November 29, 2021

Christmas Songs that Rock IV - A What the Riff Rabbit Hole

45 minutes

Episode Notes

Yes indeed, folks, Christmas time is here again! We at What the Riff!?! want to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas, and here are a few rocking songs of the season for you to put on your playlist.

“Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)” by the Ramones

The founders of the punk movement offer this take on a Christmas song, with the rapid tempo and rough lyrics we've come to know and love as a classic Ramones style. Christmas is a time to be together with family, but some families are a little less together than others!

“Little Saint Nick” by the Beach Boys

A little bit more sand than snow, this well-known Christmas classic takes inspiration from the surfin' genre of the Beach Boys in songs like "Little Deuce Coupe".

“I Believe in Santa Claus” by REO Speedwagon

REO Speedwagon produced an album of Christmas standards in 2009. The re-release in 2010 included three bonus tracks, one of which was this original song penned by Cronin and Hall.

“You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” by Thurl Ravenscroft

Ravenscroft's bass voice is iconic for this classic song from the animated special, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." He also contributed his voice to Tony the Tiger for Kellogg's Frosted Flakes commercials.

“Santa Claus is Comin' to Town'” by Bruce Springsteen

How we missed this song in the first three Christmas episodes is a mystery, but Springsteen's rendition of this Christmas standard has been heard on rock radio stations everywhere since the mid-70's. This rendition has made lists of both the best and the worst Christmas songs of all time.

“Blue Christmas” by Elvis Presley

Brian wouldn't let us get through another episode without taking on this iconic song. Doye O'Dell may have recorded this sad Christmas tune in 1948, but Presley's version is without a doubt the most famous one.

“Mele Kalikinaka” by Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters

The name of this song is a phonologic translation of the word "Merry Christmas" into the Hawaiian language. Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters sang this song in 1950, but it made us think of its appearance in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."

“Up on the Housetop” by Gene Autry

While Autry sang this classic in 1953, it actually originated much earlier. Benjamin Hamby wrote it in 1864, and it is the second-oldest secular Christmas song, after "Jingle Bells."

“I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas” by Gayla Peevey

Bruce thought this was sung by Bernadette Peters, but it was actually performed by then 10-year-old child prodigy Gayla Peevey in 1953. The song inspired a fundraiser which resulted in the Oklahoma City Zoo acquiring a baby hippo named Matilda..

“Soulful Christmas” by James Brown

While it is definitely a Christmas song, it is also a song of Thanksgiving, with the Godfather of Soul expressing his thanks for his fans coming to his shows and buying his albums.

“Another Lonely Christmas” by Prince

Prince penned this original Christmas song during his "Purple Rain" days, and it appeared as the B-side to the single "I Would Die 4 U." The initial recording took place on February 18th, 1984 when Prince was essentially operating solo, and it tells the story of a man whose lover died on Christmas Day.

“The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole

Robert Wells and Mel Torme wrote this standard in a hot July, and it had its beginnings as a psychological way for Bob Wells to think of cold things during the heat wave. Nat King Cole recorded the most famous version of this song in 1946, adding a small string section over the objections of Capitol Records.

“'Zat You Santa Claus” by Buster Poindexter & His Banshees of Blue

Poindexter and his band cover this lesser-known Christmas tune originally sung by Louis Armstrong and the Commanders in 1953. It tells the story of a guy frightened by a knock on his door while hanging up his stocking.

“Another Christmas Song” by Stephen Colbert

Ingrid brings us a track by comedian Stephen Colbert, who parodies a Christmas song with the intention of becoming rich off its popularity.

“Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” by Burl Ives

This song was featured in the Rankin-Bass Christmas Special "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Ives provides the voice for Sam the Snowman, the narrator of the show. This song finishes off that special, and also finishes off our special podcast.

Merry Christmas, y'all!

Thanks for listening to “What the Riff?!?”

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**NOTE: What the Riff?!? does not own the rights to any of these songs and we neither sell, nor profit from them. We share them so you can learn about them and purchase them for your own collections.

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By Rob Marbury, Wayne Rowan, Bruce Fricks, John Lynch

4.9

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