Open Your Eyes Christmas

I lost my place… WHO is supposed to wake up for Xmas?

Krista Detor does that whiskey-voiced seduction with “Awake the Voice” in which her indie jazz has angels whisper in order to bring out our good. Layers.

“Awake Ye Scary Great Olde Ones” refers to Cthulhu and other Lovecraftian horrors. Set to ‘God Rest Ye’ by the HP Lovecraft Historical Society, this parody proffers dotty followers to invoke endtimes for Xmas. (My sister gave me a whole other collection of ‘Horrifying Holiday Hymns’ for last Christmas, so it’s officially a thing.)

“Shepherds Arise” is an earthy ancient folk harmony round about how those guys lying about in the fields might wanna grab a spectator spot for the whole birth thing bing in 0 A.D. It’s usually a caterwaul of annunciation, as with The Young Tradition, But i find Voice Squad adds a bit of tonality to the product thus imbuing it with more soul. (Thomas Schippers · Gian Carlo Menotti · Chet Allen · Leon Lishner · David Aiken spookify it to unrecognizability.)

Getting Up Christmas

Isaac Stancill interprets the tale of the early riser who glimpses the GIFTING, but is intercepted by an elf who enchants the child with “Jingle Jingle Twinkle Twinkle.” Country kidsong about getting flashy thingied like in ‘Men in Black.’ Very entertaining.

“When You Wake Up In The Morning Feeling Like A Happy Kid” is a recitation from J. Maunders about the difference between this one morning and all others. Poorly done indie.

Rockabilly should roll you outta bed like a PeeWee Herman device, so here comes Kevin Sisson with “Wake Up, Wake Up.” That’ll do, gig, that’ll do.

Rise’n’Shine Christmas

Remember 2023 when, on the blog, Clint Black brought us “Slow as Christmas“? That’s you, the slow part. He was up before the dawn with some nearly authentic country featuring fine fiddlin’.

“Wake Up Daddy (It’s Christmas!)” is an Or Else scenario from Gator and the Gator Boys. Zydeco with a macabre edge. Daddy just won’t wake up. You don’t think…?

The Hipwaders retro the rock with “Wake Up.” A wonderful alarm to lift up the spirits AND the parents. It’s all good!

Awakening Christmas

“F (x) = X^2 + 84, X = 44” is Foster Gray and the JJ’s garage-splaining their childhood to adulthood quandary. Only tangentially about the holidays, so solve for the inverse.

Blinded is back and this time (after a spoken intro in which Santa wakes the narrator) it’s piano-paced easy listening about waking those adults in a timely fashion. Pay it forward, or rather “Spread the Message.” The message is: It’s Great!

Carlene Hall also has to wake the old fogies, this time to get them to sing the Jesus songs so we can see “Christmas Through His Eyes.” Erm, wait. Turns out that’s only a metaphor for organ donation. Gentle OHMYGOD folk.

Rousing Christmas

Remember 2021 when i posted “On This Beautiful Christmas Day” when Tiny Dancer begs to stay in bed? Big Eazy offers to smack ‘im upside the head to get the sluggard about. Classy kidsong rock that bears repeating.

Sliding from lullaby into alarm clock settings, “Wake Me on Christmas” is Christmas Kids Cottage slinging country pop and pretty harmony into utility.

Eraserheads solve the problem by hollering punk “Rise and Shine” so that everybody will shag shag shag. (And get presents, too?)

Stirring for Christmas

Trouble with the warm bedding holding you down? Even Xmas morn?!

Babbie Mason (with Chaz Mason) reveal “Christmas Is A Time For Children” who–BTW–can’t go to sleep. They won’t awaken ‘cuz, you know, they’re kids. Easy listening kidsong that’s both adorable and off-putting.

“Wake Up the Children” fights the paradigm with peppy pop indie shouldering the burden of opened eyes onto others. Yet the drug-smearing imagery and romance within the lyrics speaks of stranger things.

“I Can’t Wake Up at Dawn” club rocks Bacio with stylish elan. They were out late last Eve, so–sorry.

Waking Christmas

I can’t wait to wake up next to you grinds By Surprise in their adult garage Xmas love ballad “Snow Angel.” (That’s what you look like sleeping, bae.)

“Christmas Morning” is the time to awaken and–go outside?! Cosimo warbles indie over barking dogs about how great it’s all going to be. Chanting ensues.

Can’t sleep in! declares D’Modes in “Up Before the Sun.” Infectious indie pop that chides the sun for being so slow. Chill out, it’s wintertime!

Woke Christmas

After trying to stay up all night Xmas Eve, what else ya gonna do but GET UP! Arising on a holiday morn is never a bigger deal than on twelve twenty-five, but most participants don’t usually kick off the gift grab before 6 AM, according to those who bother with statistics. Still, that realization when you open your eyes that dreams are about to be fulfilled, the duty of getting the ‘rents up, the chore of b.fast/church/milking the cows first… Heavy Sigh. Let’s do this!

I don’t want to confuse baby Jesus with dead Jesus, yet when Anna Waronker sings “Rise” she’s actually referring to Sarah Silverman’s spirit as Santa’s second in command who wants to do more. Gospel-ish show tune anthem from some MAX animated series no one saw.

Blinded croon to indie pop “Is It Christmas Yet?” It begins with waking up… but that’s a frame of mind for CHANGE. Inspirational.

Brian Kinder doffs the topper to JC while awaking in “Joy to the World; It’s Christmas.” Kidsong with mucho brass fanfare. Now that’s up and about.

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And for those who fail the peek test?

The Grand Gestures speak their truth/rap in “I Never Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus.” Apparently NOT seeing such results in a life of quiet desperation. It’s a TED Talk in resignation.

That Francis P. Church editorial from over a century ago gets the gospel treatment from Andy Beck in “Yes, Virginia, There’s a Santa Claus.” Here, seeing ain’t nothing.

“Baggage Claim” from Smash Mouth allows nostalgia to ruin all those childhood myths, including: never saw Santa’s face. Proper rock for the disenfranchised.

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And what you saw… it WASN’T Santa?

Eric Lewis reprises “She Mistake Me for Santa Claus.” Raucous Carib.

“Daddy, Is Santa Really Six Foot Four?” Kay Brown wants to know, when reporting the scene she dug the night before. There may have been Mommy-kissing and Daddy-threatening, so i dunno what’s going on in this household, but that ain’t him, babe. American Song-Poem R+B.

Funkdoobiest raps some BLUE ALERT name dropping in “Superheroes.” Did I see Santa? No, it’s the Green Lantern. Understandable.

Royce D. Sean takes a country minute to point out “That wasn’t Santa Claus” in the manger. You’re seeing someone else. White beard, judging good/bad, giving… mistaken identity.