Doing things a little different the next couple weeks. Today I’m going to share some new, indie rock, Christmas-y tracks I’ve discovered this year. Next week will be a double playlist of both the songs that just missed my Favorite Songs of the Year list, and a review of the #1 songs of each year I’ve made those lists. Plus, bonus videos each week! You all have been very good this year and deserve a little something extra!
“A Little More Christmas” – Cheetah Cheetah Bison
Wonderful song.
“Kid On Christmas” – Madi Diaz
And so is this.
“Don’t Fuck With Christmas” – Bumblewasps
Always good advice.
“Driving Home for Christmas” – Middle Kids
It’s always a little weird to me when artists from the southern hemisphere sing about Christmas. I mean, this Chris Rea original has no mentions of snow or snowmen or any of that jazz, so it’s truly universal. But, still, messes with my head a little.
“December” – illuminati hotties covering Neck Deep
OK, not anywhere near a Christmas song. But the month is right. I had never heard the original before this morning. Neck Deep is a Welsh pop-punk band. I much prefer this version to theirs.
“The Belle of St. Mark” – Sheila E.
We are down to our last two AT40’s of 1984. No huge debuts in either week; technically any new songs would be ’85 hits anyway. So I’ll close out this series with two songs I love that were both from the same music “factory.” They were both the briefest of Top 40 hits right around the holidays, so I always think of this time of year when I hear them.
This week’s selection is my favorite Sheila E. song. Yes, I like this more than “The Glamorous Life.” Of course, like almost all of her music, it was written and produced by Prince. Who also played most of the instruments. Like you couldn’t guess that by hearing the album version a single time. This was the song’s first of three weeks at #34. This video is a terrific live performance.
“Last Christmas” – Wham!
Two of the most enduring modern, pop, Christmas songs ever recorded arrived during the Christmas season of 1984. Last week I read an article about this Wham classic. Here’s a little tidbit to blow your mind: Bing Crosby first recorded “White Christmas” in 1942. However, that original studio recording was damaged and Bing re-recorded it in 1947 (and then many other times). That 1947 version is the one we most often hear on the radio. So, in 1984, it was 37 years old. Which means we are farther away today from the recording of “Last Christmas” than “Last Christmas” was from the most commonly heard recording of “White Christmas.” Crazy, right?
I’ve never loved this song, but I admire its persistence in becoming an all time classic.