14 Christmas Songs You Should Listen To

 

 Over the past few years, I've been doing my GETTING IN THE MOOD posts. Sharing Christmas songs and albums I love. I thought it was time to do a new version, sharing some of my favorites Christmas songs. Many of them not traditional. Unique songs and unique versions of traditional songs.

So, let's get right to it...

1. The Kinks- "Father Christmas"....The poor kids anthem, and a classic Kinks riff...




2. Billy Squier- "Christmas is a Time to Say I Love You"...Showing my age...The days when MTV played music...Totally underrated Christmas song...





3. Dead Sara- "Snow in Los Angeles"  Released a few years, I immediately fell in love with this song. The awesome Singer of Dead Sara is now also singing with Linkin Park.




4. "White Christmas" is not only a classic but hands down one of my favorites. I'm not sure I've come across a bad version, but I love  This is the coolest, grooviest, and my favorite version of "White Christmas" by Booker T. & the MG's

5.  "Blue Christmas"  This one is an old standard...It always makes me think of those I wish were still with us. I don't like Elvis...And since one of my favorite bands did it a few years ago, I'll go with them...Our Lady Peace...





6. The Pretenders- "2000 Miles"...I just flat-out love this song...My favorite song from the Pretenders...

7. JD McPherson's "All the Gifts I Need" from his album "SOCKS" has an oldies vibe but it's from 2018.  The album is all original, humorous, with heart and rockin'. 

8. "Be Good at Christmas" by Katie Malco. And after this, checkout more of Katie Malco. She isn't talked about enough and her 2020 album "Failures" is the best album that was released in that God awful year!

9. Daniel Mustard- "Since Santa Ain't Coming"...I shared this many years ago...An anti-Christmas song, from a guy who just months before recoding it was homeless. He was discovered by Opie and Anthony and know as "Homeless Mustard." Opie helped and funded him getting a couple EP's recorded. Awhile back Mustard fell off of social media. I hope he's still making music somewhere.

10. This next one is unique, but I think it's a great take on the classic. Phoebe Bridgers (featuring Fiona Apple and Matt  Berninger : "7 O'clock News/Silent Night"

11. Pearl Jam- "Let Me Sleep (It's Christmas Time)" Back in the early '90s none of us expected  these guys to do a Christmas song, but they did, and it's excellent...

12. "Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis"  -Tom Waits...It's a beautiful song about, just what the title says...There is also a great remake by Neko Case...

13. A classic we all love from Charlie Brown, "Christmas Time Is Here"...This version comes from sister and brother duo, Jocelyn and Chris Arndt. They do a lot of Bluesy-Rock stuff but this is acoustic, nice and mellow.

14. A song that I'm sure has parts that offend people these days, but it a beauty, sung by an ugly fucking dude. The Pogues classic, "Fairytale of New York."

Getting In the Mood (vol. 9)

 

Just two days away from Christmas. I still don't have my snow, but they're hyping up a Winter storm for Christmas Eve, so there's hope for the White Christmas.

But we all know Christmas in these COVID times is not going to be the same as usual. There are going to be less family gatherings. There are going to be smaller gatherings. There will be families who will never have Christmas ever again with some of their loved ones. There are families that aren't even thinking about presents, because they're just trying to keep a roof over their heads and food on their tables. Unfortunately in this country, as COVID rages and unemployment continues to grow, and essential workers aren't getting hazard pay, our government continues to shit the bed when it comes to handling things and helping the people they represent. While they have great healthcare, steady income and 12 weeks of paid vacation.

My family is lucky. My kids are lucky. They'll have presents under the tree. Hell, they have a tree and there are plenty of kids that don't even have that this year. Sorry to be a downer today, but it's reality. I love Christmas time and I've always felt that "holiday spirit" where things seem a little better and everyone a little nicer. This year it seems harder to find that spirit. 

So today's song, we are going to DANIEL MUSTARD and his song "Since Santa Ain't Coming."

I'll see you tomorrow for some Christmas Eve fun. 

A Beezer's Dozen...My Top 12 Christmas Songs

It's the Holiday Season...And I haven't felt very festive...I've been too busy at work, and too broke to really get going into Christmas too much...We also just knocked out Molly's 4th birthday Sunday...4 years already...Holy shit...Now that both the girls birthdays are out of the way, it's time to get our Christmas on...So, I thought I'd revisit the old Christmas songs to see if that would help get me in the spirit...

So lets get right to it...

1. The Kinks- Father Christmas....The poor kids anthem, and a classic Kinks riff...




2. Billy Squier- Christmas is a Time to Say I Love You...Showing my age...The days when MTV played music...Totally underrated Christmas song...





