It’s Weird. It’s Strange. It’s a Christmas Song?
For the remainder of this week, I am writing a series on specific Christmas songs and the memories they invoke for me. It’s unapologetically the holiday I celebrate, though I enjoy reading and hearing about others in the spectrum. Throughout the week, please leave your favorite songs from the daily genre in the comments. At the end of the week, I will draw a name, and the winner will receive a CD or download of one of the genres mentioned to enjoy next year. The more you comment, the greater your chance to win.
Please forgive a repost of sorts in the middle of a series. I have contracted a mighty, wicked cold and have been sleeping for the better part of the last day. So, today, I’m simply going to ask you a question. What’s your off-the-wall Christmas song fave, a tune that maybe doesn’t go with Christmas, but you can’t help but associate it with the holiday?
I have two.
First, I recorded this one last year in Stockholm. I have no idea what they’re singing, but they’re dressed like Christmas, and it’s snowing, leaving me to assume it is a carol of some sort. It makes me happy every time I listen to it.
The other song I associate with the season is a Jewish hymn, Elohai N’Tzor. I picked it up last year as part of Pink Martini’s Christmas CD, which is FABULOUS. Again, I have no idea what they’re singing, but this song makes me tear with every playing.
What is your favorite off-the-wall holiday song?
Please post your selections today in the comment section.
I love the Jackson 5 version of “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.” Just a cute innocent little song.
I can’t help but love that one, too, Vera.
I really don’t have any off the wall Christmas faves, I like the traditional songs and the occasional off beat song like Grandma Got Run Over with a Reindeer.
So for today I’ll go with Barbara Streisand and I’ll be Home for Christmas.
Grandma is off the wall, Lou.
Gotta be Kirsty Mcoll and the Pogues, Fairytale of New York: on denistry ground alone. One of my favourite Christmas songs of all time.
Interesting…that is one of my 3 favorite Christmas songs of all time.
Brilliant.
I love this one as well.
Lou is off the wall enough all on his own.
But, how about this. My daughter loves it, which means I love it!
Awesome.
I LOVE I want a Hippopotamus For Christmas. My daughter in law loves hippos and I usually send her a link to this…
Yes, love this, too.
Has to be “merry xmas from the space-age bachelor pad” by Esquivel…
can’t find video, sorry.
What a pity. That would make an exquisite addition to these festivities.
Well it’s not really off the wall and it is a Christmas song (guess I’m a non-conformist today?), but….”I’m getting nuttin for Christmas”. Gosh I loved that song. When all of us were kids on Sorrell Drive on fine Christmas morning, we all received a record player and the record that was playing as we all tumbled into the living room was, “I’m getting nuttin for Christmas”. Such fun it has been rolling down memory lane.
Ava Marie is another song I equate with Christmas time but I’m sure it’s one of the songs we used to sing in Church at Midnight Mass.
Hope you start feeling better soon Andra!!!!
I’ve always loved that one, too. Here’s to nuttin.
And, Aaron Neville’s Ave Maria is my favorite.
Carnell, that’s it! That song is so ridiculous but I sing it every time.
Can’t help but sing it…….
This isn’t really off the wall, but I like it anyway!
I love love love Run Run Rudolph.
Well, for more recent songs, Carnell hit the nail on the head. But, dating waaaay back to my childhood, it would undoubtedly have to be: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_I_Want_for_Christmas_Is_My_Two_Front_Teeth
I remember the version done by Spike Jones & his City Slickers, but haven’t found a video of that group performing it, so here’s Melissa Lynn instead: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI02_UJ1C6I
Sorry you’ve been under the weather.
Hope you’re better soon!
My two front teeth were both missing one Christmas in my life, and everybody tried to get me to sing this song.
This is a traditional Christmas song with a twist
http://search.yahoo.com/r/_ylt=A0oG7lsuQfNOTTIA0vZx.9w4;_ylu=X3oDMTBybnZlZnRlBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMQRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkAw–/SIG=120bpbbb5/EXP=1324593582/**http%3a//www.youtube.com/watch%3fv=EDBMzGq1vhs
I hope my post worked. If not, it is John Denver and The Muppets singing The 12 Days of Christmas
Perfect, TK.
Love it.
I like all the parody carols I can get my hands on. “The Twelve Pains of Christmas” comes to mind.
Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!! I love these, too.
Very funny!
I don’t know how to embed a video, so I’m using this opportunity, Andra, to try! But my odd Christmas song is Tom Waits singing “Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis,” which is both compelling and off-putting, all rolled into one! I like the ukele version, enjoy Tom Waits’ voice, and it isn’t intended to be “Christmasy” at all, but the title caught my attention a few years ago, and thanks to youtube I can share it with you! Feel better soon!! Debra
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsLyICWEHMI&w=420&h=315%5D
I also love this tune, although I prefer this version…
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12qBoy2rhVw?rel=0&w=420&h=315%5D
Neko case has a wonderful cover of it as well.
Well, I love it when somebody inserts a Christmas song I’ve never heard of or don’t have. This one is AWESOME.
OK, my two which I had to think about for a while:
Walking ‘Round in Women’s Underwear
And Cheech and Chong’s Santa Claus and His Old Lady http://youtu.be/XoSyCtD0WO4
These are both EXCELLENT.
My theme song! No, not Cheech and Chong…
Miss May, I was wondering where you were in this whole discussion. I do understand that “Walking ‘Round In Women’s Underwear” might be a song you can relate to!
Relate to? Sweetheart, it is a song I live to! Well, that and Monty Python’s Lumberjack song…. although not a Christmas tune.
I’ve not seen this for the last year! What fun!
In one of the Doctor Who Christmas specials, Andra, there was a song called The Stowaway, which I quite like. I’ve found this version of it on You Tube that has lyrics, so you can sing along. (My technical skills are kind of lacking today, so if this link works, I’ll eat my hat. If not, Andra, could you edit this comment slightly so it does work…? Thanks… )
Mentioning Doctor Who to some of this gaggle of readers will make you the most popular commenter on the blog, Tom. We have quite a contingent of Doctor Who fans.
You’ve got that right…and there is NEW one on Christmas evening. Woooo!
Did somebody say they are looking for the DR??
Tom’s comment contains a link to the song, Lou. A DR. WHO Christmas song.
Andra,
I want to try this again…feel free to delete the above…
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCaaRQ149-I?rel=0&w=420&h=315%5D
Deleted, though three in a row Ramones wasn’t a bad addition to this post.
Fun post. Feel better, Andra!
My fave:
Aw, I LOVE this one. One has to put a peg on one’s nose to sing it though.
Great one, Nancy.
The Jethro Tull Christmas album is altogether great. One of my favorites. But I don’t consider it odd or unusual….
Why would it be?