Comments on: ...but I couldn't miss this one this year

...but I couldn't miss this one this year

pxe2000 — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 07:42:54 -0800

Christmas Wrapping is one of the most enduring (and arguably one of the hippest) Christmas songs of the past twenty years. Though a quintessential keyboard-and-sax driven New Wave tune, the endearing singleton's account of the year in dating on Christmas Eve tops the Christmas charts every year, and has survived reinterpretations by the Spice Girls and Save Ferris. This year, the eclectically-talented Chris Butler reflects on its inception.

By: liam

liam — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 10:32:31 -0800

Off the rare great Christmas LP. And pun as fuc.

By: davidmsc

davidmsc — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 10:41:27 -0800

Always in my top three songs of the holiday season...marred only by the knowledge that the wonderful singer, Patty Donahue, passed away in 1996. The song is a bouncy treat, infused with a sense of optimism long before the happy ending. My other two faves are Andy Williams "Happy Holidays" and the Vince Guaraldi classic "Christmas Time Is Here" from the Peanuts special.

By: fenriq

fenriq — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 10:54:20 -0800

This is a great song, I listen to it all year long actually and really like the hoppy sound and the nice ending and all that. Not all Christmas music has to suck, there's plenty of good stuff out there for the Kazaa'ing. Best Christmas song in my book: Eartha Kitt singing "Santa Baby".

By: davidmsc

davidmsc — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 10:55:08 -0800

Whoa -- forgot about that one, fenriq...grrr! Hot stuff.

By: KnitWit

KnitWit — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 10:55:39 -0800

I've just recently been able to get Lena Lovich's "New Toy" off repeat in my mind... Damn Target commercials.

By: sixpack

sixpack — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 11:08:51 -0800

Heard Mr. Mojo's Christmas by the Wise Men while tooling around the city this afternoon. It's a Doors takeoff -- imagine a cross between "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" and "The End" Listen to it here (scroll half-way down).

By: aaronscool

aaronscool — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 11:16:07 -0800

Ok I'll bite, from the link biography link here it says Patty left the Waitresses in the middle of recording their second album and "Only those close to the situation know the real reasons behind this and it's not my place to comment on them." What the hell is that supposed to mean? Now I'm far more curious than if he'd just said she split during recording and left it at that.

By: gdav

gdav — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 11:26:52 -0800

I was born on Christmas Day, by Saint Etienne always hits the spot for me.

By: evinrude

evinrude — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 11:39:15 -0800

"Christmas Wrapping" has always been my favorite christmas song, ever since I was young. No one else I know personally has ever heard of it. Madonna's version of "Santa Baby' is unforgivably bad.

By: eyeballkid

eyeballkid — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 11:56:48 -0800

I think that Waitresses song is my favorite Christmas tune of all time. I love Everclear's "I Will Be Hating You For Christmas," the hidden track on "So Much For The Afterglow," for obvious reasons. Jimmy Kimmel's "Christmastime in the LBC" is also a popular in the eyeballkid household this time of year.

By: trillion

trillion — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 11:59:44 -0800

This is definitely my favourite XMas track. I love the New Waves/80s vibe.

By: niteHawk

niteHawk — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 12:14:26 -0800

Fairytale of New York is definatly my favorite holiday song this time of year... coming close is Dar Williams Christains and Pagans. Everclear's is good... as is Blink 182's I Won't be home for Christmas, and of course, The Ramone's Merry Christmans, I don't want to fight

By: pejamo

pejamo — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 12:17:45 -0800

I always liked "Christmas in Hollis" by Run DMC. Superfunky Christmas!

By: KnitWit

KnitWit — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 12:36:44 -0800

can't wait to sit down with Kazaa and this thread tonight.

By: lotsofno

lotsofno — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 12:40:15 -0800

i remember playing this song nonstop, a couple years ago. i had no idea it was so old (not that that's a bad thing). if any of you on kazaa want to hear dashboard confessional actually do a semi-happy song, they have this christmas mp3 floating around... not sure what it's called, but it has the word "gift" in it.

By: Ogre Lawless

Ogre Lawless — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 13:11:58 -0800

Madonna's version of "Santa Baby' is unforgivably bad. Every version of "Santa Baby" I've ever heard is bad: Madonna's, Cindy Laupers and Everclear's. I made collecting alternative Christmas tunes a hobby of mine back in 2001 and released a two-CD sampler as a card-stuffer holiday gift. My top five would be (not that this was the point of the thread or anything): 1) The Vandals and/or No Doubt's version of "Oi! To The World" 2) The Eels: "Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas" 3) The Kinks "Father Christmas" 4) James Brown's "Santa Clause, Come Straight To The Ghetto" 5) They Might Be Giants' "We Just Go Nuts At Christmas Time" A clear argument for filesharing since most of this stuff is off of odd, out-of-print comps or Christmas singles long-vanished. For meta-meta, former Kottke darlings and synth-pop never were's Barcelona released an excellent Waitresses/Patty Donahue tribute in the form of ZeRo-oNe-INFINITY's "Hanted By The Ghost of Patty".

