The Christmas season brings loads of pleasure to our eyes, hearts and ears. However whereas the air is full of classics like “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” some vacation tunes are much less fa-la-la and extra what the … ?
For each “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” there’s an oddity like Lou Monte’s “Dominick the Donkey” or an inescapable misfire like Elmo and Patsy’s corny “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.” Generally, although, essentially the most uncommon and inexplicable songs have come from A-list skills.
Be it a daytime speak present host doing a duet with a controversial businessman-turned-president, a pair of Saturday Night time Dwell alums gossiping about Santa’s “Banana” or Jon Bon Jovi singing a particular message to a droid in a galaxy far, distant, there are some actually weird Christmas songs on the market. Hold studying for an inventory of the strangest entries within the vacation music canon.
Woman Gaga that includes House Cowboy, “Christmas Tree”
The Gaga of 2008 might sound unusual to those that know her because the extra polished determine behind A Star Is Born and Chromatica. Lengthy earlier than she teamed up with the late Tony Bennett for 2 albums filled with conventional pop classics, she was in her full Fame Monster period for “Christmas Tree.” The tune’s lyrics are a far cry from any of the depth you may discover on “Shallow.” As a substitute, Gaga tries to get horny for Christmas with blended outcomes. “Here, here, here / The best time of the year,” she sings in a robotic monotone. “Take off my stockings we’re / Out spreading Christmas cheer.” Whereas the vacations generally is a fruitful season for love, it gained’t be discovered below this “Christmas Tree.”
William Shatner that includes Henry Rollins, “Jingle Bells”
Shatner’s music profession has been a goal of ridicule and parody for many years, however in 2004, he launched Has Been, a spoken-word indie album that endeared him to youthful generations. Shatner later teamed up with Rollins on 2018’s Shatner Claus, a Christmas album that additionally featured Iggy Pop, Brad Paisley, Rick Wakeman, Ian Anderson, Judy Collins and Dani Bender. Rollins and Shatner belted out a really aggressive model of “Jingle Bells” and included a “Punk Rock Version” as a bonus monitor.
Ludacris, “Ludacrismas”
Few hip-hop vacation songs have had the crossover enchantment of Run-DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis,” however Ludacris tried his greatest with “Ludacrismas” from 2007’s Fred Claus. Luda tried to merge Christmas with Southern crunk, however a number of the lowbrow lyrics (“Just because I’m poor they always callin’ me a faker / And cause my Christmas tree is decorated in toilet paper”) have prevented it from changing into a Christmas basic. Whereas it didn’t take off, Ludacris is getting rave critiques for his work in 2023’s Dashing Via the Snow (and he lately spoke with Us Weekly about why he was so excited to movie that vacation film).
Regis Philbin that includes Donald Trump, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
Philbin was a tv icon when he died in 2020, having hosted Dwell alongside Kathie Lee Gifford and Kelly Ripa for over 20 years, however what won’t be identified is that Philbin was a crooner who tried to launch a singing profession in 1968 together with his debut, It’s Time for Regis. Although the album was a flop, Philbin by no means let go of his music goals. In 2005, he launched The Regis Philbin Christmas Album, which featured a number of duets, together with “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” with Trump. A decade earlier than being elected president, Trump seems as “The Trumpster” within the tune, prepared to rent Rudolph to “guide my sleigh tonight.” Nevertheless, with Trump lately indicted for making an attempt to overturn the 2020 election, this tune could be greatest left on the naughty checklist.
Ana Gasteyer that includes Maya Rudolph, “Secret Santa”
Gasteyer’s comedy chops are plain, however in 2019, she confirmed that she might sing — and swing — with the discharge of Sugar & Booze. The vacation assortment of huge band/lounge/bossa nova music is stuffed with jazzy renditions of classics like “Let It Snow,” “Sleigh Ride” and “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.” Gasteyer is mostly charming all through, however issues get a bit too foolish when fellow SNL alum Rudolph joins her on the wacky “Secret Santa.”
