Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Music: The year the second-greatest Christmas song beat the greatest to number one

59 Responses

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  • Jolisa,

    "Here it is once again - the dark horse for this year's Christmas number one..."

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Soon Lee,

    Can we embed youtube vids in the comments?

    Stephen Colbert & Henry Rollins Sing “Carol Of The Bells"

    Auckland • Since Apr 2013 • 145 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Also, this: a beautiful Christmas song by Buzz Moller from Voom and his daughter Grace. Awwww ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Jumma,

    Sharon Jones just did a Christmas themed Tiny Desk Concert on NPR: http://www.npr.org/event/music/460562287/sharon-jones-the-dap-kings-tiny-desk-concert

    Auckland • Since Dec 2015 • 4 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Soon Lee,

    Can we embed youtube vids in the comments?

    Yes! All you need to do it paste in the URL (not the embed code) and it automagically embeds.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Matt Woods,

    Great XMas song selection. I can't understand the appeal of Jamie Xx though - a huge crowd of people cheering on while listening to a big stereo, to me that is just very sad. Next we could have a circus where people watch a big screen instead of having performers.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2015 • 3 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    John Lennon:

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Matt Woods,

    a huge crowd of people cheering on while listening to a big stereo, to me that is just very sad

    It sounds like my ideal night out ;-)

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    This one goes out to my sister <3

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    "Christmas time is here, by golly; disapproval would be folly..." Can't beat Tom Lehrer for festive spirit:

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Jason Kemp,

    Kate Tempest on Friday, 15 January 2016 at Kings Arms Tavern looks to be sold out. Here's hoping they get a bigger venue or an extra show.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 368 posts Report Reply

  • Mike O'Connell,

    How about this, The Twelve Days of Christmas a la Twin Peaks cast - it's all there, talking logs, donuts, coffee ...oh, and that body!

    BTW Twin Peaks is set to return in 2017

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Gordon Campbell has some xmas clips (scroll down).

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Jolisa,

    The definitive ambivalent Christmas tune. Happy lyrics, plangent chords.

    (For all the Charlie Browns in the world)

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report Reply

  • Glenn Pearce,

    Auckland • Since Feb 2007 • 504 posts Report Reply

  • Robyn Gallagher,

    I feel like the second paragraph of this post is basically a mansplaining of "All I Want For Christmas is You". Tbh, the song is over 20 years old and anyone who hasn't heard it by now has essentially missed out on 20 Christmases without maximum levels of joy and cheer.

    The weirdest thing - some people think it's an older song that Mariah Carey made famous with a cover. But no - she wrote it herself and it is very much a product of the 1990s.

    Since Nov 2006 • 1946 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Jolisa,

    Yule log, stardate 23.12.2015

    For all the Charlie Browns in the world

    It has to be done
    - sorry...
    :- )
    Snoop Doggy

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Tony P,

    Have taught the kids at school both the Slade and Wizzard songs. Great singalong tunes and cool to bash out on the guitar. Makes a change from having to do the Boney M version of Mary's Boy Child all the time. I read somewhere that Slade makes 500,000 quid every Christmas off that song.

    Napier • Since Mar 2013 • 16 posts Report Reply

  • B Jones,

    I worked retail in the 90s, so I have to say anyone who's managed to avoid All I Want For Christmas for the last twenty years has done extraordinarily well. Cheer, bah humbug. There are very few songs that can be played eight hours a day on repeat for a month every year that don't give survivors the twitches. Boney M's Christmas stuff I still like.

    The entire history of NZ television hasn't been catalogued yet, otherwise I'd share the completely bloody awful 1993 Wheel of Fortune Christmas Special, featuring Sir Howard Morrison, Simon Barnett, Rima Te Wiata and at least two PA readers on backing vocals. You guys reminded me of it with John Lennon above, and The Lord's Prayer video clip the other day. Unfortunately the version we sang didn't have a funky disco beat.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 976 posts Report Reply

  • Tim Welch,

    White Wine In The Sun...

    Auckland • Since Aug 2008 • 47 posts Report Reply

  • Mike O'Connell,

    Some oldies but goodies tucked away in these six alternative Christmas songs including Laibach's wintry take on Across the Universe.from 1988. Enjoy!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Andrew,

    I usually need an xmas schmaltz antidote around this time of year:
    The Ramones

    Spinal Tap

    Hamiltron - City of the F… • Since Nov 2006 • 900 posts Report Reply

  • B Jones, in reply to Robyn Gallagher,

    I feel like the second paragraph of this post is basically a mansplaining of "All I Want For Christmas is You".

    I think that's more Columbusing than mansplaining :-) Like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes He star'd at an ocean millions of people had been living beside and navigating for millennia.

    White Wine in the Sun is one of my faves as well.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 976 posts Report Reply

  • Mike O'Connell, in reply to Jeremy Andrew,

    Oh yes, Spinal Tap... try this, one louder! Joseph Spence and Santa Claus is comin' to Town.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 385 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to B Jones,

    I feel like the second paragraph of this post is basically a mansplaining of “All I Want For Christmas is You”.

    I think that’s more Columbusing than mansplaining :-) Like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes He star’d at an ocean millions of people had been living beside and navigating for millennia.

    I did note that 155 million people had got there before me :-)

    I presume I've heard it, but that's the first time I've ever knowingly listened to it. So I was more explaining it to myself. The girl-group sound actually wasn't what I expected.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

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