3. Dead Sara- Snow in Los Angeles...This is a new one...Released a couple years just after I had done a list of Christmas songs...This one shot up right away on my list...




4. Pearl Jam- Let Me Sleep (It's Christmas Time) Back in the early '90s none of us expected  these guys to do a Christmas song, but they did, and it's excellent...





5.  "Blue Christmas"  This one is an old standard...It always makes me think of those I wish were still with us...I'm sure there are plenty of people feeling this year...I don't like Elvis...And since my favorite band did it a couple years ago, I'll go with them...Our Lady Peace...





6. The Pretenders- 2000 Miles...I just flat-out love this song...My favorite song from the Pretenders...




7. Daniel Mustard- Since Santa Ain't Coming...I shared this a couple weeks ago...An anti-Christmas song, from a guy who just months before recoding it was homeless...





8. Let it Snow...Another old standard...You gotta love how Dean could lay it down...And I have to say, the Rat Pack Christmas album is awesome...





9. Silent Night....I'm going with the Sarah McLachlan version...But there are so many great versions, it's hard to screw up...If you really want to get depressed check out the Lisa Hannigan version...Uhgg





10. Chris Cornell- Ave Maria...Everyone knew the Soundgarden front man could sing, but when he did this for 1997's  "A Very Special Christmas Volume 3" everyone was blown away to hear just how amazing of a singer he is...




11. "Memory"  -Savatage...Long before you heard of TSO, some of those guys were in a group called Savatage that loved to write Metal Operas...This is from one called "Dead Winter Dead"...It's also where that famous TSO "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) came from...



12. "Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis"  -Tom Waits...It's a beautiful song about, just what the title says...There is also a great remake by Neko Case...




That's it...What do you think?  What are your favorite Christmas songs?

If you're interested, here's my LIST of the 15 top Christmas Movies...

Have a week...

The Beeze.

Monday Moaning (The Beeze's Top 10 Christmas Songs)

This week the normal Monday Moaning is taking a break...It's just before Christmas and I've been all wrapped up in getting things ready for Christmas...We have our annual Christmas Eve party...Plus I have to pick up the Christmas dinner duties because my Mom was slowed down by some health issues...Don't worry, she's fine...Minor thing, but it threw my folks a wrinkle...My brothers aren't in any position to pick up the slack, so it's on us...

Anyways I've spent no time on sports between work, and the Christmas prep...So, I'm going with music...Music as always been big in my life...Ever since I was a kid...My Mom teaching me about the Beatles and Stones...My dad teaching me about Blues and Jazz...Then my older brothers brought in their influences...I've been hooked on music forever...So this week, since I've been sharing different Christmas song each week, we'll get into the full list...Well, at least the top 10....

1. The Kinks- Father Christmas....The poor kids anthem, and a classic Kinks riff...





2. Billy Squier- Christmas is a Time to Say I Love You...Showing my age...The days when MTV played music...Totally underrated Christmas song...





3. Dead Sara- Snow in Los Angeles...This is a new one...Released last year just after I had done a list of Christmas songs...This one shot up right away on my list...





4. Pearl Jam- Let Me Sleep (It's Christmas Time) Back in the early '90s none of us expected  these guys to do a Christmas song, but they did, and it's excellent...





5.  "Blue Christmas"  This one is an old standard...It always makes me think of those I wish were still with us...I'm sure there are plenty of people feeling this year...I don't like Elvis...And since my favorite band did it a couple years ago, I'll go with them...Our Lady Peace...





6. The Pretenders- 2000 Miles...I just flat-out love this song...My favorite song from the Pretenders...





7. Daniel Mustard- Since Santa Ain't Coming...I shared this a couple weeks ago...An anti-Christmas song, from a guy who just months before recoding it was homeless...





8. Let it Snow...Another old standard...You gotta love how Dean could lay it down...And I have to say, the Rat Pack Christmas album is awesome...





9. Silent Night....I'm going with the Sarah McLachlan version...But there are so many great versions, it's hard to screw up...If you really want to get depressed check out the Lisa Hannigan version...Uhgg





10. Chris Cornell- Ave Maria...Everyone knew the Soundgarden front man could sing, but when he did this for 1997's  "A Very Special Christmas Volume 3" everyone was blown away to hear just how amazing of a singer he is...





That's it...What do you think?  What are your favorite Christmas songs?

If you're interested, here's my LIST of the 15 top Christmas Movies...

Have a week...And a Merry Christmas!

The Beeze.

