I still love the Brenda Lee original, and it's a guaranteed sing-along for me every time it comes on, but I have a special affinity for this modern update of the Christmas classic by contemporary Christian rock band MercyMe. Their version brings a new energy to an old favorite.
My personal affinity is heightened by the fact that during my last time through the Christmas season as the drummer for the praise band at Fellowship Church in 2016, this was part of our Advent song rotation. Led by singer/guitarist Robert Monroe, the Fellowship band was, IMHO, far and away the best praise band in southeast Missouri. I've had the honor to play with a lot of great musicians through the years at Fellowship, and they all made me a better drummer for the experience.
Most Christmas songs, even for praise band, are pretty routine, even boring in a lot of cases. Not this one. It was a straight-out rocker for us, even more edgy than the MercyMe recording that we based our cover on. I'm pretty self-centered as a drummer; to me, a good song is one that gives me something interesting and fun to do. "Rockin'" was the best of all the Christmas songs we ever did in that regard...no holding back, no "Silent Night," just play it loud and fast.
I haven't decided if I'm retired or just in hiatus from worship music at this point. I don't have a gig that's opened up yet, but I'm certainly open to possibilities. I guess you could call me a free agent at this point. Make me an offer. But I did have 13 good years with a great band. Not bad for a mediocre drummer like me!
Oh, don't get me wrong, I love the original 1957 recording by Bobby Helms; it has classic Golden Age of Early Rock feel to it that sounds so much like the soundtrack to a Stephen King movie set in the America of mid-twentieth century. That be-bop shuffle, the swing rhythm in the lyrics, the break in the middle of the chorus...they're all classic oldie standards.
No, today's version goes to one of the most outrageously eighties videos ever made for any reason, the Hall and Oates version from 1983, and yes, people actually dressed like that and wore their hair LIKE THAT back in the early eighties. Candy coated and egregiously goofy on purpose, this is about as much fun as you can have at Christmas without spiking the eggnog.
I don't know if the eighties were a better time to be a teenager than it is today, but there are a lot of similarities. Communication and entertainment were changing rapidly with new technologies, there was a lot of social anxiety about national and world events, our national leader seemed likely to start a nuclear war because he had a bad hair day (actually not true—Reagan's hair was lacquered in place and never moved), and forces of diversity and inclusion fought against narrow-minded bigotry in many venues. On the bright side, we had simple, silly diversions such as this one.
This song is as traditional as they come for me, and an absolutely essential song for my list. I grew up marking my calendar every year for the various Rankin-Bass stop-motion animation Christmas shows (Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer; Santa Claus is Coming to Town), and "Holly Jolly Christmas" is sung in Rudolph by his character Sam the Snowman.
Hearing this song today transports me back to the 1970s, when a Christmas list was formed in the fall with the advent of the Christmas catalogs from Sears, JCPenney, and Montgomery Ward, and sealed with a letter to Santa Claus (with a copy for my parents, too, of course). Once Thanksgiving had passed, you checked the local TV listings to see when the Christmas shows would air.
This was long before streaming video, before DVDs and satellite television (unless you were super-rich), even before VCRs, and in a lot of places, cable television. You had one chance to see the various Christmas specials, and if you missed it, you had to wait AN ENTIRE YEAR before they aired again.
Needless to say, part of a child's prayers back in the day included no bad weather to interfere with the TV signal, and for the sake of the Baby Jesus, no presidential address to pre-empt the show. Back to the song...it's nothing special musically, but the memories associated make it a must to include for me.
Before everyone has a conniption fit about me choosing Madonna's version over the Eartha Kitt, original, just remember that Lee Meriwether, Julie Newmar, and Michelle Pfeiffer were ALL better versions of Catwoman than Ms. Kitt.
<heads explode in rage>
Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's talk about Madonna's rendition of the playful Christmas classic composed by Joan Javits and Phillip Springer in 1953. Recorded in 1987 and part of the remarkable "A Very Special Christmas" album, Madonna's version channels a combination of Betty Boop and Marilyn Monroe for this Material Girl's wish list for Santa.
Backed up by a lush orchestra, "Santa Baby" is perfect ear candy for the holidays. It's a timeless song that has been covered by Gwen Stefani, LeAnn Rimes, and Kylie Minogue, but other than Kitt's original, this is the one to listen to. And really, who wouldn't want the deed to a platinum mine?
