Insta here, X over there.
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Insta here, X over there.
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Original:
Of course, there are more very nice versions of Purple Snowflakes, like this blue-eyed soul version by Jessie Baylin from 2014:
Same soulful vibe:
Unstable indie folk singer with a woolen hat vibe:
Dreampop version:
Chamber pop version:
With - again - the words "Hey Mark" the never-ending saga between Loes Wijnhoven of Clean Pete and Mark Lohmann enters their next Christmas chapter. But ever since Loes managed to persuade Mark back in 2018 to write a Christmas song together in front of the fireplace at Christmas Eve, six years later things haven't improved very much. Because with 'Samen Kerst / Liever Alleen' (Christmas Together / Rather Alone) they recorded a variation on 'Baby, It's Cold Outside', the classic by Frank Loesser from 1944 and it has become another painful affair between these two. It's a kind of Q&A song through the telephone with lyrically opposing choruses, because he doesn't want to celebrate Christmas with her, while she desperately tries to persuade him to do so.
And despite Loes' seductive dancing in her glitter dress and blowing kisses to the camera in a final attempt to change Mark's mind, he sighs and even disconnects.
You have to dare.
Official release this Thursday, now already at Christmas A GoGo!
Clean Pete Insta & X - Mark Lohmann Insta & X
Sunday, November 10, 2024
I've always been a bit turned off by the 80s production, and wanted to reimagine the album as a fast paced, country album. Admittedly, it gets a little wild at times, but all in all, I'm so happy with how it turned out.
This one won't be available on streaming. However, I'm hoping to do a small physical release run. I hope y'all enjoy!”
If the spirit of this duet is an indication of the rest of the album, 't is gonna be a must-have:
Original version:
PS: about that new KNP-album coming up, he adds: "This year I wound up doing a cover of that Claudine Longet song through a Saul McCartney lens. It’s going to be insanely stupid haha."
Saturday, November 09, 2024
While my co-bloggers are hunting for the newest Christmas releases, I'm gathering Noël nuggets that we've never featured before. First off, 'Juligen' ('Christmas Again') from 1991 by Sweden's first successful Swedish language rap act, Just D.
Being anti-Christmas has been a theme for decades, and Just D do it justice. 'Juligen' takes a swipe at contrived family get-togethers, passing the time with glögg, aka mulled wine with whiskey and rum.
"Christmas is for children, but even as a child, it was a nightmare even then to be woken up at 5 am."
Cue more swipes at creepy family members and boring presents, and the clichés of Swedes getting drunk and stumbling home. The musical happiness of 'Juligen' is a great contrast to the lyrics, and all those samples are from Swedish songs, which was unique back in 1991. Most countries have television shows or films that they always watch during the holidays, and in Sweden, it's the localised version of 'From All of Us to All of You', an animated special from the house of mouse. At this point, the tradition is not going over well due to many outdated stereotypes and remains decisive.
And what's Christmas without decisive traditions? Pass the glögg!
Friday, November 08, 2024
Underneath the Table is a slighty latin-flavoured xmas song about not really enjoying the Christmas celebrations. Santa, get me from underneath the table with my tomatoes and potatoes, for I'm not liking this dinner party!
You feel the cold wind howling around your ears and the snow crunching under your shoes before you knock on the door. You are let in by The Flames who take you to a crackling fire. They give you something to warm you up: a fresh released wonderful Christmassy soft pop ballad. Because easy does it this Friday morning.
Thursday, November 07, 2024
And so is this track. Honestly, when I first heard it, I felt a tear burning in my eye. The way S.Lois sings about pines being used for Church benches, brings back memories and feelings man. Really.
Official release is Friday, but we can premiere it here:
Wednesday, November 06, 2024
The Garners from Liverpool UK, not to be confused with these Garners from San Diego California who also do Christmas music, already gave it up for Christmas last year.
This year it's the bells that ring in an uncomplicated but pretty catchy rock track. Little further information about this bearded and mustached quartet, but plenty of bells and choirs are included.
Parisian artist Clou has been around for at least 10 years, opening for many major artists in big venues. As for Christmas, Clou wrote 'Chant de Noël' (‘Christmas Carol’), which features soft harmonies contrasting with lyrics that dismiss Christmas altogether. She sings “sonnez hautbois, résonnez musettes” ("sound the oboes, resound the musettes"—an old French wind instrument) from the traditional French Christmas song ‘Il est né, le divin enfant’ (‘He is born, the divine child’), which is a French, year-round way of announcing something very obvious.
