12/24/2009

Music Wednesday: Merry Christmas you bastards!

Yeah, ok, so I didn't quite manage to write this post for Sunday or Monday as promised, but such is my flakyness. Regardless, it's here now, with your requests as well as my own favourites.

May @Problem Uterus suggested Bruce Springsteen's "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and Barenaked Ladies' "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen":





I don't care what anyone says, Christmas isn't Christmas without a little Bing.

Little Drummer Boy
(with David Bowie)



White Christmas



My new sister in Mid-Atlantic statedom, Cali, wanted Happy Christmas (War Is Over) by John Lennon (I'm assuming, rather than the Celine version) and "Christmas Time is Here" from A Charlie Brown Christmas:






Since we don't get that 1964 jem "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" in the UK, I must rely on YouTube for my annual fix. Hurray for "Holly Jolly Christmas" and "Silver and Gold":





Eliza's Mom, always the musical brainiac has suggested The Killers' "Don't Shoot Me Santa", and yes, EM, they are wearing some pretty vile/fabulous Christmas sweaters! Her other recommendation, because she pretty much rocks, is Porn Orchard's "Christmas Sucks":





And because I'm a big old dirty hippie who loves folk music, here is Kate Rusby's version of "Here We Come a Wassailing":



I could go on and on, because despite my gruff, cynical exterior, I love Christmas and all its pageantry, with Christmas music ranking right up there in my all-time list of favourite things. I won't project my holiday love any more, except to leave you with what is obviously the best contemporary Christmas song I know, and Major Bedhead and Molly agree with me - "Fairytale of New York", by the late, great Kirsty MacColl and The Pogues. Cover versions follow, just for fun:



Billy Bragg and Florence and the Machine




Paloma Faith ft Scouting for Girls



KT Tunstall ft Ed Harcourt




Martha Wainwright & Ed Harcourt




Happy Holidays to you all!

3 comments:

calliope said...

catching up...LOVE these songs.

DrSpouse said...

HOW many versions of Fairytale???

If I wanted to drive Mr Spouse out of the house this would be how! But I love them.

May said...

I have no idea why this didn't come up on my Bloglines until today, but thanks! I hadn't seen that version of Bruce singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town. Stevie's earmuffs nearly killed me!