Monday Moaning

So Monday is here again...Wow, that went fast...Before I get into all the College Football madness, and my own personal madness, I have to talk about the Cleveland Browns game in New England...I was busy all day Sunday, but I kept checking into the game...Each time I was shocked to see the Browns in the lead...The lead was never too big...That will happen when you settle for field goals instead of punching it into the end zone...

Late in the 4th quarter the Browns were still up, but Tom Brady gets the ball back with over two minutes left...TD, Onside Kick, Bad Pass Interference Call, TD,  Game Over...Patriots win...The Browns snatch defeat from the Jaws of victory...BRUTAL!

I was reminded of why I gave up my Browns Fan Card...Games like this...Like most of the games they've played this year...

My numerous Ohio State fans had a rough go at it this weekend, and Michigan State's defense handled Braxton Miller and company...And the MSU offense seemed to surprise the hapless Buckeyes defense...The Spartans took down the #2 Buckeyes 34-24, and every Auburn player, coach and fan rejoiced...And all of the SEC had another chance to laugh at Ohio State...

Earlier in the Day Auburn won the SEC title in a no defense allowed battle with Missouri, winning 59-42...Florida State rolled Duke 45-7 in the ACC title game...So it's set...#1 FSU will take on Auburn in the National Championship Game...So how did the other bowls shake out?

I was hoping they would have matched Urban Meyer and Nick Saban's egos in a battle...But instead Saban's Tide will face Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl...Ohio State will take on Clemson in the Orange Bowl...Or the battle of two highly touted teams that fell on their faces!

The Fiesta Bowl will be Baylor and UCF...Oklahoma State and Missouri will play the Cotton Bowl...And in what could be the most fun game to watch, the Rose Bowl, Stanford will face Michigan State...Two hard-nosed teams that like to pound the ball and play defense...Defense! What's that!?!   A rarity these days!

My Irish will play Dec. 28th against Rutgers, in the Pinstripe Bow at Yankee Stadium...The Irish better win! That's all I have on that.

As for my life this weekend...Friday night I took the kids skating...My wife and I were suppose to go out to a Christmas party, but our sitter got seriously sick, and our evening out was screwed...

Saturday we took the kids with friends to lunch with Santa...The saw the fat man...Asked him for a specific thing or two...(already have them...Santa already has his shopping done!) Here's Little Beeze thinking hard about exactly what he wants...

Afterwards we took the kids for ice cream...Then back to our friends home...My buddy and I ditched the kids and ladies for a couple hours, grabbed a couple beers, a burger, and watched some football...Lunch with Santa wasn't that good, or filling...

Sunday was work...Lots of work...We did a big switch in the Beeze house...We moved the girls upstairs to our room...and moved us down to their room...Fuck I forgot how heavy that King size bed was...And those sweet bunk beds I put together months ago...I had to take them apart to get them through the doorways, and up the stairs...It was ton of work, cleaning, lifting...Good exercise too...Which will go well with our change in diet...We've gone with organic meat, fruits, and veggies...And we've been juicing in place of one meal a day...We've both felt better and lost some weight in just a week since we got the juicer...

The weekend went fast, and somehow felt long...

Now for this week's Christmas song...It's more of a anti-Christmas song, but I like it...Daniel Mustard's "Since Santa Ain't Coming"






Have a week...

The Beeze.

The Beeze's Top Christmas Songs

So last night I broke out my favorite Christmas movies...So of course now it's time to take a look at my top Christmas tunes...Again, not going with the normal numbers...This time I'm stopping at 11...

1.  "Father Christmas"  -The Kinks...The poor kids anthem...Classic Kinks riff...




(Bad video quality but good sound) 

2. "Christmas is a Time to Say I Love You"  -Billy Squier...From the good ole days when MTV played music...To me this has always been an underrated Christmas tune...




3. "2000 Miles"  -The Pretenders...I just love this song...I would call this the best Pretenders song...




4. "Let Me Sleep (It's Christmas Time)"  -Pearl Jam...Back in the early '90s none of us expected  these guys to do a Christmas song, but they did, and it's excellent...




5.  "Blue Christmas"  This one is an old standard...It always makes me think of those I wish were still with us...I'm sure there are plenty of people feeling this year...I don't like Elvis...And since my favorite band did it a couple years ago, I'll go with them...Our Lady Peace...




6.  "Since Santa Ain't Coming"  -Daniel Mustard...For being an anti-Christmas song it's good...But it falls under the scope of Christmas songs, and I like it...




7. "Christmas Song"  -Sleeves...Here's an odd one...A little known one...But it's catchy...




