The Friday Five: December 9, 2011
Friday Five : ‘frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.
The Five:
“Winter Wonderland” by Peggy Lee (from Ultra-Lounge: Christmas Cocktails, 1996)
This is a positively swinging take on the holiday classic. A secret Santa dropped this under my Christmas tree last week and it has been in heavy rotation ever since.
“Merry Christmas (I Don’t Wanna Fight Tonight)” by The Ramones (from The Big ’80s Christmas, 2001)
YES!
“What Can You Get a Wookie for Christmas (When He Already Owns a Comb?)” by Meco (from Christmas in the Stars: Star Wars Christmas Album, 1980)
Double YES! This song couldn’t be more awful if it were sung by young Bon Jovi. (For those not in the know, the single “R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas” was, in fact, sung by a teenaged Jon Bon. Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.) I was actually listening to this song before I started the Friday Five, and had posed the question on Facebook. My friend responded with “a Flobee.”
“Christmas Time Is Here” by Steve Vai (from Merry Axemas: A Guitar Christmas, 1997)
This sounds exactly like what you would think it does. Imagine “For the Love of God” with a holiday slant. Oh so dramatic! I can see Vai’s contorted “O” face as he laid this down. Damn, I kind of feel dirty now.
“White Christmas” by Bing Crosby (from The Time-Life Treasury of Christmas, 1987)
What better to close out this Holiday-themed Friday Five than with a classic from the indisputable King of Holiday croon.
What’s on your shuffle today?
Ickmusic’s Friday Five: December 19, 2008
Welcome to week three of our “Holiday Edition” of the Friday Five!
As we wind down to the New Year the last four editions of the Friday Five will be shuffled from my vast collection of Holiday music. I encourage everyone to play along and spin up some holiday cheer. With the holiday season being short and the duress of the current economic climate being ever present we could all use a little lift in spirits.
For those who have not joined in the Five, here’s how it works: … I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes and share my five with a bit of insight for each track.
Then it’s your turn! Just share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments and see what your fellow readers are listening to as well.
Here are this week’s tracks:
1. Bing Crosby – God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (from Merry Christmas)
Salvation! Satan! Scorn! Way to bring the Christmas cheer Bing!
2. Bing Crosby & David Bowie – Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy (mp3) (from Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy)
More Bing! The “poor relations from the states” and “The Thin White Duke” take on the holiday classic. The track was originally recorded for Crosby’s 1977 television special. Interesting factoid from wikipedia:
According to co-writer Ian Fraser, Bowie balked at singing “Little Drummer Boy”. “I hate this song. Is there something else I could sing?” Fraser recalls Bowie telling him. Fraser, along with songwriter Larry Grossman and the special’s scriptwriter, Buz Kohan, then wrote “Peace on Earth” as a counterpoint to “Little Drummer Boy”. Crosby performed “Little Drummer Boy”, while Bowie sang the new tune “Peace on Earth”.
Bowie? A diva? Who’d have known?
3. Dean Martin – I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (from Christmas With Dino)
Here’s Dino back again to give the ladies a little something.
4. Bing Crosby – It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas (from Merry Christmas)
Looking out my window at the snow that is currently blanketing the greater tri-state area, I’d say ol’ Bing is about right.
5. The Waitresses – Christmas Wrapping (mp3) (from The Best Christmas Album in the World… Ever!)
This and The Pouges “Fairytale of New York (feat. Kirsty MacColl)” are two of my favorite non-traditional holday tunes. Hell outside of the fact that they mention Christmas in the song they barely qualify but both contain such cool storytelling.
It’s almost Christmas, have you been naughty or nice?