Christmas A Go Go!

The only thing Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph are doing this Christmas is eating cheesecake, getting united, getting drunk and watching Netflix all day long. So thank God, Santa's got a Buick Regal from 1982 to bring all the presents and to save this years Christmas, that'll teach 'em! rosschildsmusic · Santa's Doing Christmas From A Buick

 Bert & Vief are a unique duo from Amsterdam. This year they released their first LP called  'Google Translate Hits' . On it they do English versions of  Dutch songs/hits and Dutch versions of English language songs. All translated by Google. Like they do a Dutch version of the Golden Earring song 'Ce Soir'. This Christmas they come up with a surprising Dutch version of  'I All I Want For Christmas Is You', recorded together with famous Dutch muscians JB Meijers and Hans Vandenburg (Gruppo Sportivo).

High Tropics had "two failed attempts covering the classics Blue Christmas and Last Christmas", so he decided to come up with an original. I'd rather say it's a cover of the never written Christmas single 'Lonely Christmas' by The Strokes, but do make up your own mind please. Insta over there . High Tropics · Lonely Christmas

Hailing from Montréal and having done comedy radio before television, Rock et Belles Oreilles (RBO) are known for their sketch parodies and original songs. RBO were the talk of the town for two decades, starting in the 1980s. They were the first to poke fun at Célion Dion, which back then was almost a crime. In fact, they wrote the song 'I want to pogne' ('I want to be catch on/be famous'), as she was becoming famous by singing in English instead of French, which in itself was its own 'crime' back then. The song is sung in bad English-franglais on purpose. One RBO's Christmas songs 'C'est nono Noël' ('Christmas is dumb') sings about drunk bosses at the office Christmas party, and all the questionable behaviour that came with that back in the day. It makes fun of celebs of the time, paying too much for Christmas stuff, politicians, and then some. I'm going to commmit adultery with one of my secretaries My wife isn't invi...

Made that list, checked it twice and here it is in one glorious Spotify playlist, the Bestest New Christmas Songs of this year . No covers, from janglin' indie to sultry soul to heated up punk to Dutch parody hiphop. Yes, The Little Unsaid was released last year (see below). Yes, that Fotoform track was on Spotify in 2020 (apparently). Yes Clean Pete & Robin Kester re-did the ol' Coventry Carol, but they changed the lyrics (made 'm less brutal) so that it's not a straight cover. It's a very mixed bag, some really gorgeous songs are followed by harsh guitars, but hey, that's life, that's Christmas. Cover made by @wilbertleering .

- Every now and then I go over older posts, see if links still work, videos are still up. I found out dat John Patrick Elliott re-upped his fantastic folksy Christmas album from last year under the flag of his band The Little Unsaid. The original post on that album is HERE. Below, one of the great songs on that album: December Songs (Album,2021) by The Little Unsaid -The Winona Project send me the link to his, well, shall we say 'kaleidoscopic' Christmas album, with some damn fine indie rock songs on it, like this one: The Legend Of Iglos by The Winona Project -'If Joanne, the dark-haired singer from Human League, had made a solo Christmas single, it could've sounded like this'. Is what I thought while listening to the song below. Thanks to Christmas Underground for pointing me in the direction of the ultra cool Fotoform: They Say It's Always Lonely (benefit single) by Fotoform -Penniless Punk send me this lovely video: -Very fun upbeat Britpop Christma...

  Canadian-born Tami (Tamara) Neilson  discovered Joni Mitchell's album 'Blue'  as a teenager.  Now she's living in New Zealand.   T he pandemic has kept her from visiting her family in Canada over the past 18 months.  "I remember putting on the  'Blue'  album and the song    'River' came on and I just immediately started sobbing because I know this song is about regret over a broken relationship.... But for me, it just became this song about homesickness and longing, and the longing was to be home."  Here's the original from 1971. It slowly becomes a classic christmas song. With covers from people like, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt or Madeleine Peyroux. Last year young American musical star Olivia Rodrigo did a simple piano version.

