Day #19 - Santa Baby

Santa Baby is not my favorite song by far, but I felt compelled to include it here. It's a perennial Christmas classic and it breaks the mold we see shaping other 1950's hits. That and I'm a sucker for self-aware songs with anti-consumerist subtext.

Classic Version: The original was written by Joan Javits and recorded by none other than Eartha Kitt. Her 1953 recording is the ubiquitous version you'll hear on the radio, in the stores, in your mind when you're trying to sleep, etc. Her 1963 version, however, has also remained relevant as it spawned a number of well-known covers, including the successful 1987 Madonna recording (of which I am not a fan). I'm partial to the former, but the music in the second is a worthy addition.

Eartha Kitt (1953)

Eartha Kitt (1963)

Modern Version: Eartha Kitt set the bar high on this one and I struggled to find an adequate modern cover. If you're a "Santa Baby purist" you might be fond of this recording from Kylie Minogue's 2015 album, Kylie Christmas.

Kylie Minogue (2015)

If you're looking for something a little different, then you're in luck. I stumbled across this late 90's hip-hop rendition by Rev Run (of Run DMC) and it is STACKED with feature artists including Puff Daddy and Snoop Dogg. Co-written by Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean, this holiday power house borrows just a line or two from the original for its chorus.This will forever be a part of my Christmas Music collection from here on out. 

Rev Run (1997)

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Song #18 - Holly Jolly Christmas

Classic Version: Holly Jolly Christmas was written by Johnny Marks in 1962. Before we go any further, we need to take a minute to acknowledge Mr. Marks. This dude was like the Max Martin of Christmas music. In addition to Holly Jolly Christmas, he wrote 'Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,' 'Run Rudolph Run,' and  'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree.' For reference, that's #2, #7, #11, and #40 on the Billboard Holiday 100 (2016). 

This song was originally recorded but The Quinto Sisters, but when household name, Burl Ives, recorded his version it quickly became the more popular track. It's bouncy and jazzy and just a blast to listen to.

Burl Ives (1964)

Modern Version: I really thought after having a whole "Country Christmas Special," I wouldn't be back with more. Well, sorry not sorry. Burl Ives was a prominent folk singer and I believe that has had an strong impact on the type of musicians who will cover this one. Lady Antebellum's cover has done quite well and for good reason. It's true to the original, not overtly country, and plays well to the style of their vocals (the same cannot be said for all of the tracks on their Christmas album). If after this, you're still feeling the country vibe and want something with even more twang, check out this version by Chris Young. 

Lady Antebellum (2012)

To avoid going full country, I want to share a more interesting piece. In my time writing this blog I've come across some weird covers. They're usually forgettable at best. This Holly Jolly Christmas cover by Sufjan Stevens, however, kind of stuck with me. I found myself playing it again and again. I still don't know if it's terrible or genius. Which, coincidentally, is how I've always felt about Sufjan Stevens. 

Sufjan Stevens

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Which version was your favorite?

Day #17 (Part B) - All I Want For Christmas Is You

Given I wrote a mid-length novel to introduce this song, I'm going to keep the actual post nice and short.

Classic Version: 

Mariah Carey (1994)

Modern Version: To my surprise, there aren't that many impressive covers. It's likely a bit of a risk to cover given the powerful vocals and star-status of Mariah Carey. Michael Bublé's version has had decent success and is refreshingly toned down. 

Michael Bublé (2011)

My mom has always said she felt this was actually a sad love song. I never really noticed that with Mariah Carey's original, but I can see it in Bublé's version. Even moreso in this "minor-key" variation by Chase Holfelder. 

Chase Holfelder

It really does seem to work in both contexts. Just another reason this song was made to last. Don't forget to comment and vote below.

Which version was your favorite?

Day #17 (Part A) - We Need to Talk About Mariah

The ambiguity of the Classic/Modern distinction, as I briefly alluded to in my last post, is a subject that warrants further investigation. Alternatively, you could ignore it and choose to lead a normal life. But I'm writing a Christmas Music blog so I think that ship has sailed.

You've probably been thinking, "this Christmas blog is alright, but he hasn't mentioned Mariah Carey once, what the @#$%#$%^&$%." Well, there's good reason for that. Let me explain.

As you know, the format here is to pick a classic Christmas song and find the best modern remakes. Thus far, making the distinction has been fairly easy considering that a majority of the songs I've covered were written in the 1950s. In fact, if you take a look at the most-played Christmas songs, most, if not all of them, are from that era (Figure 1, xkcd).

