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Calling All Christmas Tunes


by Gini Mascorro 6 Nov 2008 3:56 PM

A shout out to the Pop Kids: I’m in the process of producing a little ‘Home For The Holidaze’-type music show for Christmas and am wondering if there are any DFW bands out there who have any holiday tunes that would fit a triple-A format? These songs can be covers of traditional holiday tunes, or […]
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A shout out to the Pop Kids: I’m in the process of producing a little ‘Home For The Holidaze’-type music show for Christmas and am wondering if there are any DFW bands out there who have any holiday tunes that would fit a triple-A format? These songs can be covers of traditional holiday tunes, or originals – free of the f-bomb or any of the six other naughty words on George Carlin’s list, natch – but songs that reflect the range of emotions and many moods that come with the onslaught of the holiday season, and maybe with a bit of a North Texas twang. And while we’re at it, what are your favorites? Here’s a sampling of some of what you might hear:

MATT POND, PA – “Holiday Road”

LOUIS XIV – “This Christmas”

THE FALL – “(We Wish You) A Protein Christmas”

ASOBI SEKU – “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Wanna Fight Tonight)”

THE RAMONES – “Danny Says”

THE RAMONAS – “Santa’s Got A GTO”

THE VENTURES – “Snowflake”

AIMEE MANN – “Calling On Mary”

LEMMY, DAVE GROHL & BILLY GIBBONS – “Run, Rudolph, Run”

THE RAVEONETTES – “The Christmas Song”

RIDE – “Like A Snowflake”

THE DECEMBERISTS – “Please, Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas)”

THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS – “Feast of Lights”

THE KINKS – “Father Christmas”

Suggestions for any other fave-rave holiday tracks are welcomed and appreciated. Thank you, thank you, thank you…

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COMMENTS

  • I don’t know any DFW bands with Christmas songs, but here are some of my seasonal favorites:

    Sufjan Stevens has a fantastic box set of Christmas covers and originals called “Songs for Christmas.” He does a fantastic version of “Once In Royal David’s City” (one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs). Some of the original songs are pretty funny, too. Belle and Sebastian’s cover of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” is absolutely fantastic. Finally, semi-obscure Welsh band Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci have a couple of Christmas songs that are beautiful. One is called “Christmas Eve,” and the other is a traditional Welsh carol, “Hwiangerdd Mair” (“Mary’s Lullaby”).

    I can’t wait to start listening to Christmas music!

  • My faves is:
    Bruce Springsteen, Santa Clause is Coming to Town
    Roches Handel’s Messiah Hallelujah Chorus
    Best! Robert Earl Keene’s Mary Christmas from the Family
    Really good, Bruce Cochburn’s Christmas Album. (you can borrow mine if you want, great songs)
    Johnny Cash, Little Drummer Boy.
    Not exactly Christmas, but U2’s Peace On Earth works.

  • Oh, goodness. I’m impatient for it myself. Personal favorites:
    * most of the Mediaeval Baebes’s “Mistletoe and Wine” album, especially “Blow Northern Wind”
    * the Cajun Night Before Christmas that I’ve heard on KERA in the past (don’t know the artist)
    * Stan Freberg’s “Green Chri$tma$”
    I haven’t loaded up my Christmas mp3s (not until after Thanksgiving) yet, but these are what I can remember.

  • Jake

    I’m also a big fan of the Sufjan Stevens’ Christmas collection. Joni Mitchell’s “River” is a favorite and Bright Eyes’ “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is a quiet, thoughtful take on the Christmas classic.

  • These are splendid suggestions – thank y’all! I’m blown away. OK, so far we have two votes for the Sufjan Stevens…and I’ve never heard Johnny Cash’s version of ‘Little Drummer Boy,’ but it sounds like a must-have. Gotta check out this Stan Freberg track, too. And Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci – wow, there’s a name I haven’t heard in ages – think that’d go with some Dylan Thomas’ ‘Child’s Christmas in Wales?’

  • A great local Xmas tune is “A surprise return” by the Denton band Fishboy. It’s about a Christmas tree that comes back after it is thrown away. http://www.yofishboy.com/

  • Brad, you are a gem. Thank you!