Mike the Knife
Mike the Knife
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Season's Bleatings

Posted over 4 years ago
The other day, MOGger laureate lucystarlite opined that Wham’s “Last Christmas” was one of her guilty-pleasure holiday favorites. (http://mog.com/lucysilverlining/blog_post/129146) And she started me to thinking about my own obsession with Yuletide music. I’ve got it bad, and have been this way since childhood – despite my Judaic roots.I’ve got to admit that there are all too many Xmas songs that I enjoy and that could be tabbed as guilty pleasures - depending on who's making the call. (Don't be too concerned. You’re not gonna catch me willingly listening to the tedious Josh Groban collection that has lately wheedled its way up the charts.) For instance, how would you categorize "Step Into Christmas" by Elton John or "Wonderful Christmastime" by Paul McCartney? Both cheesy, but both catchy. On the other hand, I defy anyone to say that XTC's glistening original "Thanks for Christmas," or Book of Love's techno-pop version of "We Three Kings," or the Kinks' canny, rocking "Father Christmas," or the Waitresses’ sweetly droll "Christmas Wrapping," or Clarence Carter's lowdown-and-funky "Back Door Santa," or Kid Creole and the Coconuts' sophisticated-and-funky "Christmas on Riverside Drive" are anything less than brilliant and deserving of annual airings.I don’t want to know if you’ve been bad or good. That’s between you and Santa. But I do want to know some other things, like…What, for you, is the quintessential Christmas recording – whether cool or corny or just plain embarrassing to admit? And what would you like expunged from the holiday songbook forever?In the true spirit of “Peace on Earth and goodwill to all,” here’s the video for another number in my Xmas Top 10, the Ramones’ rollicking “Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)”:
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Comments (35)

  1. Dale
    Dale says It's not Christmas until this song plays 20 times. I do love it so.
    Permalink posted 12/11/2007
  2. Dale
    Dale says BTW, there's a Book of Love Christmas song?!? I feel my 80's cred crumbling. Egad!
    Permalink posted 12/11/2007
  3. Augusts1
    Augusts1 says When I was growing up my family had Wayne Newton's "Songs For A Merry Christmas"(which came out in '63) lp that got played to death. I'm not a fan of his later Vegas lounge style stuff but his earlier stuff is pretty good, albeit sappy. That album hasn't been re-released on cd probably due to the fact that he sounds somewhat feminine on it(& also Johnny Carson made fun of him incessantly, alluding to him being gay). So I doubt it will be released. I've found a couple of the songs off that album that are on comp. xmas cds but nothing more. When I heard them I got a big ol' grin on my face just from the childhood memories they brought to mind.
    Permalink posted 12/11/2007
  4. goodmusiconly
    goodmusiconly says Christmas songs that bring out the spirit for me have always been the old-school recordings my parents would play -- compilations that included Bing Crosby, Doris Day (aack, yes I know), Sinatra, Nat King Cole. But I think the first time I was truly struck by a song that I could call my own was this one (I was a Bowie fanatic at 14 or 15 when I heard this the first time) ... I listen a lot to Elvis' Christmas stuff, too (which I find comical when he applies his "unique" vocal stylings), The Vince Guaraldi Trio, the Squirrel Nut Zippers' _Christmas Caravan_; and some cool compilations from an independent label I've been liking quite a bit ... but I may have to keep those one under my wing for a future post. ;) Holiday tidings to you Michael!
    Permalink posted 12/11/2007
  5. Misstee
    Misstee says I have a long list but when I was growing up my mother's favorite Christmas album was the Motown Christmas and my favorite track was Michael Jackson's 'Little Christmas Tree'.
    Permalink posted 12/11/2007
  6. Mike the Knife
    Mike the Knife says Dale: I would think that they do know it's Christmas after 20 plays. And you must hear the Book of Love carol, Dale. It's too good. August: Wayne Newton = Proust's petite madeleine? Whoda thunk it? But memories are made of these. goodmusiconly: Thanks, Erin. Always had a fondness for "...Drummer Boy" (the famed Harry Simeon Chorale version) and Bowie's unexpected duet with Der Bingle. And I do not think that there a lovelier holiday melody than Guaraldi's "Christmas Time is Here," Not a one! Misstee: Oh man! "Deck the Halls" by Smokey & the Miracles and Stevie's "What Christmas Means To Me" are fantastico! And, moving south to Memphis, have you ever heard Booker T. & the MGs' finger-poppin' renovation of "Jingle Bells" from the Atco/Atlantic LP Soul Christmas? In-friggin'-credible!!!
    Permalink posted 12/12/2007
  7. fistula spume
    fistula spume says I love X-mas music. Good and bad. Have you heard the new mashup x-mas album yet? I haven't but it looks pretty sweet.
