Two years ago, in those pre-YouTube dark ages, I posted my ten best rock Christmas songs. Now, with the benefit of technological advances, I re-present my ten best rock Christmas songs.
10. Simon and Garfunkel, "Silent Night/7 O'Clock News"--Brilliant. Juxtaposing the serene and mellow sounds of Simon and Garfunkel singing the best known Christmas song to the reading of the nightly news--murder, war, racism, drug overdoses, etc.
9. Greg Lake, "I Believe in Father Christmas"--Atheists sing Christmas songs too, just with bitterness and contempt. The reason is the season.
8. The Ronettes, "Frosty the Snowman"--This appeared on Phil Spector's 1963 Christmas album (buy it here), where most of the memorable Christmas songs of the 1960s appear.
7. U2, "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"--A cover of a song from Phil Spector's Christmas album, "Baby Please Come Home" proves that U2 can do Christmas in addition to New Year's Day.
6. The Waitresses, "Christmas Wrapping"--A quirky, new-wave Christmas song that chronicles a busy year of an English lass who meets her lad at a grocery store on Christmas eve. "You mean you forgot cranberries too?"
5. John Lennon, "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)"--The two biggest Beatles each released a famous Christmas song, and, at least in this instance, preachy beat silly (Paul McCartney's "A Wonderful Christmas Time").
4. The Pretenders, "2000 Miles"--Chrissie Hynde, who bore a child to the man who sings the top song on this list, sang an awesome version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" in addition to this original contribution.
3. Band Aid, "Do They Know It's Christmas?"--The first and best of the massive '80s charity singles, Bono's "Well tonight thank God it's them instead of you" still sends chills down the spine. The extended version with Paul McCartney, David Bowie, and others talking is really cool.
2. The Pogues, "A Fairytale of New York"--In probably the only Christmas song that gets heavy airplay on St. Patrick's Day, the Pogues and the late Kirsty MacColl explore the negative emotions the holiday season can evoke. "You scumbag, you maggot/You cheap lousy faggot/Happy Christmas your arse/I pray God it's our last." Tell me how you really feel. Check out a Matt Dillon cameo as one of NYC's finest in the video.
1. The Kinks, "Father Christmas"--A class-conscious, heart-tugging holiday song about robbing Santa Claus. "Have yourself a merry merry christmas/Have yourself a good time/But remember the kids who got nothin'/While you’re drinkin' down your wine."
That one by the Pogues is warped.
It might not feature the most original theme lyrically, but musically I would include "A Christmas Song" by Jethro Tull.
How's about Elvis' Blue Christmas?
Or "Christmas as K-Mart?"
Root Boy Slim STILL owes me money!
Should be Christmas AT K-Mart. My mistake.
Come on Homer, get off the 'roids man!