Since I was little, as far back into the 1970s as I can remember, this song has made me happy. Even before I was old enough to understand that "Feliz Navidad" was Spanish for "Merry Christmas," this classic tune has always made me smile.
There's something exotic about hit songs in other languages. Some of the most notable were sung in German (go figure), such as "99 Luftballoons," "Rock Me Amadeus," and "Der Kommissar." I mention those three because their English-translated versions are just awful. It really loses everything cool about the song in translation.
Jose Feliciano, however, bridges the transition between Spanish and English perfectly, blending the two languages together in a singular message of peace and prosperity at Christmas time. This message is sorely needed in today's world. In a time when we pray for peace on earth, maybe we could start by not being such giant assholes toward our southern neighbors. It's not much, I know, but at least it's a start.
The song that kicks off my countdown is the perfect tune to kick off the Christmas season. "Sleigh Ride" was written in 1948 by Leroy Anderson, with lyrics added by Mitchell Parish in 1950. There have been countless versions of the song throughout the years, all of which I enjoy every time, but this 1963 version by The Ronettes is head-and-shoulders above all the rest for me.
I know that in retrospect, Phil Spector is a human reptile, but in spite of that, his signature "Wall of Sound" technique build musical layers that best feature Ronnie Spector's lead vocals as well as the "Ring-a-ling-a-ling, ding-dong-ding" of the background vocals that drives the song forward.
The holiday season is almost always a busy rush for most people, but especially for those who embrace Christmas in either its religious or secular activities (and often both at the same time). The up-tempo joyfulness of this song keeps my spirits light and my feet moving, especially when there is so much to do before the 25th. Giddy-up, giddy-up, giddy-up, let's go!
Because it's the Christmas season, we here at Blog Club would like to commemorate the festivities with our take on the classic carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas" by posting, over the next twelve days, our twelve favorite Christmas songs. Like most of the things we do, we had a conversation about the boundaries and parameters of what this would entail. Upon conclusion, I'm guessing that we're all going to do our own thing (go figure!). Anyone who's read our previous efforts in movies and music could have guessed that already.
So how am I approaching it? For me, it's the twelve essential Christmas songs that I love to listen to repeatedly during the holidays. These are the ones I don't get tired of. In some cases, it will be a particular version by an individual artist that makes it special, and in some other cases, the song itself is a beloved favorite, and multiple interpretations just make it better. Most of my songs are secular; my comrades may or may not have more traditional church carols included.
As always, these are personal and subjective choices, and even if you hate the song or the version that I chose, remember two things: 1) You are free, invited, and encouraged to create your own blog, join the Blog Club (easiest membership ever...just post something!), and post your own favorites, making sure in your own prose to point out my numerous errors of taste; 2) Remember that some people like Hawaiian pizza—there's just no accounting for tastes, and besides, that's what makes the world go 'round. (And gravity, or something, I think...you know, science...)
We're running the official twelve beginning tomorrow, which will unveil our top choices on Sunday, December 23, wrapping things up right on time before Christmas Eve. After all, even if we wanted to write, you're going to be too busy to read. But before my #12 pick tomorrow, here are the five Honorable Mention songs that I also love...just not enough to put them ahead of the others.
#13—"Winter Wonderland"
I walk around during the month of December singing this as much as any other Christmas song. My favorite rendition comes from Eurythmics and the incomparable voice of Annie Lennox.
#14—"Let It Snow"
Fun to sing along at any time, this Christmas classic also plays during the closing credits of one of the greatest Christmas movies of all time...Die Hard.
#15—"I'll Be Home for Christmas"
I've acted in a Christmas play of the same name twice, and this song always brings back fond memories. It's also one of the best sentiments of the season...being at home surrounded by family and friends is one of the best things about the holiday season. I'm including Frank Sinatra's version, which is smoother than the scotch he was drinking during the recording session.
#16—"Grown-Up Christmas List"
One of the best "new" Christmas songs of the past 20 years, this sentiment is sorely needed in our selfish, materialistic culture today. Amy Grant's voice is as comforting as a warm pair of slippers in front of a fireplace.
Bonus Track—"Carol of the Bells" Family Guy has totally ruined this song for me, but especially for my wife, since this is the version I sing out loud to her anytime any other version of this song is played:
