Tinsel Tunes - The Christmas Music Podcast

By Tinsel TunesMusic Music History

Tinsel Tunes - The Christmas Music Podcast episodes

September 29, 2023 58: Miss Fogerty's Christmas Cake
This month, Duane and Scott do something a little different and talk to Glen Warren from the Seasons Eatings podcast about a food-related song called "Miss Fogerty's Christmas Cake".
Versions played on this episode:
The McNulty Family
The Irish Rovers
William Brady
Wolfetones
Sharon Lois and Bram – Canadian Children’s Entertainers
Rum Ragged – Newfoundland band
Clinton Ford
Fire in the Glen
Ruby Murray – Miss O’Leary’s Irish Fruit Cake
David Jones
Folk songs out of Wisconsin - 1941 - Lewis Moody
Trinity Cake by Allan Mills
1 hr 10 min
August 30, 202357: O Little Town of Bethlehem
Duane and Scott discuss the carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem".
Versions of the song played on this episode:
Mormon Tabernacle Choir

Ploughboy’s Dream

Chapel Choir of King’s College

Nat King Cole

Dolly Parton

Jewel

Sarah McLachlan

Acapella version by Voiceplay

Metal version by Paster Brad Rocks

Reggae version by The Reggae All Stars

Chiptune version by J. S. Salonen

Folksy version by Blackmore's Night

Trance version by Eros

Punk version by Severe

Hip Hop version by Crew X

Vocal version by Hayley Westenra
51 min
July 30, 2023 56: Jingle Bell Rock
This month, Duane, Scott, and special guest Todd Killian (from Christmas Clatter) discuss the song "Jingle Bell Rock".
Versions of the song played on this episode:
Bobby Helms (1957 version)
Bobby Helms (1970 version)
Brenda Lee
Thousand Foot Krutch
Randy Travis
Kenny G
Hall & Oates
The Ventures
Brian Setzer
Mister Chicken (rubber chicken style)
Trap Music Now (trap)
Billy Idol (rock)
First to Eleven (hard rock)
Eddie Lovette (reggae)
The Holophonics (ska)
Chiptune & 8bit Planet (chiptune)
Skyway Avenue (pop punk)
Straight No Chaser (acapella)
59 min
July 01, 202355: SingIt Live (Their Christmas Album)
This month, Duane and Scott review the 2022 Christmas album by the Youtube artists "SingIt Live". Check out the whole playlist.
Songs played in this episode:
All I Want for Christmas is You (Mariah Carey)

Silent Night

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)

Merry Christmas Baby

Last Christmas (Wham)

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)

White Christmas

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Feliz Navidad

Mary Did You Know

The Prayer
Special thanks to SingIt Live for letting us use their music for this episode. Check them out on all the major streaming platforms!
1 hr 14 min
May 31, 2023 54: Santa Baby
In this episode, Scott and Duane take a deep dive into the song 1953 "Santa Baby".
Songs played in this episode:
Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt (1953 version)
Philip Springer playing and singing his original version
Madonna - Santa Baby (1987)
Eartha Kitt - Santa Baby (1960 version)
Mae West - Santa Baby (1966)
LeAnn Rimes - Santa Baby (2004)
Taylor Swift - Santa Baby (2007)
Kellie Pickler - Santa Baby (2007)
Shakira - from 2009 NBC Special "Christmas in Rockefeller Center"
Kylie Minogue - Santa Baby (2010)
Kelly Clarkson - Santa Baby (2021)
Michael Bublé - Santa Baby (2011)
Everclear - Santa Baby (1997)
Ska version by Ska-J
Rock Version by First to Eleven (2018)
Reggae Version by Deynque
Barbershop Quartet Version by Fiveways Barbershop Quartet
Chiptune Version by Scarlet Lotus
50 min
April 29, 202353: The Christmas Music of Johnny Marks
This month, Duane and Scott explore the Christmas music written by the prolific songwriter Johnny Marks.
Songs played in the episode:
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Julien Neel
Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree performed by Julia & Jack
A Holly Jolly Christmas performed by The Quinto Sisters
Silver & Gold performed by The Ophelias
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day performed by Smalltown Poets
When Santa Claus Gets Your Letter performed by Anne Lloyd, Michael Stewart, & The Sandpipers
The Night Before Christmas Song performed by Rosemary Clooney and Gene Autry
Everyone's a Child at Christmas performed by Gene Autry (Not played during episode but here for reference)
A Merry, Merry Christmas to You performed by Art Mooney
The Santa Claus Parade performed by The Little Angels
A Caroling We Go performed by Musical Monkeys
45 min
March 12, 2023 52: Ska Christmas Music
Scott and Duane are finally back at it! This month, we're discussing ska Christmas music.
Songs played during the episode:
Joy to the World by the O.C. Supertones
The Difference Between Ska, Rocksteady, and Reggae Guitar - Guitar Lesson
Christmas Feeling Ska by Toots & the Maytals
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer by Reel Big Fish
Jingle Bell Rock by The Holophonics
Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Every Day Will Be Like a Holiday by The New Limits
White Christmas by The Penguins Ska Band
Jingle Bells by the Fayetteville Ska Alliance
Silent Night by Skayway
Christmas Wrapping by Slow Gherkin
Follow That Ska by Baked a la Ska
Snow Miser/Heat Miser by Skatune Network
This Christmas by the Cascadians
Holiday Road by the Aquabats