As Clou mentioned on Instagram in early October, she was dreaming of an anti-Christmas song as a response to the joyful melodies that highlight gift-giving and family. 'Chant de Noël' started off as a sort of hymn and turned into something completely different when she recorded it. “I hope it will give you the strength to face this holiday or to avoid it.” Clou also sings about not wanting to listen to her father tell her what’s wrong with her life and would rather stay with ‘the one that puts the real magic in her life.’ That definitely rings a bell.
Tuesday, November 05, 2024
The first Xmas reggae tune has arrived. A 7 inch released by both Jump Up! Records (from Chicago) and Aggrobeat (Germany/ Netherlands). Monty Neysmith sings in 'Reggae Reggae Christmas' about dancing during Christmas time and it is backed by a great swinging reggae ‘Jingle Bells’ version. Producer is Boss van Trigt aka Boss Capone. Former member of Dutch reggae/ska outfit The Upsessions. They played with Lee Perry and one of their albums, 'Beat Your Reggae'( 2009) was released by the Dutch label Excelsior. Nowadays, Boss records under his own moniker with singer Patsy.
The original version of Reggae Reggae Christmas from 2016 is on Bandcamp. The new version with Monty Neysmith is a re-recording, the flip is a totally new recording. More info HERE.
The original version of Reggae Reggae Christmas from 2016 is on Bandcamp. The new version with Monty Neysmith is a re-recording, the flip is a totally new recording. More info HERE.
'I'm gettin' nuttin' for Christmas' ranks up there with novelty Christmas songs like 'All I Want for Christmas is my two front teeth' and 'I want a hippopotamus for Christmas'. Sung by a minor, nostalgic big band vibe, so sweet it should come with a warning to brush your teeth after hearing it. 'Gettin' Nuttin'' is from 1955, written by Roy C. Bennett and Sid Tepper (who also wrote for Elvis, and many other big names). Five recordings of the song charted in '55, says Wikipedia. Over the years, it's been covered a lot.
While scanning for new Christmas songs, I heard this cover version:
Odd that they credit it to Relient K. That is fine version, but certainly not the first punkish one:
Earlier, Less Than Jake punked it up:
2002, a year earlier than Less Than Jake, I think this is the first punk'd version:
This jazzy version by Eartha Kitt is recommended:
As a weepy acoustic ballad:
As a tipsy bar singalong:
Polkafied:
Ska-punked:
Countrified:
Jazzy poppy sweetly:
While scanning for new Christmas songs, I heard this cover version:
Odd that they credit it to Relient K. That is fine version, but certainly not the first punkish one:
Earlier, Less Than Jake punked it up:
2002, a year earlier than Less Than Jake, I think this is the first punk'd version:
This jazzy version by Eartha Kitt is recommended:
As a weepy acoustic ballad:
As a tipsy bar singalong:
Polkafied:
Ska-punked:
Countrified:
Jazzy poppy sweetly:
If I were Magga, I'd run to Joe Kelly Jr. before Christmas Eve right away. Because by the time a man starts writing songs like this for you ... it's serious business. Joe teases and seduces with a beautiful, haunting original Christmas track that sounds rougher and more desperate towards the end, but so full of love for her. Run Magga Run!
For Christmas all I want is Magga to see
Cause she's the star on my tree
She's spicy and magic
Blue eyes, we can have it
She's the gal for me
Monday, November 04, 2024
The American singer-songwriter Ben Folds is primarily a pianist. In the 1990s, he had his own band: Ben Folds Five. Since 2001, he has released four solo albums, and now a fifth one is added. With 'Sleigher,' he delivers an atmospheric Christmas album full of intimate music. The opening track is a somewhat neutral-sounding piano instrumental, with only the title sounding Christmassy: 'Little Drummer Bolero.' There are hardly any real Christmas bells to be heard on this album, but the Christmas spirit comes from the instrumentation and the lyrics. Among his own songs are a few covers, such as Mel Tormé's well-known 'The Christmas Song.' Notably, 'The Bell That Couldn't Jingle' is a beautiful intimate version of Burt Bacharach's only Christmas song.
