And So This Is Christmas….
…a time when you cannot avoid hearing Mariah Carey, Phil
Spector, Slade, Cliff Richard et al on the radio, in shops, or in the car. Back
in the 20th century these records became popular because people went
out and bought them, and a fresh batch came out each year. There were some
vintage years such as 1973 (Slade, Wizzard), 1980 (Jona Lewie), and 1984 (Band
Aid, Wham!) – as well as some clunkers such as 1988 (Cliff Richard – “Christian
rhyme” indeed !). But there were also many songs inextricably linked with
the festive season which had no explicit connection to Xmas at all, such as
“Bohemian Rhapsody” in 1975 and “Just Like Starting Over” in 1980.
My main exposure to such songs in those days was via Radio
One and the pub jukebox. Nobody had compilations of Xmas music in the 60s/70s
unless they either assembled a cassette tape or bought some cheap album of
copies costing 99p in Woolies on labels like Pickwick (not that I’m knocking those
albums – many great musicians such as Elton John performed on them). These
days, however, no-one has to go out and buy a single anymore and there are
loads of readily-available compilations / playlists to be had.
Because of this one tends to be constantly surrounded by the
same old favourites and the whole experience is very immersive. As the end of
November approaches I find myself groaning inwardly at the prospect, but once
December comes I start to enjoy it. So here’s a few thoughts about Xmas
music….
John
and Paul
“War Is Over” and “Wonderful Christmastime” clearly display
the major strengths and weaknesses of these two great geniuses. Lennon’s song
is lyrically profound and musically simplistic – even I could just about strum
the chords. Paul’s track has complex chord changes and features him playing
every instrument – however the lyrics are trite. How these two needed each
other !
(Author’s note : John’s song declares that there are no days
between Xmas and New Year (“And so this is Christmas” followed by “Another
year over and a new one just begun”). This is disturbing news for the likes
of Michael Nesmith and me who were born during this non-existent period !).
Story
Songs
The three/four-verse story song, in which each verse leads
towards a resolution in the final one, is a well-established popular music
form. The Beatles were masters of the art in songs like “Norwegian Wood” and
“Eleanor Rigby”. But the outstanding example which springs to mind is Squeeze’s
“Up The Junction”, which finds the narrator getting married, having a bath the
Sunday before starting a job, and then contemplating his failed relationship
while doing the washing up. The closing rhyme of “assumption” with “up
the junction” is a gem.
Some songs build up really well and are then let down by the
ending. I’m thinking here of Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me Babe”. In this song the
singer lists a multitude of reasons why a particular woman isn’t right for him,
challenging in the process the more hackneyed conventions of romantic love.
However, after all these high-minded sentiments, the song concludes with “and
anyway I’m not alone”, which totally undermines the argument and reduces the
song to mere braggadocio.
An example of this in the Xmas genre is “Christmas
Wrapping”. The singer has had a bad year and for the best of reasons is not
going to bother with Xmas. However at the end while popping into the local deli
she meets a guy and has her Xmas after all. So this has now become the tale of
how an independent-minded young woman has all her problems solved by meeting
the right man.
Tautology
Boney M are the masters of setting unexpectedly deep lyrics
to a mechanical disco beat. “Rasputin” is a comment on the roots of Russian communism
while “Rivers Of Babylon” is an account of the biblical story of the Israelites
in exile following the fall of Jerusalem.
“Mary’s Boy Child” is one of the few songs in the Xmas genre
which covers the spiritual significance of Christmas. It also offers the
fascinating conundrum “Mary’s boy child Jesus Christ was born on Christmas
Day” – as if he could ever be born on any other day apart from his own
birthday !
My Top
Ten
So here are my favourites amongst well-known Xmas songs :-
1. “Do They Know It’s Christmas ?” – Bob Geldof and
Midge Ure did amazingly well to pull this together at such short notice. The
lyric serves to provoke the conscience without being at all smug or
patronising. All the vocals fit so well together – I particularly like Bono’s “well
tonight thank God it’s them instead of you” and Boy George’s “oh-oh”
in response to “the greatest gift they’ll get this year is life”. Midge
Ure set all this to a number of different melodic sections, all memorable.
2.
“Christmas Lights” – I’m not a huge Coldplay fan
but this captures them at their melancholic best. This is an unusually honest
Xmas song, acknowledging that for many families this is a time of conflict
while also taking consolation from the hopeful aspects of the season.
3.
“Stop The Cavalry” – this sneaks a protest lyric
into the Xmas genre. It also has a brassy, Edwardian, atmosphere reminiscent of
classics of English psychedelia such as “Mr. Kite” on Sgt. Pepper. Jona Lewie
also produced “You’ll Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties” the same year –
another unusual take on ostensibly joyous occasions.
4.
“I Believe In Father Christmas” – wherein the
titans of progressive rock (Emerson, Lake, and Palmer) come up with a rather
more jaundiced account of proceedings than is usual in this genre. The English
weather and the deception around the Father Christmas myth get mentions before
the singer concludes that Xmas is the way it is because “the Christmas we
get we deserve”. Prokofiev joins in too.
5.
“Merry Christmas Everybody” - this succeeds in
making a raucous family Xmas an exciting prospect even for the shiest of grinches.
It also captures the determination to party which was prevalent at the end of
1973 since we all knew we were facing a winter of strikes, power cuts,
three-day weeks etc. The record sounds eerily topical this year…
6.
“Driving Home for Christmas” – I am told this
infuriates everyone who finds themselves doing all the work year after year to
host the event. I love the jazzy piano playing and the fellow-feeling in the
lyric when the narrator has a look at the driver next to him and realises that
“he’s just the same”.
7.
“Wonderful Christmastime” – the music on this is
such pure Paul McCartney and the lyric, while hardly profound, does capture the
character of this staunch family man. This is the father who had his children
sleep in bunk beds and sent them to the local comprehensive to keep their feet
on the ground. A man of amazing balance given the hero-worship he has received
from the age of 21 onwards.
8.
“I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday” – Roy
Wood really was a crazy pop genius, and this epitomises his madcap Phil
Spectorish over-the-top obsession. It also hints at alternative realities – we
are expected to realise that snowmen never do bring snow.
9.
“Run Rudolph Run” – Chuck Berry always hits the
spot for me. His spare, driving rhythms, memorable guitar phrases, and sharp,
witty lyrics were way ahead of their time in the 1950s. Together with Buddy
Holly, he is the foundation upon which The Beatles and The Stones were built.
10.
“A Winter’s Tale” – written, produced, and
performed by three men going through divorce (Tim Rice, Mike Batt, and David
Essex) this is a sad and desolate story. The poor man is feeling the cold and
works out that maybe shutting the door might be a good idea. The narrator is
also astonishingly good-hearted towards his departed. Much as I like this song,
I was a bit perturbed a few years ago when it got stuck in the CD player of my
car and I faced the prospect of never listening to anything else !