Well, to answer the question in the header: probably not. Or at least, you don't see the way you can make the ole' Christmas carol the way Paul Snider sees it, or hears it. Anyway, the video is self-explantory:

 In 2018 we at CAGG  chose 'Socks' from JD McPherson as  album of the year  . Every year his record company releases a track from that album. This year it's the video for the 2019 song 'Holly, Carol, Candy & Joy'. It is a lovely black and white video, in which all four beautiful girls are trying to cheer McPherson up, apperently he does not like Christmas or the girls.  

Even more songs mixing xmas with alcohol, part of a series (see HERE , HERE , and HERE ). Spotify playlist HERE : Drinking with Santa blues, 'cause Mrs Claus ran off: Drinkin' Christmas by Ripgtr So great, so sad: Bloodshot Records · "I'm Drunk Again This Christmas" by Zach Schmidt I ain't drunk, I'm just...drinking Western Sky by The Tumblers Probably the bestest title in this series: Feisty, fierce, drunk: FOREIGNFOX · Driving Drunk For Christmas Looks like we done a little boozin': Roy Freedom · I Got Too Drunk With Santa Claus Keep the sweaters, I'll have a 40oz Behind You by Karen Kilgariff Singalong! Another Beery Christmas by The Grief Brothers From last year, Dutch courage on Christmas: JOHNNYSWIM · Pass Me A Pint And then there's always a punk rock song: The Wonder Beers · Let's Get Pissed at Christmas And a few more for the road: thanks to readers, these two songs should definitely be added to the list...

Although I'm not drinking alcohol for over three years now (it's great, I tell ya), I just cannot get enough of posting alcohol + Christmas themed songs. This is part 3, earlier parts HERE and HERE . There's a Spotify playlist too, HERE . Let's kick off with a janglin' party anthem: 2 Xmas 2 Furious by Winterbeard Then let's punk it up: Fuck You, It's Christmas by Two Inch Winky One Santa walks in a bar: I Seen Santa Drinking at the Bar by Uncle Leon More drinking with Santa, punkrock style: Actual Footage - EP by Luke Stone 'I only one wish for the bearded guy/Get this bar another round of Christmas Whiskey Rye': Yuletide Sessions EP by Joey Viola Superband Minus 5 weighing in: Dear December by The Minus 5 A Christmas thought? Hm. Gimme a shot of whiskey first (GREAT song this): A Whiskey Christmas by The Hot Pentecostals Same band, more upbeat, still sad: Raw Paw Holiday Mixtape Volume 2! by Raw Paw Erasing you with whiskey Whi...

Found this mentioned on the Falalalala-forum by none other than the mighty Stubby. Martin says: 'Maybe it's the accent, maybe its the DIY of it all, maybe its the "special magic of seeing a tragic middle aged man lose his shit"...but I dug it.' And yes, I dig it too! It's a very funny song about people losing their shit when you play a Christmas song too early: 'But there's a special magic in seeing a tragic/Middle aged man lose his shit/At a supermarket clerk/For playing Christmas music at work/Before December 1st.'. It's on Soundcloud, the other streaming platforms, and on Youtube. Tom Cardy · Not Quite Almost Christmas Time

Continuing the Drinking on/because of Christmas theme (from HERE ), here are ten more song about wine, beer and other beverages mixed with spruce needles and Santa: FANTASTIC glimmering pop: Bethany & Randy · Drunk On Christmas The Mighty Dwarves!!! Blag Dahlia Presents: Greedy Bootleg Volume 2 by DWARVES, BLAG and VARIOUS Great song! Explicit Lewi · I Spent Christmas Drunk At A Bar Spending Christmas Eve without you, so that leaves just one thing: Drinkin' Alone Again... On Christmas by Wil Andrea Sparkling wine will do: Pass Me a Drink (It's Christmas) by Whitney Nichole Lovely jazzy ballad about calling Rudolph names Rise & Shine by Scott Gagner 'Got a red nose, just like Rudolph' SABERTOOTH UNICORN pretending they're the Beach Boys and the Ramones at the same time: Merry Fuckin' Christmas by Sabertooth Unicorn Jolly ol'drunk Christmas: Carolyn Eyerly · Christmas in a Dive Bar