By: crush-onastick

crush-onastick — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 13:15:19 -0800

kitt's santa baby is much preferable to her getting nothing for christmas which is just dreadful, even for a novelty song. ramsey lewis sound of christmas best christmas album. ever.

By: davidmsc

davidmsc — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 13:19:47 -0800

(shriek) Ogre, that "Father Christmas" song has been buried in my psyche for years -- haven't heard it since ~1988 or so. Thanks!

By: Grangousier

Grangousier — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 13:21:30 -0800

Yes. Christmas Wrapping, hurrah! What a shame about Patty Donahue. And my very favouritest Xmas record is Snow by the Cocteau Twins (their versions of Frosty the Snowman and Winter Wonderland).

By: psychoticreaction

psychoticreaction — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 13:22:25 -0800

Son of Santa. Also, please see the appalling "Horny Holidays".

By: pxe2000

pxe2000 — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 14:00:28 -0800

argh! why must you taunt me?! is there any place i can find an mp3 of "haunted by the ghost of patty"?

By: starkeffect

starkeffect — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 14:31:59 -0800

My current favorite is "Plant the Halls" by suddenly, tammy! Runners-up (besides the ones that have been mentioned already): Art Carney - "Santa Claus and the Doodle Li Boop" Jane Siberry - the entire "Child" live album Gayle Peevey - "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" Go Home Productions - "Christmas on the Block" Mark Mothersbaugh's "Joyeux Mutato" album and for sheer gumption, Pansy Division - "Homo Christmas"

By: starkeffect

starkeffect — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 14:34:09 -0800

Incidentally, Chris Butler holds the Guinness world record for longest pop song (69 minutes), for "The Devil Glitch".

By: divrsional

divrsional — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 18:46:43 -0800

starkeffect, you are totally right on. I don't know the Art Carney song, I'm definitely going to hunt it down. My MeFi Christmas playlist: Hark! by William Orbit aka Torch Song Little Drummer Boy Grace Jones (on Pee Wee's Xmas special) (with the Salsoul Orchestra pulling in a tight second) White Christmas by the Ravens Coventry Carol by 22 Brides Schoolgirl Psychedelia by Fantastic Everlasting Gobstopper O Come O Come Emmanuel by Anne Dudley of Art of Noise Christmas California by Cynthia Dall Black Christmas by The Emotions Close Your Mouth by the Free Design Dasher, With the Light Upon His Tail by Kitty Wells Nicholas Was . . . by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean Christmas Past by Blegvad & Greaves Do You Hear What I Hear? by Daniel Givens 2010.12.25 by Mansfield Welcome Christmas by Love Spirals Downwards Santa Claus Is Comin to Town by Joseph Spence The Rockefeller Tree by I Am The World Trade Center (a band that predates 9.11, thank you) Christmas Treat, Peppermint by The Sisterhood and that doesn't include the big band stuff that I also love

By: litlnemo

litlnemo — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 19:03:13 -0800

Some of you might enjoy "(LGH) for Christmas" by the Screaming Santas. "LGH" stands for "Let's Get High"... and the lyrics talk about "dropping some frosty windowpane," etc. It's funny but it's also a great power-pop hook. The Santas include members of Northwest power-pop bands the Posies, Tube Top, and SuperDeluxe, and released one mid-90s ep. Dammit, I need a copy of the Kinks' "Father Christmas" on mp3. I only have vinyl. And the iTunes music store doesn't have it. Do they want to force me to download a free copy?

By: sassone

sassone — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 19:20:35 -0800

"Christmas Wrapping" and the Vince Guaraldi "Charlie Brown" music: Great, great stuff. But come on folks, how can your holiday favorites list not also include Dean Martin, Rosemary Clooney, or Bing Crosby??