    Permalink posted 12/12/2007
  8. Mike the Knife
    Mike the Knife says Heard it, fist? Why, it was delivered to me via reindeer-drawn sleigh!
    Permalink posted 12/12/2007
  9. Misstee
    Misstee says I'm also partial to Stevie's Ava Maria from the album too....
    Permalink posted 12/12/2007
  10. Mike the Knife
    Mike the Knife says Hard to argue against that one. I'd risk damnation.
    Permalink posted 12/12/2007
  11. gramma
    gramma says I'm new at this,enjoy it so far.
    Permalink posted 12/12/2007
  12. Anna
    Anna says It's not Christmas if the soundtrack of Nightmare Before Christmas doesn't flood my apartment. It's becoming a tradition as important as Christmas lights (and we all know how much I like the purty lights!). A song I cannot stand is Wham's Last Christmas. No offense to our lucy, it's not 'cause I think it's a bad song; it's 'cause I think it's a sad love song that has given new meaning to the words "heavy rotation". Most radios here just play it every hour and I feel like pulling a van Gogh (and by that I don't mean "paint a memorable impressionistic painting").
    Permalink posted 12/13/2007
  13. Mike the Knife
    Mike the Knife says gramma: Welcome aboard! 'Tis the season to be MOGgy... Anna: ♪ What's this?!? What's this?!? You cannot stand the Wham? ♫ Whatever you do, do not damage the shell-like ears! (They're purty, too.)
    Permalink posted 12/13/2007
  14. mktackabery
    mktackabery says Great post Mike. I adore hymns, so here's my two "it's not Christmas until:" Sting, "Gabriel's Message" Steeleye Span, "Gaudete (Rejoice)" The essential cheese, Dr. Elmo's "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer:" A classic the second it was put on wax, Run-D.M.C.'s "Christmas in Hollis:" Oh My God, a ill reindeer. It brings a tear to the eye. And finally, the guy who ruined Christmas forever with his fargin' synthezer shit, Chip Davis' Mannheim Steamroller. May he rot in hell:
    Permalink posted 12/13/2007
  15. Wahiawa786
    Wahiawa786 says If you think all versions of "The Little Drummer Boy" are routine, balladic, and forgettable, then DON'T play Willie K's version! (You might find yourself rockin' around the Christmas tree.) Please excuse this Hawaiian music promoter for banging the little drummer boy over the head. (We now return you to your regular/safe Christmas music programming.)
    Permalink posted 12/13/2007
  16. Mike the Knife
    Mike the Knife says mktackabery: Ah, Michelle! First-rate! Forgot all about the Steeleye Span classic, which is perfect for the season - and don't get me started about "Christmas in Hollis" or I'll go on and on about the source of the killer funk sample, Clarence Carter's "Back Door Santa." Wait. Already did. BTW, somehow missed the whole Mannheim Steamroller hysteria, Heh. Wahiawa786: New/exotic/unlikely ingredients are always welcome in the egg nog. Thanks!
    Permalink posted 12/13/2007
  17. Misstee
    Misstee says Anna - check out Jimmy Eat World's cover of 'Last Christmas'...it will change your mind about the song completely.
    Permalink posted 12/14/2007
  18. lucysilverlining
    lucysilverlining says i love the waitress' christmas wrapping and the kinks' father christmas...and so many others. i put together one mix, so far, this year...but there is so many i love. run dmc and band aid!!! yes!!! i have holiday music addiction pretty bad, to be honest. a few of my favorites:
    Permalink posted 12/14/2007
  19. Mike the Knife
    Mike the Knife says Wow! A Christmas cornucopia! Joyeux Noel, lucy!
    Permalink posted 12/15/2007
  20. mktackabery
    mktackabery says Great adds Lucy, most especially Annie and Al. Scrooged is a fabo movie!
    Permalink posted 12/15/2007
  21. Lizziegreeneyes
    Lizziegreeneyes says Following in my siblings' footsteps, I am down with Dale & Erin's selections (can't go wrong with 80s Christmas tunes - ala Dale's video or Bowie ala Erin's vid). Plus ANYTHING Bing, Nat, Ella or Dino, & OF COURSE ole Blue Eyes ;) I was trying to find the video by a girl group... the one about being alone then meeting some guy in the supermarket... definitely 80s, I look forward to heaing that one each year - but I don't know who sings it. That made me think of: Dan Fogelberg's Old Lang Syne (love that man & his sappy tunes) !!!