The Dutchies are doing pretty well again this year. Next up is the first Christmas single of Amsterdam based singer-songwriter Ro Halfhide, also producer and co-founder of the Amsterdam Songwriters Guild. His tune is about Christmas and how you can both love and hate it and he effortlessly sums up the disadvantages of Christmas that might just be the advantages for others. Anyway, the track sounds cheerful, sunny, up-tempo and with great choirs. And thanks to the tasteful cover art, I'm now first heading for a good glass of Glühwein. It's that time of the year too. Insta over there . Ro Halfhide · Santa Claus Is Leaving

On Bandcamp and Spotify (and probably on all other platforms), the back catalogue of Ansonia Records. A New York based record label, started in 1949 and home to artists from Puerto Rico, Cuba and Dominican Republic. Early home to latin superstars like Celia Cruz and Ismael Rivera. Read the full story HERE . They just released a VERY cool latin Christmas album by Los Tres Grandes from 1976, with gorgeous seasonal bolero's. Read the full press release HERE . I was very touched by this track, but the full album's really great. More latin Christmas in this Ansonia Records playlist on Spotify. Navidad con Los Tres Grandes by Los Tres Grandes Big label profile HERE .

As said below , there are many themes in Christmas music: Christmas in Space, Christmas and Sex, anti-Christmas, Christmas on a surfboard. And there's Christmas and booze. Drunk at Christmas certainly is a theme. For many, it might be the only way to survive the holiday season. So, why not do a series of alcohol-infused xmas songs? The easy way would be posting Please Daddy Don't Get Drunk This Christmas by either John Denver or Decemberists , but let's take a deeper look: Drunk duetting: Drunk crooning: Drunk singalong folk: Drunk Christmas (Forget This Year) by Brutalligators 'Santa leave me nothing but alone', so yeah: Santa sure can drink too: Booze'n blues: Wild Xmas With Bomarr, Vol. 6 by Cadillac Baby Specials & Clyde Lasley More booze! More blues! Where the Love Light Gleams by EvanIvan & Friends From the writer of 'Pabst Blue Christmas' now comes: I'm Always Drunk on Christmas by Mikey Chuck Rivers This starts...

Yesterday Guuzbourg pointed out some Christmas themes here on CAGG . I'd like to add one to that list: being drunk at Christmas. Because in fact, if you want, you can always find a reason to drink, but at Christmas there always seems to be just that little bit more reason. With all its consequences. Sounds familiar? It does to Park (a.k.a. Kid Philip ) anyway when he had a bit too much of grandpa's booze. "The adults started yelling, the kids started crying, the dogs started barking and the cat went into hiding and now I'm kicked out of this Christmas Party." Great track, cheers! Insta over there .

Christmas is all'bout making lists, and checking'm twice. So before we round up the bestest new Christmas songs of this year in one handy playlist, it's time for a quick look at which original songs stuck out. The undisputed bestest new Christmas release of 2021 is the album O Come All Ye Faithful by Hiss Golden Messenger. Jim @ Christmas Underground called it very early, and he was damn right when he wrote: 'Despite the gentle, beautiful production, your brain is buzzing and delights in the unexpected. Truly lovely stuff.' And to make things even more interesting, HGM added a dub-version of his Xmas album too. Mind, blown. On Jim's Christmas mix , HGM's Hung Fire is a highlight, but I keep going back to Grace . Country, soul, a tad of gospel, the perfect mix for the perfect song: O Come All Ye Faithful by Hiss Golden Messenger I called it a while ago on Twitter, the bestest Christmas single is the Sparks-infected Christmas in the Synthesizer Age by...

Okay, still there after Boris' Wham cover below? Good! Then first turn down the volume a little bit. Not too much, because you really need to hear Kelli's crystal clear voice very well. Talking about her, she (K.C. Jones) was pretty busy this year. She released her solo album 'Queen of the In Between' and - together with Daniel Coolik - she recorded 'Spirited Melancholy'. Both albums are highly recommended to those who are into contemporary rootsy music with edges of country and an indie singer-songwriter feel. Her label, Valcour Records from Louisiana, already released three Christmas (cajun) albums. And last year they were responsible for the beautiful 'Joyeux Noël, Bon Chrismeusse', featuring six Noël classics in Louisiana French (reviewed on CAGG here ). For this years label treat, K.C. Jones and Daniel Coolik joined forces again in Lafayette, LA and recorded a really fine six track cover album with intimate, dreamy and mellow melancholy Christmas t...

