I don’t know what’s oddest about this – the beach setting, the headwear, or the fact that the usually-left-off intro is spoken over a middle instrumental section. But it’s a bona-fide Wall Of Sound rendering nonetheless, and a suitably upbeat start to what will probably be the last week before Christmas where we all still have to go to work every day and look as though we’re actually paying attention.
Introducing “Crooner Sunday”: after Bing kicked us off last week, here’s a gorgeously lush and louche version by Peggy Lee. I had no idea whether Peggy Lee had recorded a version when I started putting this list together, incidentally, but when a song has been recorded as many times as White Christmas has, you end up finding that most people have done it at some point. Even Bob Dylan, though sadly no recording survives (I have been researching this quite closely; I hope you’re appreciative). So the way to make the list is to make a list of artists you’d like to hear singing White Christmas, and then google it. The list is still fluid, so I am open to requests should you have a particular favourite. Although that Guns’n’Roses version is totally not by Guns’n’Roses, so we’re not having it.
And now for something completely different (I always like to give you a treat at the weekend). As well as being much more charming than you’d expect, this version is notable for featuring the best “ho ho ho” in the history of popular music.
I didn’t think I could chirrup away about Christmas music hours after Nelson Mandela had died, so there wasn’t going to be a White Christmas today. There still isn’t, but instead here is a Mandela-inspired Spotify playlist tweeted by the folks over at playlists.net, which is a site you should make room for in your life. Listen and drink a Friday night toast to the man so big he filled the whole world.
http://open.spotify.com/user/russg22/playlist/6JO2DsbknoFM7rssrFxK9p
I love this wistful version, which I was saving for another day, but today is a wistful day so let’s have it today. Be safe and warm, wherever you are.
Don’t you love the sound of crackles in the background of a vinyl record? There’s even something a bit Christmassy about it, because it sounds like a log fire. And this is a lovely arrangement, and the first by a girl (there are more to come, don’t worry). Also, I like looking at Rosemary Clooney’s face, because it’s more like George’s than you expect it to be.
I’m sorry that it’s hours and hours late. It’s been that sort of a day.
So this is exciting: did you know that Erasure have a new Christmas album out, and it’s awesome? I mean, obviously it’s awesome; it’s Erasure. But listen to this! And then listen to the rest of it! And then listen to this again! This is a very happy start to a Tuesday.
On a Monday, when there are still three weeks until the holidays, you need a happy song. Fortunately, The Drifters are here to oblige.
What do you think is the most famous Christmas song in the world? I don’t know the answer, but if White Christmas isn’t the most famous, it is definitely the Christmas song with the most recorded versions: so many that this year’s musical advent calendar will consist of twenty-four different recordings, and I’ll still have to leave some good ones out. If you think that sounds repetitive, just wait. (Plus, don’t tell me you wouldn’t be happy to listen to White Christmas once a day throughout December even if it was always the same version.)
Of course, Bing had to go first or last, and since there’s no surprise if I leave him for Christmas Eve, we get to enjoy him today. Happy Advent!
“So, are we going to Africa?”
“Nah, we can’t afford that.”
“Oh, OK. How about filming in a studio that’s set up to look like Africa?”
“Nah, we can’t afford that.”
“OK. Well…hey, I’ve got a globe, shall we use that?”
“Good idea. Does anyone know any black people?”
“I know a black maths teacher.”
“Sweet. And I’ve got part of a wooden zebra. Also, I think we should film in a library.”
“Right! And one of us could…maybe…find a book? About…Africa?”
“Dude, you are on fire today. So, I’ll go into a library and find a book about Africa. Twice.”
“Sure. And then let’s all stand on the book, only this time the book should be really big. Like, massive. And then what?”
“I was thinking maybe we could…pile a whole bunch of things on top of each other, then knock them over. You know, because of Africa?”
“Awesome. Let’s film that a few times.”
“Yep, it’s too good to only do once. Hey, Dave, have you finished writing the lyrics yet?”
“Nearly – I got one of those fridge poetry sets and, get this, turned the words upside down and then picked them out at random. I know, pretty cool, right? But I’ve got this line about Kilimanjaro and I want to come up with a really great simile. What’s a good thing to compare a mountain to?”
“Ooh, tough one. I reckon…another mountain?”
“Brilliant. It’s going to make “Serengeti” scan a bit weirdly, but nobody’ll notice.”
“And then at the end, shall we set everything on fire?”
“You’re a genius. This is going to be the best pop video ever.”
Glad All Over 