    Permalink posted 12/15/2007
  22. Mike the Knife
    Mike the Knife says That would be the aforementioned "Christmas Wrapping" by the Waitresses, Lizzie. And I can't get enough of Crosby's stuff during the holidays. If you haven't watched the campy, stereotype-ridden, but wildly entertaining and quintessential Christmastime musical "Holiday Inn" with Bing, the phenomenal Fred Astaire, and the delectable Marjorie Reynolds, you are missing out on a slice of Americana that you should catch if you can.
    Permalink posted 12/15/2007
  23. Lizziegreeneyes
    Lizziegreeneyes says Christmas Time is Here & All I Want for Christmas is you !!! Those are two more (I am not a Mariah liker, I prefer the little girl in Love Actually's version of the song).
    Permalink posted 12/15/2007
  24. Mike the Knife
    Mike the Knife says Agreed. As far as I'm concerned, the best thing about "Love Actually" is the music.
    Permalink posted 12/15/2007
  25. cooksterkc
    cooksterkc says This is my all-time worst (best?) guilty pleasure at the holidays . . . Oh, the joy.
    Permalink posted 12/16/2007
  26. Mike the Knife
    Mike the Knife says "Ay-yi-yi" is right.
    Permalink posted 12/17/2007
  27. Jonh Ingham
    Jonh Ingham says I kept all my mum's Xmas albums. Most of them have a 98c sticker in the corner, meaning she bought them at the local drug store - waytago mum! Amongst the compilations of Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Robert Goulet (oh yes) is Nat King Cole 'Christmas Song' - that is a small masterpiece. But my absolute favourite is a Harry Belafonte album. The man has a voice that indeed doth soothe the savage beast. In more modern mood, Aaron Neville's Christmas album (and I can't think what it's called) is a heavy rotation staple in this house. 'O Holy Night' has some of the best vocalising I've ever heard above an arrangement that can raise the hair on my neck even after the 600th time I've heard it.
    Permalink posted 12/18/2007
  28. Mike the Knife
    Mike the Knife says Jonh: You are so right about Neville. It's as exciting a rendition of a Christmas classic as I've ever heard. I notice that no one has mentioned Roy Wood & Wizzard's "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day," complete with boys' choir singing "When the snowman brings the snow!" at the mid-'70s height of cocaine abuse in the music business. Heh.
    Permalink posted 12/18/2007
  29. Jonh Ingham
    Jonh Ingham says Written by a guy who never went anywhere near the stuff. Sardonic comment or innocent joy?
    Permalink posted 12/18/2007
  30. Mike the Knife
    Mike the Knife says I prefer to think of it as inadvertent hilarity or meta-commentary...
    Permalink posted 12/18/2007
  31. milkshake
    milkshake says "I notice that no one has mentioned Roy Wood & Wizzard's "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day," complete with boys' choir singing "When the snowman brings the snow!"" Not my fave, but it is a goodie! I'm not sure what I'd put as my fave Last Christmas or Merry Christmas Everyone? At a push I think I'd go for MCE, cause it's so happy! Thnking of Christmas songs reminds me of a general Xmas song wondering.... Is it possible to make a "classic" Xmas song nowadays? The only one that came close was The Darkness with Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End). The main attempts we get at Christmas songs now in the UK are all gimmicky ones such as Avid Merrion's Proper Crimbo (though the video is quite funny!)
    Permalink posted 12/18/2007
  32. Mike the Knife
    Mike the Knife says Good callback on The Darkness, 'shake. How about the "Love, Actually" songs that Lizzie and I mentioned? They were pretty recent - and the film addressed what I think is one of your pet topics, the Christmastime pursuit of the U.K. charts' #1 position.
    Permalink posted 12/18/2007
  33. milkshake
    milkshake says I still haven't seen that film, though I've been told that it's very good and that I will be shown it lol! I think it's on TV sometime soon actually....(haha check the pun). And as for Xmas No 1...reckon Leon (X Factor) will do it! And I am not a fan of the song! Good luck to Malcolm Middleton. I think I shall actually have to sit down and listen to the charts properly this week in full since it's Xmas! (Wonder if Top of the Pops is having a Xmas show this year?)
    Permalink posted 12/19/2007
  34. soulrocket
    soulrocket says the ramones knew well what christmas is about... heh. good one, mike! one of my fave christmas items is a 7"ep called "bollocks to christmas" .. 4 bands there including business & 4 skins deliever it just fine. bollocks to christmas then...
    Permalink posted 12/20/2007
  35. Mike the Knife
    Mike the Knife says milkshake: The movie's cute. Not much more than a Christmas cracker, but cute. But, of course, your milage may vary. ;-) soulrocket: Oi! A punk-rock Christmas! Never mind the holly. Here's the winter solstice!
    Permalink posted 12/20/2007

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