0:00:01-0:00:30) Carol of the Bells (A Cappella) by Carol Of the Bells off of Carol Of the Bells
0:00:31-0:03:20) Mele Kalikimaka by Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters off of A Merry Christmas With Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters
0:03:21-0:04:54 (Rev. Interruption background music 1: Prison Prism by Ani DiFranco off of Revelling: Reckoning)
Happy holidays and welcome to Aurally Fixated. That right there was Mele Kalikimaka, by Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters. And we kicked the show open with an cappella version of my favorite Christmas hymn. The tune was originally a Ukrainian folk chant dating back to pre-christian times – associated with celebrating the coming of the new spring. Then, about 100 years ago, it was stolen, melted down, and sold back to the world as the Carol of the Bells.
Today is the 25th day – of July. So why are we celebrating Christmas in July? Because it’s an excuse to celebrate. To feel the holiday spirit on warm summer nights. Hear Christmas carols without already being sick of them. Image gifting without having to pass guilt-inducing bellringers, or children screeching whilst their parents brawl over presents – and whether it should be “happy Christmas” or “merry holidays.”
I may be getting ahead of myself. You have been good, right? You don’t wan’t to be skipped by Summer-Santa, do you?
0:04:54-0:07:34) ‘Zat You, Santa Claus? By Louis Armstrong off of Christmas Blues
0:07:35-0:10:32) Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto by James Brown off of James Brown’s Funky Christmas
0:10:33-0:13:57) Santa Claus Is a Black Man by Akim & Teddy Vann off of Santa Claus Is a Black Man – Single
0:13:58-0:19:44) Santa Claus Goes To the Ghetto by Nate Dogg & Snoop Dogg off of Christmas On Death Row
0:19:44 (Rev. Interruption background music 2: Interlude Two by Cunninlynguists off of Southernunderground)
Welcome back; boy and girls – worses, and betters, to our Christmas in July. Did you now that Christmas used to be such an insane party so bad-ass it was outlawed a few time. Now-a-days its much more gentile. Telling us to be nice and not naughty, so we can get plastic and electronics from Santa Claus… Speaking of which, we heard Louie Armstrong asking ‘Zat You, Santa Claus? Then we heard from James Brown’s Funky Christmas telling Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto. After that came little Akim & Teddy Vann telling us how they know Santa Claus Is a Black Man. And finally, the more aurally fixated might’ve noticed that last song, by Nate & Snoop Dogg, sampled the horns from Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto. They obviously didn’t try to hide their inspiration because they named their song Santa Claus Goes To the Ghetto.
Because Santa is an amalgam of different characters from all sorts of cultures there are countless versions. More than enough to go around. So not everyone sees him the same – and not everyone wants the same things from him.
0:21:14-0:23:35) Santa Claus Is A Monster by Jeff Hershey and The Heartbeats off of Santa Claus Is A Monster b/w Santa Claus and Don’t Believe In Christmas
0:23:36-0:27:33) Don’t Shoot Me Santa by The Killers off of Don’t Shoot Me Santa – Single
0:27:34-0:29:34) Back Door Santa by Clarence Carter off of Christmas A Go-Go
0:29:35-0:33:09) Santa Claus Is Cummin’ (To Town) by GASH off of Punk Rock Christmas
0:33:09-0:34:37 (Rev. Interruption background music 3: Star Seed by Kristoff Krane off of Kairos – Part Two)
Obviously I don’t mind you listening to these shows on days other than the ones they’re named after. After all, when exposed to new music it may take a couple listenings to truly appreciate. Or maybe some tidbit or factoid I mention after a song might help you see it, or its artist, or album, in a new light next time you hear it. Great! Listen more then once, whenever you like. But for this show in particular please don’t play it during the winter holiday season… (I can hear you laughing at my words now, though space-n-time, as you listen to this – in December.)
Anyway, the tune I just interrupted was called Santa Claus Is Cummin’ (To Town) by GASH. And continuing the sexy Santa thing, before that we had the Clarence Carter classic Back Door Santa. Just before we had the Killers track Don’t Shoot Me Santa. And we began it all with a bit of gospel-truth entitled Santa Claus Is A Monster by Jeff Hershey and The Heartbeats.
That’s more than enough of the old fat man. I hear he’s anti-semetic. According to most of my Jewish friends, he’s never brought them a goddamned thing!
