- FRIDAY JAM: A rovin’ a rovin’ a rovin’ I’ll go (12/1/23)1
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- SUNDAY JAM: Hello, Darkness, my old friend (11/5/23)
- FRIDAY JAM: Plowin’ straight ahead, come what may (10/27/23)1
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24 Songs of Christmas, Dec. 23: 'Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town' -- The Jackson 5
Consider this a gentle reminder: Santa Claus is coming to town.
Tomorrow night.
You better not pout.
You better not cry.
It's not too late to screw it up.
I'm talking to you, Miles Scot Jernagan.
Now that I have that out of the way, on to the song.
Growing up mainly on old country and rock 'n' roll Christmas songs, I thought there was only one way to do this song -- the way it was written in 1934.
And there have been plenty of fine versions in that tradition over the years. My favorite is the Beach Boys, with the accompanying circus/orchestra sound. I'm including that one now.
But that version, while awesome, is not the point of this post. As I got away from my parents' music, I found that my taste often has a bit more soul.
So giving a really good listen to Michael Jackson delivering it as "Saaaan-ta Claus is comin' to town" opened my eyes to what the song could be.
I don't know that the Jackson 5 invented this way of performing the song, but they did it as well as anyone has. (With apologies to Bruce Springsteen, who absolutely sells out, but doesn't have the pipes that Michael did.
So here it is, in its finest and funnest (I know, I know) form: "Saaan-ta Claus Is Comin' to Town."
Christmas Eve: "Silent Night"
Past Posts
The 24 days of Christmas (songs)
Dec. 1: 'Sleigh Ride' -- The Ronettes
Dec. 2: 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing' -- Marty Robbins
Dec. 3: 'O Tannenbaum' -- Vince Guaraldi Trio
Dec. 4: 'Blue Christmas' -- Elvis
Dec. 5: 'Santa Baby' -- Madonna
Dec. 6: 'It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas' -- Perry Como and the Fontane Sisters
Dec. 7: 'Here Comes Santa Claus' -- Alvin and the Chipmunks
Dec. 8: 'Angels We Have Heard on High' -- Brian Setzer Orchestra
Dec. 9: 'White Christmas' -- The Drifters
Dec. 10: 'Do You Hear What I Hear?' -- Bing Crosby
Dec. 11: 'Carol of the Bells' -- Celtic Woman
Dec. 12: 'Jingle Bells' -- Frank Sinatra
Dec. 13: 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' -- Judy Garland
Dec. 14: 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' -- Tennessee Ernie Ford and Straight No Chaser
Dec. 15: 'What Child Is This?' -- Johnny Mathis
Dec. 16: 'My Favorite Things' -- John Coltrane
Dec. 17: 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings' -- Barenaked Ladies/Sarah McLachlan
Dec. 18: 'Holly Jolly Christmas' -- Burl Ives
Dec. 19: 'The Christmas Song' -- Nat King Cole
Dec. 20: Cartoon Christmas Songs -- Burl Ives and Jimmy Durante
Dec. 21: 'Winter Wonderland' -- Dolly Parton
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