Anthropomorphic Snow Sculpture: abominable detour 6

Pop music doesn’t dip its toe in the Arctic Sea for Abominable Snowman songs much.

But try Summer Salt’s boy band/late nite lounge approach with “Abominable Snowman.”

Then there’s garage rock musical theater from the original cast album of ‘Frozty the Abominable.’ Quiz S is credited with the lead-in “The Ballad of Frozty the Abominable Snowman.” Rawr.

And leave us not neglect excellent musical theater from Joe Iconis and Rob Rokicki. “Footprints (The Sasquatch Song)” should be the start of a Broadway baby (entitled, I would hope: ‘Abominable–What You Did to Me’). The pathos, key changes, rising intensity… it’s a mini operetta that you ought not to miss.

Anthropomorphic Snow Sculpture: abominable detour 4

Let’s get folksy with the down home people for some Abominable Snowmen songs.

Michael Hurley, and his guitar, tell the tale of a troubled traveler with “Abominable Snowman.” It may break your heart. It may steal your watch. His hooting… and ‘humor,’ however, may reverse the trend.

M&TGM submit a dreamy alt-folk “Abominable Snowman” to bring you down. They may not be quite finished.

Our Voyage plays “The Abominable Snowman” like it’s a close campfire at the SciFi convention hall. Another epic yarn about the travails of being misunderstood.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9Rj4TxKWco

Anthropomorphic Snow Sculpture: abominable detour 3

Stan Freberg has a classic comedy bit about interviewing the Abominable Snowman back in the ’50s when comic interviews were all the rage. Thus did our subject become a butt of jokes. We are looking for novelty songs, however, so let’s move on….

Talking Mountain’s “The Abominable Abdominal Snowman” is about that magical creature that came to life and–wouldn’t play with the other kids. He only wanted to work out. Fun electronic pop.

More ice rink electronic fun from Matt Farley riffing as The Paranormal Song Warrior through his album Believe: Exciting Songs about Shockingly Mysterious Stuff. “Oh My Goodness, It’s the Yeti, the Abominable Snowman! Wow!” speaks for itself. Or, it takes less time to read this than to listen to the improvised scat.

A star-crossed story from Arne Hansen & The Guitarspellers: “Snowman in My Heart” fears the abominable one, while experimenting with too many instruments mashed together.

Old-time Dr. Demento hit “Abominable Snowman in the Market” marks Jonathan Richman as a folky storyteller of comic proportions.

Anthropomorphic Snow Sculpture: abominable detour 2

Some classic rock n roll pays tribute to the Abominable Snowman.

The Copycats cash in on the monster rock trend with 1960’s “The Abominable Snowman.” Nice salsa beat with talking and screaming.

Nostalgic for the ragtime ’60s rock fusion, Family Animals make a party out of “The Abominable Snowman.” Sounds like a Scooby Doo chase scene that can’t stop dancing.

More gogo music from the Supermarionation British TV show The Thunderbirds. Their “The Abominable Snowman” is music hall jiggery pokery fun warning of what their adventures may come across. Brrr.

Anthropomorphic Snow Sculpture: abominable detour 1

Scary monsters may not come up much round Xmas time, but since Rankin & Bass’s 1964 TV special, we have a place for the Abominable Snowman in our holidays. I gotta be upfront and admit most Abominable Snowman songs don’t mention Christmas, but then ‘Frosty’ the song doesn’t either. And some of these are pretty good.

So let’s get the kid-friendly one out of the way. Krazy Kuzins hip hop their way through “The Abominable Snowman” which alludes to the aforementioned cartoon. Kids get to holler.

South Oxfordhsire Youth Music Group chorale up the myths with “Himalayan Abominable.” Jazz jumpin’ school assembly fun.

Big Block Sing Song has a samba hip hop “Abominable Snowman” song that simply rocks. Dance if you like.

Anthropomorphic Snow Sculpture: kids 7

Let’s finish up the ankle biting song tributes to putting down that video game and getting exercise in the frosty cold.

