Marie and Bruce from Los Angeles, California have been making music together since 2012 under the name Freedom Fry and also record one or more excellent Christmas originals every year. No wonder they're regulars on our blog. This year they surprise again with a rock solid track: My Evergreen. "We were really trying to nail the cozy Holiday sound of our favorite folk bands from the 1950s and '60s". Mission accomplished with angelic vocals, subtle bells everywhere and a lovely Christmassy atmosphere. Get merry with it.
Made big by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters in 1950: Mele Kalikimaka, which means Merry Christmas in Hawaiian. More about the origins of this more or less phonetic Merry Christmas can be found here. And of course there are endless covers of this song recorded since the first appearance. Many of them find it hard to break away from a Hawaiian steel guitar and ukulele driven version, but it can be done. A selection of ten. Feel free to drop other cool versions in the comment section!
Alice Gray does it seductively nice 'n slow on a languid beat.
You want it more psyched up? Dead Meadow to the rescue!
Searching for a Metal Kalikimaka? Sure, Girlz Melon at your service!
A fuzzy and rocky Mele Kalikimaka by indie rockers Dentist.
After a strange intro, Little Kris takes you on a pleasant Hawaiian ska trip.
A tried and tested recipe with Emily Zeck. She combines Hawaiian steel guitar with a country feel and ditto vocals and does it very well.
Of course, the instrumentalists of King of Hawaii from Seattle, Washington couldn't stay behind and also recorded a cover with The Shadows in mind.
The Sheeps throw a grungy underground sauce over Mele Kalikimaka that fits the track wonderfully well.
New York's Anni Rossi gives the song a refreshing twist with extra free violins.
And save the best for last with this festive, brassy version of Poi Dog Pondering and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
A dark, eighties-wave souding singer, drenched in reverb. Got interested? Bleachers vocalist Jack Antonoff, yes, that Jack Antonoff, has the right voice and the right vibe for a catchy, yet depressed Christmas original. Human League, Thompson Twins, The Cure, were 80s names that popped up while listening. Could be all over the alt.radio this year. Rolling Stone has the background on the song.
Don't expect too much Fa La La La Las and Rum pum pum pums from Jay Armon, the singer-songwriter from California, USA. But do expect a fine, straight forward Christmas rock song. Because when the sleigh bells at the beginning of this track are replaced by guitars and Jay opens his golden throat, we slide at breakneck speed to the end. I guess I see you around next year.
Warm-blooded female trio Say She She, adored by anyone who loves disco, funk and soul, released a retro-sounding, danceable version of the ol' Marvin Gaye classic 'Purple Snowflakes'. If this was a cake, it was layered and layered with the finest, most delicate chocolate. What a version:
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!
Our Canadian Christmas cannon, Kristian Noel Pedersen, just released two song off of his Kenny & Dolly-Christmas album tribute. He writes: "While the album of originals is still in progress, I wanted to put this little thing out in the world. Last fall, I teamed up with my bandmates, Michael McDonnell and Rob and Andrew Currie (The Currie Brothers) to record a cover album of my wife Mel's favourite Christmas album, Once Upon a Christmas by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton.
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."
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!
From 2020, but still very appropriate and on point, this punk Xmas single by UK band Launch Control:
Launch Control made more Christmas singles, none of which appeared on this blog (what the hell is wrong with us?), so we (and you) better catch up. Here's another fine one:
Dutch singer Renée Rijpstra is the gorgeous soulful voice operating as GINGE. She calls Erykah Badu, Amy Winehouse, Remi Wolf, Joy Crookes as sources of inspiration. She's also part of several big dance-hits, like this one by Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano.
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.
Praise the Lord, tis a new Christmas track by S.Lois, the banjo-wieldin', Meppel-lovin' bluegrass giant. He's a recurring favorite, not only on this blog but also on the Christmas A Go Go spectacular in the Amsterdam Paradiso. For yes, he's present, Monday December 16. More names coming up, but S.Lois (we can call him Wijtze) is rock solid.
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:
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.
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.
'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:
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
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.
Here at CAGG HQ, we'd like to take Christmas as a leftfield celebration, i.e. that we like to steer clear from the mainstream and look for the flowers blooming on the side of the road. Not necessarily on the left side, but you catch our drift. But, what if we DID look only left; what if Christmas IS a socialist, leftist feast? I mean, all that red decoration, Santa's clothing, come on!
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.
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.
Just to show that we live in a very different world, retrofunkband De-Robert & the Half-Truths released a care-free Christmas (vinyl-)single in 2011 that was all about cuddling and kisses and tender lovin' care. This year, they wanna trade in presents, trees and all other jinglejangle for some world peace. Poignant, yes:
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.
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
But of course, there's our big, as-much-as-we-like-and-can-find new Christmas music Spotify list. Conveniently shortened to 'Christmas 2024', with the alternative side AND the goodies from the mainstream. Find it HERE
Well hello there, Christmas party people. Tis that time again, the season to be jolly. And the season to take a deep dive into the Christmas-y music that is, and will be released these months. Oh, the anticipation!
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.
