Xmas Music Advent 2015 Day 20
I didn't always love and collect Xmas music. In fact, I can still remember the CD that led me down the path. It was A Toolbox Christmas
by Woody Phillips. I don't quite remember how I obtained the disc. Maybe I bought it? Maybe it was a novelty gift? I don't remember the details.
Anyway, it's a swell listen, with classic Xmas songs played on a combination of wood-working tools and traditional instruments. Yes, it's a goofy novelty disc, but that doesn't mean the songs aren't well done. This is a listenable chunk of Xmas goodness.
Jingle Bells
Xmas Music Advent 2015 Day 19
Why does today's post feature Charo's version of (Mamacita) ¿Donde Esta Santa Claus?
Because Charo; that's why!
(Mamacita) ¿Donde Esta Santa Claus?
Xmas Music Advent 2015 Day 18
Enough straight old Xmas music. Here's a queercore classic by Pansy Division:
Homo Christmas
(Safety note: Don't insert a candy cane that's lacking a crook. No one wants an embarrassing, and sticky, trip to the ER.)
Xmas Music Advent 2015 Day 17
I love Carol of the Bells
. It's so agressive, easily the most agressive of all the traditional carols. Because I like that aspect, I really only like versions that move at a good clip. If your version of Carol of the Bells
is longer than a minute twenty, you're going too damn slow!
One of my favorite versions is from some obscure slab of vinyl called A Saint Louis Christmas
, with this particular track sung by the Fox Senior High School Honor Choir. It really flies, yet with good diction.
Carol of the Bells by the Fox Senior High School Honor Choir
Some versions replace the singers with some sort of instrument. That's just cheating. It's too easy to do. The magic comes from the voices. That said, this version on a Moog is fairly fun, despite the cheating.
Carol of the Bells by the Moog Machine
Finally, Stephen Colbert invited Henry Rollins onto The Late Show
to sing a punk version of it. It's okay, but Henry's punk schtick was slow-burn bellowing, not precise fast singing. A much better choice would have been Leonard Graves Phillips from the Dickies. (Don't worry. The Dickies may well make an appearance on this list by the 25th.)
Carol of the Bells with Stephen Colbert & Henry Rollins
Xmas Music Advent 2015 Day 16
If I can be serious for a minute, let's all have a moment of silence in remembrance of Rowdy Roddy Piper.
Christmas Carolling with Roddy Piper
Xmas Music Advent 2015 Day 15
Every year, DJ Riko makes a long mix of Xmas mashups. This year, the featured song isn't really a mashup. It's more along the lines of a parody, putting Santa-specific lyrics over the Beastie Boys' Sabotage.
Sabotage Santa Claus (Listen All Y'all)
Note: I picked this mainly as an excuse to link to the video for Sabotage, which is one of my favorite music videos.
Xmas Music Advent 2015 Day 14
I'm always a little amazed at the quality of the songs the South Park guys can create. The Mr. Hankey song is a favorite. The best section?
Here's a game I like to play
Stick me in your mouth and try to say
'Howdy ho ho yum yum yum
Christmas time has come'
Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo
Xmas Music Advent 2015 Day 13
So, we went to see a performance of The Nutcracker yesterday. I have a few versions on the old hard drive, but none as weird as the one by Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians. You see, they're a choral group, which is problematic regarding a piece with no choral elements.
Or is it problematic? Apparently not, if you're Fred Waring. If you're Waring, you just create lyrics and use them to carry the melody lines. The result is both odd and awesome.
Overture
Dance Of The Sugar Plums
Trepak
Dance Of The Toy Flutes
Waltz Of The Flowers
Xmas Music Advent 2015 Day 12
This song by Neurotron 606 was just sitting in my vast collection of tunes. I think I got it when someone foolishly asked to use one of my own songs on a CD. The CD had several other better songs, including this one. I think. I'm really not sure.
Anyway, it's a good song. I could imagine Doctor Manhattan singing a version of it.
I Cloned Myself For Christmas
Xmas Music Advent 2015 Day 11
I'm not really the biggest fan of musical mash-ups. Sure, they're clever, but I wouldn't listen to a bunch for an extended period.
This one is no different, really. It's not something I'd listen to multiple times over the festive holiday season.
Sure is clever, though. It's the only means via which I'll listen to Last Christmas
. Give it a play!
No Sleep Til Christmas (Beastie Boys vs Wham!)