Sheila Magaret Ward has an introductory “Who Is He? (The Snowman)” that hits lofty marks (and notes) for the existential and definitive case for that thing. Folk pop.

Less sensible, is the ‘tribute’ to other songs with “Goodbye, Snowman” from Super Simple Songs. Children’s showtune.

Mr. Mike continues the familiarity with “Where, Oh Where Has My Snowman Gone?” By the numbers, now.

Petula Clark in full kid shouting mode gives us “Where Did the Snowman Go?” 1952adelia. (Spike Jones did it with Linda Strangis in 1953.) (And Patti Page.) (Gene Autry too.)

Picking up the beat, Rockin’ Rhythms rolls along with “Bye Bye Snowman” in a haunting melody of despair for children.

Ken Galipeau brings up the heat with Michael O’Grady, the snowman who keeps flowing with “The Snowman’s Song.” All good things must end, but not usually this fun.

More fun is the electronic folk of Rudolph and the Snowman” by A.J. Jenkins. Polite, philosophical, and a little kicky.

Anthropomorphic Snow Sculpture: kids 6

Dance Time!

We’ve previously been entertained by the Crew Cuts’ “Dance Mr. Snowman Dance.” And “Do the Snowman” by The Holleytones. They bear redux.

Let’s also admit to Randy Sauer’s valiant effort “Snowman Dance.” Electronic almost music.

Definitely let’s include Mahri Sherlock’s barnburner “Mr. Snowman Dance.” Fun for kids and other square dancers.

“Snowman Jump” is a regrettable standard for the toddlers. I like the ’70s near-disco edition here.

Teresa Jennings keeps it kiddie with her Plank Road Publishing’s “Rock ‘n’ Roll Snowman.” Good for intermediate school assemblies afraid of saying Merry Christmas everywhere.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lHH2PiKExY

Anthropomorphic Snow Sculpture: kids 5

Reworking tykes’ classics with snowmen in the lyrics is a shortcut to getting kids to singalong, like with superhero movies that just change the colors of the costumes.

“5 Little Snowmen” reworks ‘5 Little Monkeys’ jumping on the bed. Oh My Genius makes this lively with a touch of bluegrass and bopping sfx. Hee hee.

Kiboomers’s “5 Little Snowmen” is redundant and complacent though. They don’t hurt different parts at all. Oh well.

David Hudspeth downs the tempo with “Five Little Snowmen” focusing on their demises. Dark. (Is he playing a bouzouki?)

There’s also ‘I’m a Little Snowman’ sung to ‘I’m a Little Teapot.’ It’s all ready to go for kids three and up. Short and cold.

Singing Hands embodies the horrific in kid songs with “I’m a Little Snowman.” All the joy is marched into syncopation, all the talent is colored between the lines.

Super Simple Songs ups the temp a bit with “I’m a Little Snowman” and round and around they go. Skippit.

Heidi Burgess creates a new melody for the old saw. One note, but insistent. I say brava.

Kiboomers are back to let us know the snowman can be round not fat. But it’s the polka liveliness that rescues “I’m a Little Snowman” here. I don’t want to just sing along. I want to be the godammt snowman.

Anthropomorphic Snow Sculpture: kids 4

One sidenote to the whole kids’ snowmen is the big deal 1978 book The Snowman by Raymond Briggs made into a British big deal animated special in 1982 and which plays around Christmastime across the pond every year.

The ethereal ultrasonic soprano song “We’re Walking in the Air” became a 1985 hit for Aled Jones who did not sing it in the cartoon, but released it as a single when a teen. Thirty years later he released it a duet with himself. Freaky.

Andy Burrows dropped a prog rock song “Light the Night” in the 2012 TV sequel ‘The Snowman and the Snowdog.’

The original ‘Walking’ has been coopted by the crystal-gazers as an out-of-body/Wiccan trip. Finnish group Nightwish does an over-orchestrated dance version i could get naked and flail around to. Prog-celtic. (This is lite-metal. Fuller metal like from Woods of Infinity harshes the vibe. Ick.)