Intelligent Life On Planet Rock
Word Magazine Advent Calendar
1. In which Johnny Cash wraps up against the cold and the Carter Family gather round to sing an old favourite.
2. The Supremes mix ball gowns and Santa hats to stunning effect on kid's TV.
3. "Weird Al" Yankovic, with a number he probably came to regret as time passed.
4. It's got Thin Lizzy. It's got the Sex Pistols. And it's got Kenny Everett touching a lady's bottom. It's surely the best Christmas ever.
5. It's just like any other day at the Play House: Peewee Herman opens a crate, out pops Grace Jones.
6. This Christmas, Tom Waits got a letter from prostitute, and a pair of socks from his mum.
7. Like many families, the Franklin/Preston household like to spend Christmas gathered round the piano.
8. Buster Poindexter & His Banshees Of Blue cover Louis Armstrong. And no, it's not Wonderful World.
9. Back in 1984, Spinal Tap made their first ever TV performance, and played a Christmas song. In May.
10. Half Man Half Biscuit know what they want for Christmas.
11. School days: Pete Seeger and Bessie Jones pop into class for some festive folk.
12. Rufus Wainwright puts the Spotlight on Christmas, and rhymes 'Joseph' with 'imposeth'.
13. Santa Claus is coming to town, but Bruce Springsteen is nowhere to be seen.
14. Live performances from Kate Bush are much less frequent than visits from Santa. Here's one from 1979.
15. The Ramones offer some seasonal marriage guidance.
16. Josh Rouse on the true meaning of Christmas, or something.
17. There's no finer Christmas than a Rock 'n Roll Christmas. Ask George Thorogood.
18. Run DMC rap about Hollis, Queens and collard greens.
19. Amidst all the faggot furore, it's easy to get forget that it is one of the greatest Christmas songs ever. Here's a live version. God bless Shane MacGowan.
20. The year that punk rock broke: Christmas at The Carpenters.
21. Every year, assuming there's no writer's strike, Darlene Love appears on Letterman. Every year, she belts out the same song.
22. Time for a proper carol: Mahalia Jackson provides.
23. Frosty the Snowman: a Christmas classic with no mention of Christmas in the lyrics. Here it's performed by Leon Redbone and Dr. John.
24. Frank Sinatra juices. In his pajamas.
25. We could only end with this: Word Magazine's official Best Christmas Song Ever. Unfortunately, the band had split up by the time the single was released, so no video was ever made.
Merry Christmas.
Johnny Cash
I don't wish to speak ill of the dead but the deification of Johnny Cash as straight-shootin', demon-wrasslin' man of the people really does blind us to the FACT that there was nothing too corny for our John.
And, at number two...
...the patent promotion of Diana R as the lynchpin of the Supremes. Love the bit where she says 'just sing along with Mary, Florence and me'. Cue chorus, camera cuts to Mary and Flo singing, but all we hear is la Ross's vocals. And, just out of shot, Berry Gordy giving the sound guy two thumbs up...
Bah, humbug!
It's My party
This is a very good thing indeed. Well done Word.
That Supremes clip is brilliant. Just how scary would Diana Ross have been delivering your children's presents?
She certainly would have made sure she got a bigger mince pie than the other two.
But on the bright side, she wouldn't have got stuck in the chimney.
Spinal Tap
Does anyone else think that looks like Chris Morris on the drums? (see 6'51-ish)
or Ron Mael
from the mighty Sparks!
Can I just say
that Grace Jones clip (No 5) is the most insane thing I've ever witnessed in my life.
i second that......
Who/What were they thinking. Acid all round i would suggest!