“Call me a banana, but I went down to Havana / To buy my Secret Santa a present today / But I slipped on a banana, woke up in a cabana / Sippin’ rum and orange Fanta, so I think that I’ll stay,” sings Gasteyer, exhausting practically each rhyme for “Santa” (together with reusing “Banana” for a particular a part of the Secret Santa) by the point the tune is over.
Joe Pesci, “If It Doesn’t Snow on Christmas”
Pesci is eternally related to Christmas due to his position as Harry the burglar in Dwelling Alone and Dwelling Alone 2: Misplaced In New York, however he virtually had a vacation hit on his fingers with a tune from his second album. In 1998, performing as his character from My Cousin Vinny, Pesci launched Vincent LaGuardia Gambini Sings Only for You. Along with originals like “Yo Cousin Vinny” and “Wise Guy,” the album consists of the obscenity-laden vacation tune “If It Doesn’t Snow on Christmas.” Whereas hilarious, it’s undoubtedly not for the youngsters.
Jon Bon Jovi, “R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas”
With 2023’s A Disturbance within the Power reexamining the disastrous 1978 Star Wars Vacation Particular, it could be time to revisit 1980’s Christmas within the Stars. The album featured Star Wars–themed vacation songs, together with “What Can You Get a Wookiee for Christmas (When He Already Owns a Comb),” “The Odds Against Christmas” and the title monitor. One tune, “R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” is technically the primary skilled recording of John Bongiovi, a.ok.a. Jon Bon Jovi. Then 17, Bon Jovi sung lead on the tune with backup vocals supplied by a kids’s choir. His cousin Tony Bongiovi coproduced the album, in response to a 2005 interview on TheForce.internet.
Calista Flockhart, “Santa Baby”
Youthful readers won’t know simply how standard Ally McBeal was throughout its heyday, however to make clear: The present wasn’t simply huge, it was “let’s make a Christmas album” huge. A Very Ally Christmas may be very a lot a Vonda Shepard undertaking (the singer-songwriter appeared as a fictionalized model of herself all through Ally McBeal’s run). Nevertheless, the album sees Jane Krakowski cowl “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” a pre–Iron Man Robert Downey Jr. duet with Shepard on “White Christmas” and Flockhart sing a full model of “Santa Baby” (which she did in season 3’s “Blue Christmas” episode).
Seth MacFarlane, “[Everybody’s Waitin’ for] The Man With the Bag”
MacFarlane will doubtless be remembered for creating Household Man, Ted and The Orville, however he actually desires you to consider him as an enormous band singer. In 2011, MacFarlane dropped his first album, Music Is Higher Than Phrases, which reached No. 2 on Billboard’s U.S. Jazz chart. His second album noticed him get into the seasonal temper with Vacation for Swing. MacFarlane croons some vacation favorites and lesser-known hits like “[Everybody’s Waitin’ for] The Man with the Bag.” If this type of swing is your factor, MacFarlane teamed with Elizabeth Gillies to launch We Want You the Merriest this 12 months.
Kylie Minogue and Iggy Pop, “Christmas Wrapping”
The unique “Christmas Wrapping” is so tied to The Waitresses singer Patty Donahue’s near-deadpan supply of the tune’s lyrics. Thus, Minogue’s rendition of the 1981 monitor could be thought of too cheerful. However the oddest factor in regards to the tune is Pop, who seems sporadically all through the tune on the strangest intervals. We do get Pop ending the tune by shouting about how effectively he can ski (actually!).
Christopher Lee, “The Little Drummer Boy”
The late Lee was the quintessential film villain, bringing Dracula to life in a collection of movies for the Hammer Horror manufacturing studio and taking part in the devious Saruman within the Lord of the Rings movies. Lesser identified, nonetheless, is the truth that Lee was additionally a heavy metallic titan. He recorded two symphonic metallic idea albums based mostly on the Roman emperor Charlemagne and two A Heavy Metallic Christmas EPs. On the primary one, the person who performed Depend Dooku within the Star Wars franchise delivered an epic metallic rendition of “The Little Drummer Boy.” Between Lee’s super-deep voice and drumming that would shake the manger, it’s a model which may not be for everybody.