The past few decades have been comparatively weak from a holiday music standpoint. So where exactly does one draw the line between old and new? Enter the Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey.

I certainly don't hesitate to call Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You a Christmas classic and I'm sure most of my readers would agree. So is 1994 the cut-off? Should we date Christmas albums as BMC and AMC (Before and After Mariah Carey)? I've pondered this longer than I like to admit...and I think the answer might be yes. 

I don't mean to say that AIWFC was the first in a long line of "modern classics." Though her single has certainly inspired an increase in pop Christmas albums, it still stands as a statistical outlier in the recent history of Christmas music (it's the 11th Best Selling Song of all time!). It's difficult to group it with more current albums, when no other original holiday single has come close to its popularity.

What Mariah Carey's uptempo love song did accomplish, is smoothing the transition between the classics of the 1950's with 20th Century pop music. Next time you listen, pay close attention to many of the 50's and 60's stylistic influences. The back-up vocals, for example, are very 'doo-wop-esque.' It was, perhaps, this fusion of styles that helped her grab multi-generational attention. The strong, female pop/R&B vocals resonated with younger crowds while the musical nod to traditional Christmas music appealed to the Baby Boomers. One critic attributed the song's lasting popularity to the difficulty one faces in identifying it with a specific era of music (Annie Zaleksi, The A.V. Club).

Lasting Popularity of All I Want For Christmas Is You

Mariah Carey took an immense risk releasing a Christmas album right as her career took-off, but unlike the half-hearted efforts we get from many of today's artists, she put her heart and soul into this album. She decorated her entire house in Christmas decor in the middle of August to make sure her excitement came across in the vocals. "As Sasha Frere-Jones of The New Yorker said...[it's] 'one of the few worthy modern additions to the holiday canon'."

When will be get another addition to the modern suite of Christmas classics? I'm not sure (though I'm keeping my eye on Ariana Grande). I suppose if economic prosperity was any indicator, we could've predicted the Baby Boomers would have 20-30 enduring songs from their childhood and the Millenials' just the one. Oh well.

Without further ado, All I Want for Christmas is You. 

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Song #16 - (There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays

As everyone starts to plan their holiday travel, it feels like a fitting time to discuss Home for the Holidays.

Classic Version: Written by Robert Allen and Al Stillman in 1954, this Christmas classic was recorded twice by Perry Como; once in 1954 and then again in 1959. The 1954 version is more upbeat and tends to get more radio play. For consistency, that's the version I'm going to share today, but if you're interested in hearing the other recording you can find it here.

Perry Como (1954)

Modern(ish) Version: Unfortunately, this song is still under copyright. As a result, there are very few successful modern covers. I'm going to bend my rules a bit and award the best modern-ish cover to The Carpenters from their album, An Old-Fashioned Christmas (1984). It feels a little wrong to classify a song that pre-dates my birth as "Modern," but I'm certain some of my readers will be relieved that I'm no longer classifying 1984 as "Classic."

The Carpenters (1984)

If you're still longING FOR THE SUNSHINE OF A FR-sorry, this song is catchy. If you're still longing for a better modern rendition, check out this spirited ukulele cover by the relatively unknown, Here to Make Friends.

Here to Make Friends (2015)

Hopefully YouTube doesn't gift them with a DMCA Takedown Notice for Christmas.

Which version was your favorite?

And We're Back!

Hello and welcome back to the Christmas Music Countdown!

To my avid and dedicated followers -- all seven of you -- I have to apologize for dropping the ball last Christmas. We only made it to Song #15! I've spent the last few weeks trying to decide how I should approach the rebirth of this blog. Do I start over? Do I shamelessly re-post content and hope no one notices? Do I delete the blog and move to Alberta? Anyway, I hope you'll find my final decision agreeable. 

Here's the plan:

Step 1. Continue the current countdown. We'll pick up at Song #16 and make it all the way to #25. 

Step 2. Publish a Spotify playlist with the best of the best, so you can listen to The Best Christmas Album of All Time.

Step 3. Finish out the season with some fun Christmas music related content. We'll review a few new albums, complain about Amy Grant, etc.

Step 4. Profit. Just kidding, no one is buying ad space on a Christmas blog.

Now get ready..."Christmas is here" (Carol of the Bells).

Carol of the Bells (Trans-Siberian Orchestra)