Yogi Yorgeson’s Stan Boreson and Doug Setterberg come at the ‘Rudolph’ song eyes wide open. With their Scandihoovian accents and veiled drug references (a rooty-toot-toot!) “Ragnar the Flat-Nosed Reindeer” is one happenin’ hoofer.
Ringers: Ole Pop
Tim Dinkins slings a rock’n’roll country gee-tar all over the harrowing kidsong “Ole Pop Reindeer.” It’s a sad song, and hard to hear.
Ringers: Nervous
The classic (’59) novelty “The Happy Reindeer” by Dancer, Prancer, and Nervous actually determines the third reindeer is NOT Nervous. But it’s such a happy kidsong, we’ll allow it (yet again).
Ringers: Neon
Alan Jackson’s near hit ‘Chasin’ That Neon Rainbow’ gets the parody treatment with the oft recorded and never credited “Chasin’ That Neon Reindeer.” This unnamed substitute flier has gusto and gets a fairly decent musical appreciation.
Ringers: Mike
The gentle “Mike the Reindeer” from In Love gives us a nice break from hardline comedy. Beautiful music. (Soul rock.)
Ringers: Marvin
Balderdash & Humbug’s “Marvin the Substitute Reindeer” is another ‘Rudolph’ parody. But it does tell a story. (Have you ever seen Santa Claus mad, boys and girls?) Bit of a giggler. And the little girl digression tries our patience. Bit misogynistic actually.
David Ayers introduces “Marvin the Loud Mouth Laughing Reindeer” with braying guffaws. Not a fully rounded character. Not a chance to help with the sleigh. But the dixieland screeching is full on. Holee cow.
Ringers: Lloyd
Otis Gibbs knows a drop-out reindeer unlike many of the others. “Lloyd the Reindeer” parks cars, gets in fights (and loses–to Santa!), drinks. But the salty blue grass lets us know the he’s a heck of a guy. Santa even springs for a new leg for the lug.
Ringers: Leroy
Anti-racist parody “Leroy and Roosevelt Reindeer” features the only black members of Santa’s crew pushing the Caddy from the back. The raucous background laughter cues us in to the jokes. The R+B rhythms help, though.
Joe Diffie wrote novelty country reindeer songs when novelty country reindeer songs weren’t cool. 1995’s “Leroy the Redneck Reindeer” placed well on Billboard’s Country Singles chart. It’s got gusto, but the humor is past its sell by date. Or maybe too many of these reindeer songs are yokel hokum.
Ringers: Jesus
Emmy the Great with Tim Wheeler count off the roster (…Sancho… Panza… Sarah… Palin!) until they come to the one everyone’s been waiting for: “Jesus the Reindeer.” Sprightly alt-pop.
Ringers: Gary
MC Lars whiteboy raps “Gary the Green-Nosed Reindeer” as a bit of contextual comedy from the mid-‘Aughts. A bin Laden joke, an endless backbeat, a lively energy–you had to be there.