Turn it up to ELEVEN Noël by Boris

Christmas music enthusiasts know ye olde English carols like God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and The Coventry Carol . The Dutch who went (or still go) to church know the Hollandse counterpart of those English carols: Nu Zijt Wellecome . Dating back to the 14th century, the lyrics welcome the birth of our Lord and saviour (if you believe that stuff) Jesus Christ. Dutch folkster S.Lois ( Wytze Valkema ) gave the ol' Dutch Christmas classic an Americana treatment, We Now Bid You Welcome . Tis on Spotify too .

The richness of Christmas pop lies in the extreme variety of genres (EVERY genre has a Christmas song), the themes (Christmas in space, Christmas on a surfboard, Christmas in hell, Christmas sex, etc) and the way songs that aren't Christmas songs are turned into Christmas songs. In the past we had Christmassy songs growing into full blown spruces (Jona Lewie's 'Stop the Cavalry', 'Fairytale of New York' by The Pogues, standards like 'Jingle Bells', 'Baby It's Cold Outside' and 'Let it Snow'), then we had songs that had little or nothing to do with Christmas getting a merry overhaul ('White Winter Hymnnal' by Fleet Foxes, Frankie Goes to Hollywoods's 'The Power of Love', Dolly Parton's 'Hard Candy Christmas' and Paul McCartney's 'We All Stand Together') and now we have songs that are a far cry from Christmas getting tapped as standard holiday fare. Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' ...

One of the most famous sort of anti Christmas songs probably is 'You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch'. One of the oldest also, as it was originally written and composed for the 1966 cartoon special Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas and sung by Thurl Ravenscroft. Back in 2000 Jim Carrey sang it in the movie 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'. This year Swedish alt-pop folk artist Nicky William made his version and somehow managed to put his own spin on it. He also did a version of 'It’s the Most Wonderful Time'. Insta over there . You're a Mean One, Mr Grinch by Nicky William

New York-based artist Justy recorded a four track Christmas EP called 'A Very Justy Christmas', of which the track 'Tree Twinkle' stands out. It's smooth, soulful and atmospheric with tender guitars. And despite the fact that basic ingredients such as sleigh bells are missing, it has exactly that warm Christmas feeling to listen to by the fireplace and see that tree twinkle, nice and slow. Insta over there .

 This song by the London folksinger Lisa Knapp came to me via BBC Radio 6. 'Cherry Tree Carol' has roots going back to the 9th century. At that time it was a tree full of dates. In the 15th century the tree changed into a cherry tree. Here are the first sentences of this recntly recorded old traditional: "When Joseph was an old man an old man was he He married Virgin Mary the Queen of Gallilee And as they were walking and talking one day To an orchard of Cherry Trees they happened to stray" Read more about this song on her  website .  Cherry Tree Carol by Lisa Knapp

The 14th (!) Christmas release by Kristian Noel Pedersen, and the Canadian singer/songwriter certainly does not disappoint (he never does). This EP features four songs, of which this midtempo gem is a surefire Xmas Mix Fave. Songs About Christmas (AKKCXIII) by Kristian Noel Pedersen

33 seconds, that's all this track takes, and it's a damn fine, yacht-y, upbeat song. Less IS more! Merry Christmas from Cheer Up! by Cheer Up!

Actually I didn't even know they still existed, but suddenly there is a Christmas belch from English pop rockers Terrorvision. The band was quite popular at the end of the last century, broke up in 2001 and appears to have had a reunion in 2005. Then it became quiet again for several years and in 2019 they suddenly came up with this Christmas track (video here ). And now, again quite out of the blue, there is another Christmas song from them this year. About a Santa who never came. Poor guys. Terrorvision · Santa Never Came

 And here it is, as promised, the second 2021 Xmas song  from American singer-songwriter Ryan O'Neal aka Sleeping At Last . This time he does a quiet and simple version of 'Winter Wonderland'. This song dates from 1934. According wiki it has been covered by over 200 artists. My preferred version is the one from Darlene Love, recorded for the famous 1963  Phil Spector  Christmas Album : The Sleeping At Last  version is very different. But his acoustic tune is real Christmassy too. He also shares all of his Christmas song on a Spotify list: Check it out  here !