By: pxe2000

pxe2000 — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 20:04:42 -0800

well, sassone, i hear a lot of that when i'm christmas shopping. if i'm listening to a playlist i make, i'd rather not be reminded of the malls. interesting (note: not bad) that this has become a thread about holiday playlists. you're making me remember good holiday tunage i might otherwise have forgotten. my list: christmas time is here"/vince guaraldi "river"/joni mitchell" "jesus christ"/big star "christmas must be tonight"/the band (the fan page has a nice acoustic version of it that you can stream) "2000 miles"/the pretenders "christmas wrapping"/the waitresses "christmas is all around"/billy mack (yes, it's the scrummy bill nighy. no, it's not very good.) "o holy crap"/strong bad "a fairytale in new york"/the pogues "santa claus"/throwing muses "st. stephen's day murders"/elvis costello and the chieftains "the carollers' song"/the green pajamas "icelandic christmas carol"/bjork "o holy night"/the sheila divine "have yourself a merry little christmas"/tori amos "happy new year"/luna "hark the herald angels sing"/vince guaraldi and the peanuts (with the "MERRY CHRISTMAS CHARLIE BROWN!" intro) thanks for all the song suggestions...

By: niteHawk

niteHawk — Tue, 23 Dec 2003 20:05:29 -0800

I'll add one thing. A good source of some "current" bands doing soem pretty decent xmas songs is the annual KROQ Kevin and Bean CDs... Look for them on eBay if you are not in the LA Area (as I have to do every year) This year has the Dashboard confessional song on it, as well as Less than Jake doing Nuttin for Christmas which are both pretty good.

By: seanyboy

seanyboy — Wed, 24 Dec 2003 04:08:39 -0800

Fairytale in New York. This is THE best Xmas song ever. And if you disagree ... then you're a scumbag, a maggot, and a cheap lousy faggot.

By: stavrosthewonderchicken

stavrosthewonderchicken — Wed, 24 Dec 2003 04:41:21 -0800

My tracklist from a CD I made for my buddy Rick a couple of years back : Mojo Nixon - Christmas, Christmas Spinal Tap - Christmas With The Devil Crash Test Dummies - The First Noel Darlene Love - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) Dean Martin - Baby, It's Cold Outside Galaxie 500 - Listen, The Snow Is Falling John Lennon - Happy Xmas (War is over) Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song The Payolas - Christmas Is Coming Pogues & Kirsty McColl - Fairytale of New York Pretenders - 2000 Miles Ramones - Merry Christmas Run DMC - Christmas In Hollis Booker T. & The MG's - Silver Bells Squirrel Nut Zippers - Santa Claus is Smoking Reefer The Drifters - The Chrismas Song The Kinks - Father Christmas Tom Waits - Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping Weezer - The Green Album - The Christmas Song (Japan Green Album) Bob and Doug McKenzie - Twelve Days of Christmas

By: stavrosthewonderchicken

stavrosthewonderchicken — Wed, 24 Dec 2003 04:48:37 -0800

Some of which aren't that great, but had meaning for Old Friends. Some of which are truly great, just 'cause they are.

By: stavrosthewonderchicken

stavrosthewonderchicken — Wed, 24 Dec 2003 04:49:46 -0800

CDDB: Merry Bastard Xmas

By: milovoo

milovoo — Wed, 24 Dec 2003 07:56:08 -0800

The Doors themed xmas song up there reminded me of an even weirder one called We three Bings - I haven't listened to it in a while but it's a Bing Crosby impersonator, singing xmas lyrics to a Doors song. (from the "Blame it on Xmas" comp) Highly recommended. also, from the excellent goth xmas comps of projekt I recommend "Welcome Christmas" (that's the song that the whos down in who-ville sing - try it!) by Love Spirals Downwards. (I used to be on a BBS that was entirely fileswapping of obscure holiday songs, umm, so if you need any more...)

By: eyeballkid

eyeballkid — Thu, 25 Dec 2003 06:57:07 -0800

i was cleaning off my desk this morning and found a cd that i culled together a few years ago merely labelled "anti-xmas." turns out, it's not so anti and much of it is taken from the previously mentioned kevin and bean xmas cds. tracklist: it was a very good beer - homer simpson santa claus is smoking reefer - squirrel nut zippers storytime with bobcat goldthwait (sure don't feel like) christmas time - the mighty mighty bosstones run run rudolph - humpers i will be hating you for christmas - everclear behind the holiday, Santa Claus - Ralph Garman fairytale of new york - the pogues christmastime in the lbc - jimmy kimmel santa claus and his old lady - cheech and chong fuck christmas - fear christmas time for my penis - the vandals christmas in hollis - run dmc merry christmas (i don't want to fight) - the ramones mele kalikimaka - poi dog pondering river - travis santa's beard - they might be giants christmas in february - lou reed here comes santa's pussy - the frogs it was a very good year - frank sinatra snow - grey eye glances

By: amberglow

amberglow — Thu, 25 Dec 2003 07:37:07 -0800

they did a great job on the whoville song! thanks!