“…and eyes full of tinsel and fire.”
In an ideal world, I’d give all my readers a gift for Christmas. Instead, like the Little Drummer Boy, albeit one with a modem and a seasonal Mastercard balance, I can give you only the rum-pa-pum-pum of music—specifically, this lavish buffet of Christmas-themed music videos.
When Sting decides to cover a Christmas classic, does he do “Jingle Bells”? Nope; he puts an ’80s spin on a venerable Basque carol.
If you’re of a certain age, you may remember John Denver and the Muppets singing “The Peace Carol,” or the sweet Christmas song Denver wrote for his infant son.
Roger Miller may have written the original, but Glen Campbell’s rarely-heard cover of “Little Toy Trains” sure is lovely.
I grew up in New Jersey during the ’80s, so to me, Twisted Sister covering “O Come All Ye Faithful” is the most natural thing in the world.
If you’re spending Christmas in Hollis, Queens, watch out for ill reindeer.
Join the Pogues and the late Kirsty MacColl in revisiting a bittersweet fairy tale.
If, like me, you’re as sentimental as a Polish babcia, then here’s Perry Como singing you-know-what.
No one has posted clips from the Fred Waring Christmas album on YouTube, but someone did upload the Pennsylvanians’ great, old-timey, choral version of “Greensleeves.”
Dear readers, a confession: the first version of “Greensleeves” I ever heard was belted out with a certain solemnity by three cartoon rodents.
Does the Yuletide season leave you disillusioned and wistful? Don’t worry; there’s a rock ballad for you, too.
What more can I say? Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008, at 8:36 am
Very nice, thank you very much!
In return: (A fanvid of) Cocteau Twins doing Winter Wonderland http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBKIngrCgqg
And I can’t find a video anywhere, but Åsne Valland Norli’s version of “Kling No Klokka” (a Norwegian Christmas song) is absolutely gorgeous and haunting. Seek it out – it’s on both National Geographic and Putumayo Christmas compilations.
Happy holidays!!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008, at 9:55 am
And one of the best versions ever of “I Saw Three Ships” is by Sting, on the 3rd Very Special Christmas album.
Thanks for the music [and the cooking demos, and Ralph the Collier, and so much more] and Best Wishes for a great New Year!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008, at 1:53 pm
Great collection. Love the Run DMC, and Sting of course. Long live the 80’s! ;)
Tuesday, December 23, 2008, at 1:56 pm
Those were all great, Jeff.
Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 25, 2008, at 8:37 pm
Merry Christmas, Jeff.
Jeffery Hodges
* * *