As I pointed out in my last blog post, there are plenty of lousy Christmas songs that are thrust in our faces every time we visit a department store or turn on the car radio. For the love of Christmas music and also my love of good music, I am including some overlooked Christmas-gems (or at least songs I want to talk about - so suck it up or get your own blog).
The Night Santa Went Crazy - Weird Al
This first song is a nice alternative to Wilson Phillips "Hey Santa" music video which tries to show a Christmas gone wrong. Weird Al shows us all what really could go wrong. Completely taboo and heartbreaking to children, this is Weird Al's lyric writing at its best and one of my children's (and my) all-time favorites. I love the fan video too.
Boxing Day- Blink-182
Now George Michaels sang about giving his heart to a woman (presumably) and then the very next day she gave it away (blah lyrics). Blink-182 chose the same theme but had the wherewithal to appreciate the very next day is Boxing Day. A much better sound than the campy ‘80s Wham tripe with a nice acoustical guitar and no attempt at jingle bells (electronic or otherwise) in the background. Might I also note that if a person is to be walked-out on by their lover at the holidays, to me before Thanksgiving seems the best. That way you can drown your sorrows in a tryptophan induced slumber. And if that doesn't work, you can shop your soul away on Black Friday.
The Hat I Got for Christmas is Too Big - Mel Blank
Come on, they are not too many songs out there that are sung by the great Mel Blank, voice of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Tweety Bird, Sylvester the Cat, Yosemite Sam, Foghorn Leghorn, Marvin the Martian, PepĂ© Le Pew, Speedy Gonzales, Wile E. Coyote, the Tasmanian Devil (so yes, one of the coolest men ever). It is also one of the few songs of any genre sung in a completely racially insensitive and an un-PC manner. To me, I always picture Speedy Gonzales's cousin Slowpoke singing this song. So let’s ring the bell and beat the drums.
Grinch - Whirling Dervishes
We have all heard the Grinch song from the cartoon. The Whirling Dervishes made it into a really cool ska song. Not much more needs to be said beyond that. I wish this version was cranked full blast through the department stores all season.
Boots - The Killers
Here is your cool alternative to the Christmas Shoes song. Both feature footwear in the title of the song and convey Christmas imagery, but The Killers song features much less pandering (if not much more panhandling). Interestingly, this video has a larger emotional impact on me with the theme of redemption than does buying shoes from mom who is not going to need them in a few hours anyway (have you ever seen a picture where Jesus is actually wearing shoes and not sandals or barefeet? I'm just say’n). I'm still trying to figure out though how it is in any way a fair exchange to take a karaoke box for a ginormously large pair of clean tightie-whities. Even the destitute white guys take advantage of the destitute black guys. I also cannot keep from thinking that this guy married way, way above himself. The last observation I have about this video is - don't do drugs.
Going to Another Place - Mannheim Steamroller
This last song is one of the less well-known Mannheim steamroller songs which are ubiquitous this time of year. There's something about the song to me that is hopeful. It sounds like someone tenuously stepping out into the unknown and taking their first few steps in the sunlight towards a hopeful future. Not sure if that makes sense to anyone else, but this seems to resonate with me at the moment.
So that does it for Brett's opinions on Christmas songs. I'm
sure this has been a crucial part of your holiday festivities. Enjoy good music
and Merry Christmas. I will now cease offering my opinions and continue on with
showing pictures of my cute kids.
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