0:34:38-0:37:50) Lonely Jew on Christmas by FrightWig off of Riot Grrrl Christmas
0:37:51-0:41:25) 8 Days (Of Hannukah) by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings off of It’s A Holiday Soul Party
0:41:25-0:43:34) ChristmasTime for the Jews by Darlene Love for Saturday Night Live
0:43:35-0:46:04) Hanukkah by Angry Snowmans off of Angry Snowmans
0:46:05-0:48:30 (Rev. Interruption background music 4: Nothing To Fear About by Sixo off of The Odds Of Free Will)
We began with a song I’m sure many of you recognized, a cover of Kyle Broflovski’s song from South Park, Lonely Jew on Christmas. He was channeled there by FrightWig from a Riot Grrrl Christmas. Then came Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (Rest in Power) with 8 Days (Of Hannukah) from their 2015 Holiday Soul Party record. I almost put Ain’t No Chimneys In The Projects earlier, but decided to save them for this.
After that came Darlene Love with a tune she did for Saturday Night Live entitled ChristmasTime for the Jews.
From there we slammed into a Hanukkah by a bunch of Angry Snowmans. A bunch of disgruntled elves who left the sweatshops at the North Pole to start a punk band. That song drove me crazy trying to figure out what it was “inspired” by, finally I gave up and looked it up on WhoSampled.com. As it turns out those Angry Snowmans also give their spot-on holiday treatment to; The Clash, The Damned, The Rezillos, GG Allin, Buzzcocks, Stiff Little Fingers, Ramones, Social Distortion, Black Flag, Minor Threat, Dead Kennedys, Fear, Misfits, Circle Jerks, Bad Religion, and many more.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least mention the true reason for the season – presents.
0:48:31-0:51:05) I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas by Gayla Peevey off of I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
0:51:06-0:52:49) Don’t Believe In Christmas by Junior Varsity off of Kindercore Records Christmas Two
0:52:50-0:55:27) Dick In A Box by The Lonely Island off of Incredibad
0:55:28-0:57:56) Homo Christmas by Pansy Division off of Pileup
0:57:57-0:59:20 (Rev. Interruption background music 5: Goldberg Variation #5 by Glenn Gould off of Bach: The Goldberg Variations)
First we heard I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas from little Gayla Peevey, just 10 when she recorded that (in 1953) The song what such a hit back then, that a fundraiser was held, and yes, she was actually given a hippo – which of course she wisely and generously donated to her local city zoo. Then we had I Don’t Believe In Christmas by Junior Varsity. After which we heard The Lonely Island featuring Justin Timberlake with their Emmy award winning song – for outstanding music and lyrics (sigh) Dick In A Box. And we rounded it all off with the giants of QueerCore – Pansy Division with Homo Christmas from a compilation of their early work, from before they signed on to Alternative Tentacles, called Pileup.
This Christmas in July thing has got me feeling pretty good. It’s nice when you don’t have to worry about the stress and madness that accompanies the end of the year. I can be a bit of a Grinch.
0:59:21-1:01:49) You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch by The Ford Theatre Reunion
1:01:50-1:06:45) The Grinch by Tech N9ne off of Absolute Power
1:06:46-1:09:05 ) C.H.R.I.S.T.M.A.S / Gloria by The Yobs off of The Worst of the Yobs
1:09:06-0:11:34) Carol of the Bells by Procrastination Station off of Carol of the Bells
0:11:35-1:12:37 (Rev. Interruption background music 6: Outskirts Of Beatrice by Lenny Kaye off of State Of The Union)
Thank you so much for sharing your time with me, I truly hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I have. If you did I hope you can go out and spread some holiday cheer! Before I leave you I’ve got to tell you that The Ford Theatre Reunion just gave us You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch. Go find their Patrion and donate. That I order – and beg! Then was Tech N9ne with The Grinch. The Yobs with C.H.R.I.S.T.M.A.S / Gloria and then another rendition of Carol of the Bells by Procrastination Station.
Now a melancholy melody that feels like midwinter. From Sixo’s amazing album The Odds Of Free Will. And you should recognize one of my very favorite musicians, Ceschi’s singing Christmas Past. (He rhapsodized to us back on April Fools Day.) Then we sleigh off into the sunset with Astronautalis, with Xmas In July.
1:12:38-1:15:43) Christmas Past (Featuring Ceschi) by Sixo off of The Odds Of Free Will
1:15:44-1:19:39) xmas in july by Astronautalis off of The Mighty Ocean & Nine Dark Theaters
