant kidsong to name the possible sources of the clatter in “Reindeer on My Roof.” Some lovely pickin’.

Also bein’ cool, Coach Kody raps out the racket with quiet glee in “Reindeer on the Roof.” Names ’em, too, case you lost track.

Terry Turtle sets the complete soundscape with carols, bells, AND “Reindeer on the Roof.” Freaky kid folk and a froggy vocal that might scare more than endear.

Making ‘Up on the Housetop’ refreshed, The Rosebuds jam out “I Hear (Click, Click, Click)” to my top forty Xmas tunes of all time. Pop done right.

Domain and Rangifer: believing is believing

Are the reindeer on the roof enough to persuade you of the magic that is Xmas?

Take it from me, croons Nick Lowe in “Hooves on the Roof.” Jazzy electronica.

Allie Jo Thomas says it plainly: she believes in Santa ’cause she heard “Reindeer on the Roof.” Sprightly kidsong.

All You Gotta Do is Believe You Got a “Hoof on the Roof.” Believe it or not, The Hooves sing this bombastic big band gospel call to legs.

The stages from sceptic to advocate outline Ideascapes Music with their jazz big band “Reindeer on the Roof.” Twirl, two three. Whee!

Domain and Rangifer: must be love

How cool are Santa’s big antlered sled doggies? Don’t ya just love ’em?

“I Wanna be a Reindeer” has become a phenomenon for the adoring. Brian the Bold hits a country groove for the kids with it. Fair party anthem. The Jack Lomas Experience gets alt rock creepy about it. Plastic surgery is involved. Not for kids. Do You Hear What I Hear (feat. Spike Raven)? grates your dreams with a punk pronouncement. And it becomes suggestive with your girlfriend riding you around the world… Universal Groove‘s gasolined punk ramps up the tempo ’til we get grrly. Angry/hopeful. Max DeGroot goes full epic storytelling concerning Timmy’s childhood idealism. Drawn out kidsong. And i’m not sure it’s entirely a happy ending.

‘Radar Love’ gets the comical adaptation by Santa’s Elves on Autoplay. “Reindeer Love” may not be available commercially but i dig the rock expression here. And, i do believe it’s consensual. Among compatible species.

“I Love Reindeers” Deranged Mime Clan sings over and over again, whether or not you believe them.

Winter Wilburys go boy band overboard in their adoration of “Those Other 8 Reindeer.” Electric worm solo!

Love BLUE ALERT from Dyslexic Fudgicle: “Balls Deep in Santa’s Reindeer” is a brief foray into bestiality and should be filed under psychological aberration, or at least metal muttering.

Drtyboy calms the naughtiness with “Whip Me Like a Reindeer.” This dance mix simply encourages without painting a BLUE picture.

Domain and Rangifer: heroes on the hoof

How much do we love Santa’s reindeer?!

Jonathan Groff as Sven from ‘Frozen’ has his musical moment in the ‘duet’ “Reindeers are Better Than People.” Folk musing.

Erica Fleischmanns kid assembly song “Reindeer on the Roof” associates the beastly herd with glorious treasure. Hooray! Clatter!

Leelu gets ’60s folk hand-holdy with the anticipatory “I’ve Got Reindeer on My Roof.” We’ve been waiting so long!

Just as kum ba yah, those Hawaiian melody mavens The Brothers Cazimero make magic of “8 Tiny Reindeer.” Despite the brand name dropping, this is imagination-pricking.

Kid song gone too far is The Yule Logs letting their freak flag fly as each in turns sings “I Walked with a Reindeer” Last Night over and over again. Sweet mindless repetitive rock is the true tribute.

Domain and Rangifer: outliers

How weird are Santa’s pack of reindeer? I mean they fly… what else?

Perhaps only reacting to their aerobatics, Rick Riso wonders “Where Did the Reindeer Go?” with frolicsome jazz band coyness.

The Knife get post-psychedelic with “Reindeer” in which they move like shadows and be like X-men. Whoa.

Bah & The Humbugs unfold another talent from the reindeer book in “My Psychic Reindeer.” This phone-a-friend helps make all the important decisions in life with enigmatic koans pulled out of thin air. Electro-pop that wishes it were rock.

Domain and Rangifer: get ’em goin’

Ten… Nine… Ready… Set… On Your Mark… One For the Money… Here… We…

Walter Giblin’s kid-country fun “Good Old Santa’s Reindeer Roundup” details the chase, catch, and preparation of those North Pole runners. A bit circular, but so are some fine rides.

Mary Kaye has already told us about “Santa’s Roundup” with cutie-pie fiddling’. ‘Member?

Maniac Clown’s “Reindeer” is the acid-dropped experimental parody that some people dismiss as ‘Awful.’ It is.

Brady Rymer and The Little Band That Could big band/rockabilly the warm up with “Revvin’ Up the Reindeer.” You feel it as well as hear it.

Domain and Rangifer: set ’em up

How did Santa’s reindeer get to be so special? Care and feeding lessons as follows:

Peggy Lee’s continual attempts to appeal to children (scary!) included the saccharine “Don’t Forget to Feed the Reindeer,” a heavily syncopated band tune/lecture letting you know the privileges from being good. Do what you’re expected to do and you’ll get another chore, you angel!

Not scary enough? DJ Santa remixes ‘Mrs. Santa Claus’ as a bass drum car crash pogo dance “Who Feeds the Reindeer.” You have to dance, or else you’ll hear this massacre of a repetitious song.

 Blue Öyster Cult’s ‘Don’t Fear the Reaper’ gets its due with The Withers’ masterfully homespun “Don’t Feed the Reindeer.” Apparently they have professional handlers and your leaving them carrots (and cookies?!) (and wifi??!!) when you go to bed Xmas Eve messes that up. Quit it.

Domain and Rangifer: intro

Hang on a sec, or a coupla secs anyway–we all on the same page when it comes to reindeer? Y’know, Rangifer tarandus? Sure you’ve got the cartoons in your head, or you’ve seen the European pants-wetting children’s petting zoo antics… but ARE they caribou? DO both males and females have antlers? WOULD they eat children? Time for some fundamentals.

Sam Jones takes us on a journey of folk rock mythos (it’s not just what you see; it’s what you believe) covering the pretty little lies in “Tell Us Tales About a Reindeer.” Enchanting.

Animal Facts (Nick Naylor) has a splendid myth-busting pop rock recitation humbly entitled “Reindeer.” Tell me you knew all this already; didn’t think so! (Now you do.)