Today on Kooky Christmas, we learn that we must be careful what we wish for.
#13: “Must Be Santa” by Bob Dylan
Just yesterday, I was thinking that I didn’t know any new Christmas album released this year by artists that I like. More of my favorite bands should make holiday albums, I thought.
And then I saw this video by one of my favorite musical artists:
It turns out that Mr. Dylan released an entire Christmas album in October — Christmas In the Heart (click to buy)
Some thoughts:
- Yes, that really does look to be Bob Dylan in the video.
- No, I don’t know what’s going on with his hair.
- For me, Dylan’s voice has never been his strong suit, and it has not improved through the years. What I tend to love about his performance is his song-writing — lyrics in particular. So I wouldn’t expect to enjoy hearing him sing other people’s songs. But having listened to the album, I find I rather like some of them. Your mileage may vary. (FYI: “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” is not one of the ones I like.) (UPDATE: One of the songs I enjoy is Dylan’s version of “Christmas Island” — the original of which is #15 on our countdown!)
- When I throw a party, it is not generally like the party in the video. One time, it was — my grad school friends and I threw a progressive party where we went from one of our houses/apartments to the next, all in walking distance, getting progressively wilder and weirder. In my heart, this is the kind of party I always want to throw. (See also The Wild Party: The Lost Classic by Joseph Moncure March
.)
Next year, I want there to be a Pixies Christmas album.
Next on Kooky Christmas: Not everyone likes the merchandising of Christma$.
