Christmas Songs

Hey, let’s all go do something Christmasy!

Now, if you volunteer, that could mean collecting toy donations or serving meals. If you’re an atypical consumer, that means shopping, shopping, and more shopping for things we don’t need.

But if you’re in music that means that you will put out a Christmas song or CD. I want to emphasize the “will” in that. They never look at whether they “should”; they just do it. What is this need to have to subject us to another rendition of the Little Drummer Boy?

Some of the more gifted A-listers of the past have at least done their own original Christmas tunes. Now I don’t want to get into the whole John vs. Paul debate but really, which is the more powerful Christmas tune: John’s “Happy Christmas (War is Over)” or Paul’s “A Wonderful Christmas Time”?

Now I know you could simply say that they’re singers so they sing. But you don’t see every director in Hollywood making a Christmas movie just because they can. Imagine the Scorsese Christmas movie? Bloody violent gangs of Santas and Elves battling it out to control the lucrative Christmas shopping turf.


You don’t see the World Series team getting together to play a special Christmas game. You don’t see elite marathoners running a special Christmas tribute run. Ok, forget about the ice skaters; they’re complete hams and would do a Groundhog special event if you asked them.

Think I’m exaggerating by picking on musicians? Here are a few well known musical giants and their Christmas contributions:

Elvis Presley – Blue Christmas (you’ll feel blue after the 100th playing…)
Bruce Springsteen – Santa Claus is Coming to Town (Please do Santa, so this song will end…)
BB King – Back Door Santa (and I don’t EVEN want to hear what this one is about)
Beach Boys – Little Saint Nick (this is just so Beach Boys cute, isn’t it?)

Then there are those known pretty much ONLY for their Christmas contribution:

Ertha Kitt – Santa Baby (the definitive consumer spending ad – up there with Downtown)
Jose Feliciano – Feliz Navidad (Thank GOD he translated it in the song as well...)

Then there are those we could have done without:
Newsong – Christmas Shoes (avoid at all costs; you’ll have enough sap to start a syrup company)
Everclear – Santa Baby (I don’t know but any guy should just leave this one untouched)
Any Kenny G Christmas song (need I say more?)
John Denver – Please Daddy, Don’t Get Drunk for Christmas. (man what a happy title and song...I'm gonna go out right now and buy that one!)