8. "Memory"  -Savatage...Long before you heard of TSO, some of those guys were in a group called Savatage that loved to write Metal Operas...This is from one called "Dead Winter Dead"...It's also where that famous TSO "Christmas Eve (Sarajevo 12/24) came from...




9. "Let It Snow"  -Dean Martin...Another old standard...You gotta love how Dean could lay it down...And I have to say, the Rat Pack Christmas album is awesome...




10. "Silent Night"  I'm going with the Sarah McLachlan version...But there are so many great versions, it's hard to screw up...If you really want to get depressed check out the Lisa Hannigan version...Uhgg





11. "Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis"  -Tom Waits...It's a beautiful song about, just what the title says...There is also a great remake by Neko Case...





That's my list...What's yours like...

The Beeze.

Monday Moaning

 

 

 That right there is the most festive thing I've seen, that I like...I'm normally pretty into the Christmas season, but Sunday I woke up wanting nothing to do with it...We planned on doing the Christmas decorating Sunday, but I was feeling like crap...The wife was feeling worse...We had just had people over Saturday for our daughters joint birthday party...

Molls loves frosting!

All I wanted to do Sunday was be a lazy, lump of shit...But the wife, was having no part of it...

So after I had a cup of coffee while taking a dump...she hates when I take food and drink and the laptop in with me...A clear sign, I'll be awhile...I trudged downstairs and dug out the Christmas tree...I was always a real tree guy, but some of  Little Beeze's allergies, and then having a baby, made us go with the fake for the time being...So I start setting up the tree...Half the lights are out...And then it's spotted...A dead, decaying mouse...In the spring, we had spotted a mouse...I put a couple of quality, instant kill traps out...Two in the kitchen, one in the basement...And I stashed some poison in a couple spots where I thought the little fuckers may have gotten in....First day, Mickey was crushed in a kitchen trap...I reset it, and waited...It has yet to go off...Hell I even forgot it was there until today...Today, when I found Minnie in the tree...

So the tree got pitched...Then we had to go out and pick out a new one...The old one had white lights...The kids were dead set on getting colored lights...The wife was on their side...Fine, colored lights it is...Lowes was out of stock on every tree we would have bought...No sir, I don't want a 9 ft. tree for $389...For some reason that won't fit under my 8 ft. ceilings...Assholes!

So we landed at Walmart and grabbed 7 ft. tree with colored lights, for $98 dollars...Some how we also left with 3 ft. tree for the kids playroom, and some light up candy canes for the front yard...Oh, it's getting Holly Jolly now...as the day went on I just kept getting pissed...Nothing seemed to work out right...We stopped home, saw the Browns were winning, I went Ice Skating...This is the third week in a row where I have ignored the Browns, and gone ice skating with the kids...Third week in a row, that the Browns won...Guess who's ice skating every Sunday while the Browns are on, from now on....THIS GUY!

If not watching the Browns, and not seeing them win, is what it takes...Then for the sake of all Clevelanders, I'll do what I have to do...

After skating, we ordered Chinese food, and started decorating the tree...This is an issue for me...Because kids suck at decorating trees...Let me pull back the curtain...There are certain things that I'm very OCD about...Lots of little things, that shouldn't matter much, but make my head exploded....Like how to load a dishwasher...dumb shit...Well, a biggie is Christmas Tree decorating...I'll spend the next few nights, after everyone else is asleep, moving ornaments around, and getting rid of their clusters of ornaments...I'm not joking, this shit is maddening to me...

Saturday was fun...The kids had fun...I made my famous chicken chili...Some mac-n-cheese...Hot dogs...Ordered a couple pizzas....Everyone ate well...The girls each had their own cakes...Molly's was Dora...My oldest, had a clarinet, and musical notes on it, along with roses...She started playing this year, and costing us an extra chunk of change, but she loves it...So I stopped renting her one, and traded in one of my guitars to get her a clarinet....FUCK those things are expensive!

The kids all left, and most of the adults...But my brothers like to linger...So I took the kids skating, which got everyone to leave...When we got back it was time for me to focus on the limited college football that went on Saturday, including Johnny Manziel winning the Heisman...You can read about it all HERE.

That's all I have people...Yeah, this was more of a journal update, then a sports blog, but sometimes sports just isn't bouncing around in my head, like everything else...

Here, I'll leave you with what would be called an anti-Christmas song...It's not Holly Jolly, but it's good...It's by Daniel Mustard, a homeless guy that was discovered by Opie and Anthony when he did THIS....Well Opie got some backing and help for him, and he's made an album soon to be out there...here's a SAMPLE.

