The original single, recorded for Decca Records, featured a cast of fine musicians, including drummer Buddy Harman and saxophonist Boots Randolph. A perfect addition to any Christmas playlist. It returned to the Billboard charts in when it was re-released.
Davis in Seger cut his version for the charity album A Very Special Christmas , a themed album featuring such stars as Sting, Bryan Adams, and Bon Jovi, and one that was released to raise money for the Special Olympics. Discover the best Christmas songs of all time. Your email address will not be published.
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Search uDiscover Music. Get some rap-rock into your Christmas playlist. The song samples Christmas classics like "Frosty the Snowman" and "Jingle Bells," in case anyone argues it's just not Christmasy enough. This one's an underrated Blink single if we've ever heard it. Parodying "I'll Be Home for Christmas," it's all about a guy who loses it on Christmas Eve and decides to attack carolers.
Play it for the scrooge in your life. Accompanied by an equally wild music video, "Don't Shoot Me Santa" is a violent holiday-themed song about a kid who should definitely be on the naughty list, and Santa sets out to make sure he won't do anything naughty Maybe they're not a real band, but Spinal Tap's "Christmas with the Devil" is as real as any other Christmas song.
Seriously, if you play this for someone who didn't know any better, they'd think it was just a regular metal band singing about spending the holidays with Satan. Not formally released on a Queen album until the 90's, you'd be forgiven for not knowing this holiday single existed. But after you listen, you'll want to keep playing it for years to come. This raunchy Christmas song is all about wanting a woman for Christmas.
It sounds just like an Otis Redding single, from the horn charts to the raw emotion in his vocals as he tells her, "Merry Christmas, baby, you sure did treat me nice. Baby Jesus would be proud.
But no one gets off easy here. Then, Yoko has her say and when the chorus comes around again, John's words are underscored by a choir singing "War is over if you want it. Sure, the arrangement is Spector's, but it's Springsteen's Christmas spirit that makes this version so contagious. Captured live and loopy in his prime, Springsteen eases you in with a rap that sets the scene on his beloved Jersey Shore: "It's all cold down along the beach, the winds whipping down the Boardwalk.
And only then does Springsteen sing, turning in a performance that feels like every word was filtered through a grin. It eases in all sweet and seasonal -- with sleigh bells, even. Then, the slashing power chords kick in and from the time Ray Davies starts to sing, it's clear that this will be a Christmas record like no other: "When I was small, I believed in Santa Claus, though I knew it was my dad.
Don't mess around with those silly toys. We'll beat you up if you don't hand it over. We want your bread so don't make us annoyed. But remember the kids who got nothin' while you're drinkin' down your wine. I've never seen this on a Christmas compilation unless you count that dB's Christmas record , but I don't know why. The melody's sweeter than Santa-shaped chocolate, the vocals are soulful and joyous, and -- get this -- the lyrics are actually about the birth of Jesus.
Alex Chilton sets the stage with "Angels from the realms of glory, stars shone bright above, Royal David city was bathed in light of love. Jesus Christ was born. I think that's tympani. How Christmas can you get? This song is unfairly maligned when it should be embraced for what it is — a sappy synth-pop trifle that captures the Capraesque charm of the season while pushing the musical envelope without abandoning the simple pleasures of a well-placed hook.
You'd think that people would have had enough of silly Christmas songs? I look around me and I see it isn't so. This New Wave Christmas single rocks the mike like Debbie Harry on the "Rapture" tip with an impossibly elastic bass line, punch-drunk horns slurring the chorus hook and a singer who's blowing off Christmas this year. This one fades in with the chime of a dreamy guitar part.
Enough said, Happy Holidays, metal heads! Liz Ramanand Published: December 24,
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