Ben Fold- The Christmas Song
No video from Ben Folds 'The Bell That Couldn't Jingle', but here's the original from the master himself Burt Bacharach and a nice version of the Dutch outfit Mist, the band with singersongwriter Rick Treffers.
So, how'bout we make our first theme post of the season about songs, celebrating Christmas in the spirit of Marx, Engels and party like it's a worker's party?
We dove deep into the red-themed songs about Xmas. Here are the highlights. Of course, tips are more than welcome in the comments:
Christmas Underground sent us this supercatchy trigger for the theme-post: Because what makes more sense than singing along around Christmas time with this nugget: 'Shine ‘em bright/shine those guillotines/It’s your night/Storm the walls by moonlight'.
And there is of course this ultrashort, yet catchy ditty:
This punkrock band proves my point, Santa's dressed in red so he MUST be a communist:
The way Paul Kramer sings his theory about Santa being a socialist, one guesses that it's not meant as a compliment. And neither is the remark about the Easter Bunny:
This one's fun (sickle rhyming to pickle), about sheltering on Christmas Eve in a communist bookstore:
Also meant as a bit of fun (I think), sidelining Santa and letting the left take over at Christmas:
A genuine protest song from the 1960s, by socialist singer Phil Ochs. He spent the festive period of 1962 in Hazard, Kentucky, where he performed a number of gigs for the families of miners striking over the ‘modernisation’ of their industry. Ochs was greatly moved by the experience, and would write a protest song, ‘No Christmas in Kentucky’, that described the desperation and poverty he had witnessed at first hand:
Did you know that the classic 'Mistletoe & Wine' is a socialist Christmas song? Read about the background HERE.
Two short notes on last year
Xmas by the Bins from the punkoustics Shotgun Marmalade is a tragicomic indictment of all food waste at Christmas dinners. Wrapped into a compelling track they scour the back alleys of restaurants "Where one person's waste, is another one's prize". From the UK, how could it be otherwise.
Insta over there.
When he made it this far, painter, author/illustrator and gifted song writer Ansley Lancourt probably survived Christmas last year. So congrats for that and let's raise a glass to Ansley too. Beautiful and subtle choirs and sleigh bells alert!
Insta over there.
Saturday, November 02, 2024
Friday, November 01, 2024
In anticipation of all the beauty that will undoubtedly come this year, we'll post a lost track from last year every now and then.
The first that didn't make it here last year is 'Christmas Eve' by DESTRUCTION baby. Unfairly, because this lazy and rattling indie track by the quartet from Waukegan, Illinois is a small and slowly swelling Christmas gem.
And with 'Christmas Day' they redo the track from above again, but in a kinda weird sped up version sung with helium.
Their Insta over there.
The return of blog favs Clean Pete didn't last too long this year, as they already released their new Christmas track 'Ja en amen' (Yes and amen) last wednesday. It's a collab with fellow Dutchie Stephanie Struijk, who you might know from earlier entrances at our blog, or maybe of her majestic appearance at our Christmas A GoGo fest in Paradiso Amsterdam last year. But let's get back to this great track.
The original, Country Christmas by Loretta Lynn, dates from 1966 and this temporary trio stayed pretty close to that, so it remained a darn fine country song with which the Christmas crush twin sisters Loes and Renée have added a tasty new flavor to their seemingly endless Christmas music palette. Finally this hillbilly track feels like a delicate rodeo on reindeer, cause "I don't want any hassle at Christmas this year, so put on your Christmas gear and do something romantic for once my dear".
Yeehaw and amen!
This track is on their second full-length Christmas album, which will be released on November 22nd.
Clean Pete Insta & X - Stephanie Struijk Insta & X
We kick off with an exclusive (of course), a track by The Earwurms from Amsterdam. Carmen, Inez & Paloma have a riot grrl take on the ol' Jingle Bells classic:
This track is part of an 10-inch record, A Dutch XMas Party, curated by CAGG's very own Oscar Smit. Featuring seasonal covers and originals by Holland's finest, like Truus de Groot, Dorpstraat 3 (who take on the indestructable Kerstmis-classic 'Eenzame Kerst' by André Hazes), Stippenlift, Raderkraft and more. See also HERE.
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