If you would like to donate to cyclone relief efforts in New Zealand, you can do so here:
https://www.hawkesbayfoundation.org.nz/cyclone-relief-fund

42 min
December 19, 202251: The Christmas Song
Scott and Duane discuss Nat King Cole's beloved song "The Christmas Song".
Cole's Versions we played:
The original from 1946

The second from 1946 with strings

The 1953 version

The definitive 1961 version
Notable Versions we played:
Mel Torme

Michael Bublé

The Carpenters

Tony Bennett

Natalie Cole duet with Nat King Cole

Andrea Bocelli with Natalie Cole
Genre versions we played:
Acapella: Peter Hollens

Jazz Sax: Gerald Albright with The Cannonball Band

Heavy Metal: Twisted Sister

Reggae: Is This Love

Country: Teddy Swims

Chiptune: 8-Bit Universe

String Quartet: The Wedding String Quartet

Parody: Chipmunks Roasting on an Open Fire by Bob Rivers
41 min
December 16, 2022 Podcast Preview: Christmas Morning (with The Little Drummer Boy song battle)
As some of you may know, I host another podcast called "Christmas Morning" with Brandon Gray from "Deck the Hallmark". Our show is a weekly celebration of Christmas, including news, jokes, days until Christmas countdown, and TV listings. What may be of interest to Tinsel Tunes listeners is the Christmas music battle we do at the end of each episode where we compete to bring the best version of a given song by an independent artist on BandCamp.com. I'm including one episode of Christmas Morning here in the Tinsel Tunes feed because we'd love to have you over there. (If this isn't your thing, no worries! I won't be including any more of these here) You can find out more information about the show at christmasmorningpodcast.com. I hope you enjoy it!
Here's the link to vote on the music battle: https://pollforall.com/pkvpm6dx
25 min
November 22, 202250: It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Scott and Duane discuss Andy Williams' beloved song "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" from 1963.
Notable versions we played:
Andy Williams

Andy Wiliams and Kathy Triccoli

Johnny Mathis

Harry Connick, Jr.

Barry Manillow

Kylie Minogue

Idina Menzel

Cliff Richard
Genre versions of the song we played:
Celtic Thunder (Celtic)
Brian Setzer Orchestra (Big Band)
Pentatonix (Acapella)
Brett Eldridge (Country)
Ainsworth Rose (Reggae)
Gold, Frankincense & Myrrh (Punk)
Classless Act (Rock)
First to Eleven (Hard Rock)
Beegie Adair (Jazz)
Silly versions of the song we played:
Nasal Recorder (Nose Flute)

MDRN (Dubstep Remix)

Raxlen Slice (Chiptune)

Adam LeFebvre (Barbershop Quartet)

Gonzo and Rizzo from 2006 A Green and Red Christmas (Muppets)
Here's the Staples "Back to School" commercial referenced in the episode.
47 min