'Phil Spector, the influential rock ’n’ roll producer known for the “wall of sound,” has died. He had been serving a prison sentence for murder.' As we all know, Spector also oversaw one of the most brilliant Christmas albums ever recorded. He's flawed, he's a convicted murderer, but on a blog like this, we just gotta pay tribute:
Sunday, January 17, 2021
Sunday, January 03, 2021
Final post in a series on songs about Christmas (or mentioning Christmas) not set in December. We had the first half of the year, including summer, plus June and July, so here's the rest of the year.
No clue what this is about, but it sounds nice with the choir, gentle indie pop from 2018:
Dutch rocker JP den Tex from 2012, with a song about a relationship gone sour:
Irish folk, very christmassy, from 2016:
Maybe if your from Seattle, you'll understand:
Very good song about Christmas coming real early (from 2008):
Just can't wait for Christmas (on ukelele, from 2015):
Same vibe, but as a happy indie rock song: (2013) 'I'm not a scrooge I just can't get used to Christmas in November'
Dreamy indie, good 80s vibe (from 2014):
Handkerchiefs ready? Slim Pickens is singing about a dad who's son isn't going to make it past Christmas (from 1980):
Do we really need Christmas in November? Hmm..
OK, well, maybe not, from 2020:
No clue what this is about, but it sounds nice with the choir, gentle indie pop from 2018:
Dutch rocker JP den Tex from 2012, with a song about a relationship gone sour:
Irish folk, very christmassy, from 2016:
Maybe if your from Seattle, you'll understand:
Very good song about Christmas coming real early (from 2008):
Just can't wait for Christmas (on ukelele, from 2015):
Same vibe, but as a happy indie rock song: (2013) 'I'm not a scrooge I just can't get used to Christmas in November'
Dreamy indie, good 80s vibe (from 2014):
Handkerchiefs ready? Slim Pickens is singing about a dad who's son isn't going to make it past Christmas (from 1980):
Do we really need Christmas in November? Hmm..
OK, well, maybe not, from 2020:
Saturday, January 02, 2021
To continue the short series about Christmas songs (or songs mentioning Christmas) set outside of December. Yesterday songs set in June and July, today song set in the first half of the year.
Probably the most famous non-Christmas song set in the beginning of a year, is this one by Lou Reed, about a Vietnam-veteran:
Too mainstream for this blog really, but on point in this series, Christmas set on Valentine's Day:
From this year, like the latter, but released in November and definitely seasonal: "Yeah, I'm writing this song about Christmas in April this year/So I'm not sure what to think about that/And I'm hoping these words don't ring so hollow when you're here/They say, "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year":
Three months in one song! April, May and June. That those are women's names is probably not a coincidence.
Swing about feeling lucky in love (because that's how Christmas feels, even in spring):
From Australia, just a guitar so it sounds like Billy Bragg:
It's GWAR so I'll just post it (though it starts at saying 'Twas the night before Christmas'):
Many moons ago, on a weblog far far away, I posted tracks by this Brussels singer. Can't remember how I got this, or where Marine ever went. Still, it's a song about Christmas in summer:
Friday, January 01, 2021
Every day is Christmas, to quote either Sia or Charles Bradley. In the past years, I've posted several songs in which Christmas celebrations were moved to another month (than December, obviously). In this series, I want to take a look at Christmas songs, or songs that mention Christmas, not set in December. Recenlty, those song were covid-themed, i.e. 'if we cannot celebrate it now, we'll do it next summer'. Best example, this track by Joe Mitchell:
Celebrating Christmas in summer is a real thing, as this article on the origins shows. Of course, songrwriters took that as a starting point for a song:
"You and I are about as finished as a Christmas tree in June", Lauren sings in a gentle folksy track
From 2020, and actually awesome, this song by Alex the Astronaut, who uses CiJ as an expression of getting really lucky:
From 2018, posted earlier here, a song about homesickness and wanting to celebrate Christmas in better temperatures:
A spy movie-soundtrack with a long intro that fades in a loungy Carpenters-like duet, from 2010:
You were waiting for this one, weren't you? From 2006:
Grrrreat indie by Teflon Beast (love that organ):
Schmaltzy waltzing about waiting, "cause waiting for you is waiting on Christmas in July" (2020):
Funny, oddly groovy track about Yuletide in summer, from 2013:
Dunno if the kid in the back wailing was intentional, it sure is charming (catchy song too) from 2020:
How 'bout some foul-mouthing, blackfaced Christmas punks? Somewhat related, the shortlived duo Christmas in July (=Adrianne Lenker & Buck Meek) who made a seasonal covers EP in 2012. This is Howard Blake's Walking in the air:
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