So here is "Since Santa Ain't Coming"




Have a week...

The Beeze.

Monday Moaning

Well, the Christmas season has officially started for the Beeze family...You see, it was my daughter's birthday last week...I've always made a point to hold off all Christmas crap, until after her birthday...And yes, I said Christmas season...NOT Holiday season...I don't say "Happy Holidays!" I say Merry Christmas...We all know I'm not a fan of the PC stuff...That let's be nice to everyone sh!t makes me want to puke in my soup...

Listen, if you accept Christmas cards...If you give and receive Christmas presents...If you have a Christmas tree...If you go to a Christmas party, or have Christmas dinner somewhere...You're celebrating Christmas...Enough with this nonsense...Hell, even the Jewish friends I have celebrate Christmas...So knock it off...MERRY F**king CHRISTMAS!

Hell, I think I had a little rant about PC crap like this last year...
http://thebeezewax.blogspot.com/2008/12/rudolph-bannedwtf.html

So now the craziness has begun...I have many issues, and one of them has to do with the Christmas tree...I'm totally anal-retentive about how it's decorated, which can be bad when dealing with two young kids...So every night after everyone else is asleep, there I am...Fixing the ornaments on the tree...Getting them properly placed...Making sure there aren't any dead spots...It's really kinda screwed up...I stopped doing it in front of the wife last year...It drove her crazy...Look at me, letting you people behind the wall...

Sunday I took my daughter to see Santa...Always a CHRISTMAS time highlight...This year it was an even bigger deal...Some little sh!t in her class told all the girls last week, that there was no Santa...Then his Family moved away this weekend...What a d!ck...Yes I just called a 7 or 8 year old a d!ck...I didn't mind as much as my wife did, but I understand why she was pissed about it...Who cares if we're feeding our kids a big fat lie, right!

So we go and see the fat man...The boy didn't come...He's afraid of Santa...I told him Santa knows when he's bad, so he wanted no piece of that...So there's my little girl sitting next to Santa...This dude is smart, he doesn't have them on his lap...And she asks for a puppy...F**K ME! Jolly Ole Saint Nick looks at me ands says, "She's asking for a puppy Dad." Now I have to figure out how far we want to take this thing on the spot...But, I can be quick on my feet...So I say, "Well little Beeze and I are both allergic to dog fur...So only if Santa can find one that won't stir up our allergies." This prick plays it up real good and says, "I'm sure I can find something!"

I'm standing there thinking, 'I can't be the only guy who's wanted to punch this fat ass out today?'

I'll keep you posted on where the hell this goes...

In the sports world, not much has changed...Notre Dame hired Brian Kelly...This shouldn't be a shocker...They were looking at him since last year...I think he's a good hire, and I think he's going to do good things in South Bend...That said, I do feel really bad for the players at Cincinnati...Having your coach bolt like that is f**ked up...Now, I'm gonna be rooting for them even more...

The BIG story in Cleveland this week...The Browns beat the Steelers Thursday night! WHAT? Yeah, I know...It's crazy! There I was, not really wanting to watch this...But suddenly I was drawn in...The Browns defense was playing tough...8 Sacks..."Are You Kidddin' Me!?!" Josh Cribbs, was being Josh Cribbs, and doing it on national TV during prime time...Brady Quinn managed the game, and didn't turn it over...And some dude named Evan Moore, who they picked up off the scrap heap, has become the best receiver...Hey, don't get me wrong...The Browns still stink...But seeing a win was nice...Seeing the Browns beat the Steelers for the first time in 6 years, was really nice!

In other silly sports news, Tiger Woods is going to take time off from golf...Honestly, I don't care...I just want hear more about all the skanks he's been banging over the years! (Insert drum fill) I think there's more out there...Have we hit 20 yet? I want at least 25...I gotta say this too...Clearly he is the greatest golfer ever...He was banging his hot wife...Plus all these other chicks...And he still managed to hand people their asses on the golf course...Dude may be an asshole...But he's a c0ckstrong asshole!

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This coming week, Opie & Anthony are going to be having their annual "Homeless Shopping Spree." They round up some homeless people, put them on a bus, give them gift cards, and let them loose in some uppity shopping mall, and the air it live...Two great things happen...1. A bunch of fans show up and buy more stuff for the homeless...2. As you're hearing these good deeds, you also hear the snobs being offended by "these homeless people" being in "their mall." Nothing says Merry Christmas like seeing the true ugliness in the beautiful people...And seeing the good in the people thought of as ugly...

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That said, here's a homeless guy O & A had on last week named Daniel Mustard...

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That's it for now...

Later, the Beeze