I still remember the first time I saw Steve Martin’s Christmas Wish on Saturday Night Live. I was in high school when it first aired, and it’s a testament to this skit’s staying power that it’s still as funny as the first time I saw it. I think this made such an impression on me not just because of Steve Martin’s perfect delivery, but because of how he starts out with seemingly noble, altruistic wishes, but quickly gives voice to the things he really wants. Which is something we can all relate to.
You can’t go wrong with puppets. Especially when those puppets are The Muppets. As in The Muppets and the late, great John Denver singing “The 12 Days of Christmas.” Watching this reminds me that I really need to get The Muppet Show on DVD. The only thing that would’ve made this clip better was if Beaker had joined in.
The last few years, I’ve used Christmas song lyrics to celebrate the holidays. This year, I thought I’d try something different. To that end, I’ll be posting a video from a favorite holiday movie or music video of a favorite holiday song. First up: “Oogie Boogie’s Song” from The Nightmare Before Christmas. As someone who never let her inner goth girl fully shine, the dark, twisted humor of this movie filled me with glee the first time I saw it — and it has with every viewing since. What better way to kick off some holiday cheer than with a song about the Oogie Boogie Man holding Santa Claus hostage?
And don’t worry — the rest of my Christmas Faves will go live in the morning starting tomorrow.
It’s the rare album that Rich and I (1) both love, (2) fight over which of our vehicles the CD gets to “live” in, and (3) both love to play over and over and over. Vampire Weekend‘s eponymous debut is that agreed-upon album for us these days. We’ve had it for several months now, and rather than getting tired of it, our love for it grows each day, the way our love increased tenfold for Troubadour once he outgrew peeing all over the house. It’s unconditional. The whole album is just fun, with clever, witty lyrics, catchy melodies, and amazing, beautiful musical compositions. And did I mention how much more fun my workout playlist has become since adding some of their songs to it? Behold the beauty of “A-Punk,” arguably one of the catchiest of all the catchy songs on the album. If this song and video don’t make you at least crack a smile, do me a favor and hurry to the doctor. Because I’m pretty sure that means something’s wrong and I’m worried about you.
Lyrics: Johanna drove slowly into the city / The Hudson River all filled with snow / She spied the ring on His Honor’s finger / Oh-oh-oh
A thousand years in one piece of silver / She took it from his lilywhite hand / Showed no fear – she’d seen the thing / In the Young Men’s Wing at Sloan-Kettering
Look outside at the raincoats coming, say OH
His Honor drove southward seeking exotica / Down to the Pueblo huts of New Mexico / Cut his teeth on turquoise harmonicas / Oh-oh-oh
I saw Johanna down in the subway / She took an apartment in Washington Heights / Half of the ring lies here with me / But the other half’s at the bottom of the sea
Today was one of those days where nothing went exactly right but nothing went so wrong that the whole day was a wash. And yet I was cranky for most of it. I let all the little things get to me, leaving me feeling frustrated and powerless. And now, while my day is (thankfully) ending on a good note, I still thought I’d share this lovely song by Winterpills, “Cranky.” While the song title would lead you to believe this is an angry song, it’s actually sweetly, hauntingly beautiful, with lyrics that not only speak to me, but speak for me, as well.
This is one of my new insta-happy songs, “The Show” by Lenka. Happy lyrics? Check. Adorable singer? Check. Smiling tomato puppets and happy bluebird puppets? Check and check. There’s something that’s just fun about Lenka literally floating and flying through different scenarios, seemingly with girl-next-door superpowers, while singing optimistically about finding her way in life that picks me up whenever I’m feeling down.
Lyrics: I’m just a little bit caught in the middle / Life is a maze and love is a riddle / I don’t know where to go, can’t do it alone / I’ve tried, and I don’t know why…
Slow it down, make it stop / Or else my heart is going to pop / ‘Cause it’s too much, yeah it’s a lot / To be something i’m not / I’m a fool out of love / ‘Cause I just can’t get enough…
I’m just a little bit caught in the middle / Life is a maze and love is a riddle / I don’t know where to go, can’t do it alone / I’ve tried, and I don’t know why / I’m just a little girl lost in the moment / I’m so scared but I don’t show it / I can’t figure it out, it’s bringing me down / I know i’ve got to let it go… / And just enjoy the show
The sun is hot in the sky / Just like a giant spotlight / The people follow the signs / And synchronise in time / It’s a joke, nobody knows / They’ve got a ticket to the show….
I first heard this song a few months ago on WFIV 105.3 and never heard the DJ announce who the song was by or even what it was called. Enter Google search, which led me to Michael Franti & Spearhead. This song makes me happy every single time I hear it. I’ve also enjoyed discovering more of the group’s music, including the single “Yell Fire,” currently being used as part of FX’s awesome Rescue Me season five promo. I hope this song puts a smile on your face the way it does mine.
Lyrics: This one goes out to you and yours worldwide / I say hey I’ll be gone today But I’ll be back all around the way / It seems like everywhere I go The more I see the less I know / But I know one thing / That I love you I love you / I love you / I love you
I’ve been a lot of places all around the way / I’ve seen a lot joy and I’ve seen a lot of pain but I don’t want to write a love song for the world / I just want to write a song about a boy and a girl Junkies on the corner always calling my name / And the kids on the corner playing ghetto games When I saw you getting down well I hoped it was you / And when I looked into your eyes I knew it was true I say Hey I’ll be gone today / But I’ll be back all around the way It seems like everywhere I go / The more I see the less I know But I know one thing / That I love you I love you / I love you / I love you
Now I’m not a highly metaphysical man / But I know when the stars are aligned you can bump into person in the middle of the road / Look into their eyes and you suddenly know Rocking in the dance hall moving with you / Dancing in the night in the middle of June My momma told me don’t lose you / ‘Cause the best luck I had was you I said Hey I’ll be gone today / But I’ll be back all around the way It seems like everywhere I go / The more I see the less I know But I know one thing / That I love you I love you / I love you / I love you
And I said rocking in the dance hall moving with you / I said Hey momma hey momma close to you Rocking in the dance hall moving with you / I said hey papa, hey papa close to you Rocking in the dance hall moving with you / I said Hey Momma close to you Rocking in the dance hall moving with you I said Hey momma, hey momma, hey momma, hey momma Hey momma, hey momma, hey momma, hey momma What you gonna do?
My momma told me don’t lose you / Cause the best luck I had was you And I know one thing that I love you / I said I’ll be gone today but I’ll be back all around the way / It seems like everywhere I go The more I see the less I know / I said I’ll be gone today But I’ll be back all around the way / It seems like everywhere I go The more I see the less I know / But I know one thing that I love you I love you (3x) I love you (3x) I love you (3x)
