What's In Your Holiday Music CD Player?

Typepad hates me this week. It won't let me comment on ANY blog, even this one. So if your blog uses Typepad and I haven't commented like I normally do, that's why. I'm fucking spam, apparently. And if I don't comment on your comments here, don't take it personally.

I've been sick. I've been busy trying to beat the clock on deadlines. I've had bad news on a family matter. Oh, and there's this thing called Christmas around the corner - anyone heard of it?

We did get the tree up. While we were decorating we followed our tradition of listening to our selection of Holiday tunes. Our family favorites are Harry Connick Jr., a compilation of 60's stars including Steve Lawrence and Edye Gormet, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and Robert Goulet. Then there's the 80's Christmas CD with our personal favorite, Billy Squier's "Christmas Is a Time To Say I Love You" and Hall and Oates "Jingle Bell Rock" and the Waitresses' "Christmas Wrapping." Yeah, I like traditional music too, but very little purely instrumental...unless it's one of Brian Setzer Orchestra's rockin' tunes or my uber-talented daughters whipping out a live string trio.

So, I'm at my hairdresser's the other day and he asked me if I went to hear Brule', which is a Native American Band who have a killer show with drums and reeds and singing and dancing and I said - no. He asked me if I went to the Ozzy Osbourne/Rob Zombie concert a few weeks back, which had all of the topless shots and pornographic images as a backdrop like you'll find at the Buffalo Chip in Sturgis. Sadly, I said - no. (Yes, he knows my taste in music very well) Then we talked about some upcoming music shows, and he said he was listening to Alice Cooper's radio show and he heard Godsmack's version of...Silent Night. Let me repeat that: Godsmack singing Silent Night.

Anyone know where I can get a copy? Because I have been officially banned from purchasing any additional Christmas music for the Armstrong clan.

Why?

Because of Dwight Yoakam. See, I LOVE Dwight, and I've been a huge fan of his since before he became big. Since he played up in Belle Fourche during the Belle Fourche 4th of July Rodeo and Stampede. I adore twangy country music (as well as headbanging rock) so when I saw Dwight had a Christmas CD out a few years back...I had to buy it. Omigod, it is so awesome. I love it.

But I'm the only one who loves it. Whenever I put it on, family members scatter like buckshot. Hearing Dwight whine "Silent Night"? Awesome. Hearing Dwight twang through "Away In a Manger"? Priceless. But the crowning glory, besides the rockabilly version of "Run Run Rudolph" and "Here Comes Santa Claus" is the song which should be the redneck Christmas anthem: Santa Can't Stay - and here's a teaser of the fine fine lyrics which make up this song:

Momma said Santa can't stay
said she told him that twice yesterday
then a car just like Dad's
pulled out and drove away
after momma said Santa couldn't stay

They both heard him coming
I saw Mom run down the hall and holler
Doug you're drunk don't come inside
I'm not joking I've had all this I can take

He threw a present really hard
that almost hit Mom's new boyfriend Ray
and he yelled ho-ho, lucky for you she's here
and said that Santa can't stay

So what are some of your family favorite tunes? Do you have a love/hate with any one in particular?

Comments

[J.D. Rhoades]

Hah! I thought I was the only one who brought the Dwight Yoakam Christmas album home, only to have it go over like a lead balloon.

My personal favorite Christmas tune:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P37xPiRz1sg

[Karen Olson]

My husband hates Alvin and the Chipmunks. My daughter is threatening to get the Christmas album to annoy him :)

We have a lot of the Rat Pack Christmas CDs. My husband may not like chipmunks, but to him, nothing's better than Frank.

I like the Harry Connick, too, and, yes, Lori, Springsteen's Santa Claus is Coming to Town is one of my favorites.

[David Terrenoire]

My fave is Louis Armstrong's holiday paean to paranoia, "Zat you, Santy Claus?" I'm trying to learn how to play it on the ukulele but it's not translating well, I don't know why.

Runner up is Robert Earl Keen's "Merry Christmas from the Family."

And yes, I like Frank, Ella, Mel, Nat, and Dean, too.

It's all good.

[AlisonGaylin]

I've said it before (and I know Bryon agrees with me) Father Christmas by the Kinks is a great (if sarcastic) Christmas song. Also love Louie Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald singing Baby it's Cold Outside. Judy Garland singing White Christmas makes me cry, and so does The Pretenders' 2000 Miles. I really hate Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer, but the dogs barking Jingle Bells is a sort of guilty pleasure. Billy Squier did a Christmas song?! REALLY????

[patti abbott]

Love the Motown Christmas album. Also the Charlie Brown one. Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Belafonte, Johnny Mathis.

[Karen Olson]

Today I was in the store and went through the cheap Christmas CD bin.

Air Supply has a Christmas album!

[Mary Stella]

Lori, you have great taste in music, except for that whole not-loving Springsteen flaw. I love the Billy Squiers song and the one by the Waitresses, too. I also like "All I Want for Christmas is You" which sounds like it's sung by a woman, but isn't. There's a parody of the 12 Days of Christmas where the people are increasingly stressed to the point of melt-down over all the things they need to accomplish for the holidays. That always makes me laugh.

For some reason, I've never enjoyed Little Drummer Boy.

[Jeff Shelby]

I know this'll come as a surprise, but I really like Springsteen's Santa Clause Is Coming To Town.

Though I've listened to Dusty's song like a dozen times now and think it's now my favorite as well.

[Clair Lamb]

I admit to loving the Beach Boys' Christmas Album, particularly "Little Saint Nick" and "The Man with All the Toys." My mother had it on vinyl, and it's a sentimental attachment...

[Gerald So]

In my CD player is Tis The Season for Los Straitjackets, the Christmas album from a group of Mexican-wrestling-mask-wearing surf guitarists. My favorite song on the album is a hard-driving version of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" featuring a riff of Del Shannon's "Runaway".

The Christmas song that puts me in a good mood any time of year is "Sleigh Ride".

Just hear those sleigh bells jingling,
Ring-ting-tingling, too.