Kooky Christmas #11: “Deck the Stills” by Barenaked Ladies

Our wave of Kooky Christmas music is growing. My next selection is from a whole album of holiday oddity: Barenaked for the Holidays. From the opening tune — a frenetic take on “Jingle Bells” — these songs all provide a new perspective on seasonal themes. You could choose almost any of these for the countdown. …

Kooky Christmas #12: “All I Want for Christmas” by Timbuk 3

Our next Kooky Christmas Countdown entry finds the atomic cloud inside the holiday’s silver lining. #12: “All I Want for Christmas” by Timbuk 3 As much as this is an anti-war and anti-consumerism song, it’s also something of a fun flashback for anyone who grew up in the 1980s and had these toys. “Transformers? I …

Lots and lots of kooky to go around

The more strange and wonderful things I post about Christmas, the more strange things others unearth, and the more I discover too, and the even more yet other people send me. It’s a gift that keeps on giving. 1. First and foremost, there are the wonders of Burgh Baby’s Christmas Crazy — not just her …

Kooky Christmas #13: “Must Be Santa” by Bob Dylan

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 …

Kooky Christmas #14: “Be-Bop Santa Claus” by Babs Gonzales

Digging into some jazz for number fourteen in the Kooky Christmas Countdown: “Be-Bop Santa Claus” by Babs Gonzales “A Visit from St. Nicholas,” the poem by Clement Clarke Moore, has inspired many a kooky reading for entertainment-type purposes. One that I particularly enjoy is Babs Gonzales‘s version, “Be-Bop Santa Claus.” It’s laden with fifties-era stereotypes, …

Kooky Christmas #15 (take two): “Christmas Island” by The Dinning Sisters & Bob Atcher

Hawaiian Christmas, originally uploaded by coconut wireless. Let’s try this again. At #15 on our Kooky Christmas Countdown, we take a trip to the islands, for a holiday in a tropical paradise. “Christmas Island” by The Dinning Sisters & Bob Atcher Aloha! Grab your ukelele. I’ll bring the pina coladas. Meet me on the beach …

Kooky Christmas: Recount!

Image credit: If Charlie Parker Was a Gunslinger, from the series “When Santa Sold“ Whoops! Apparently that Ramones song was so nice, I included it in the list twice. Yes, when I started the Kooky Christmas count down last year, I posted it at #23, while yesterday I posted it at #15. This demonstrates that …

Kooky Christmas #15: “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)” by the Ramones

For today’s Kooky Christmas I promised a trip to the beach, but it’s been a contentious day. Something extra-comforting is needed. We need good cheer. We need words of peace and love. We need music that can bring people together. We need the Ramones. “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)” by the Ramones …

Kooky Christmas #16: “Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis” by Tom Waits

Today’s edition of Kooky Christmas comes to us thanks to a reminder from Uncle Crappy. He posted the below video on his site last Christmas, and the two of us discussed the song yesterday on Twitter. Great minds…. #16: “Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis” by Tom Waits Maybe you’re one of those people …