21 December 2012 - Billy Squier - Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You

It was 1981.  MTV had just hit the airwaves.  The network turned to a big star of their early days to bring out a rock 'n' roll Christmas song.

The result? A mildly rockin', good feeling Christmas tune that really fit the season.  With Martha Quinn and Nina Blackwood on background vocals! It's cheesy, yes, but it's warm and fun and different.

And seriously.  Check out Martha Quinn's dancing.  Appalling.

20 December 2012 - Jill Sobule - Merry Christmas from the Family

Looks like this is my last scheduled Holiday post here at Wicked Guilty Pleasures. Figured I might as well go out with a laugh. Here's the wonderful Jill Sobule playing the Robert Earl Keen classic Merry Christmas from the Family. Hope y'all have a great Christmas.

18 December 2012 - The Pogues (featuring Kirsty MacColl) - Fairytale of New York

When Tony and I came up with the idea of posting Christmas videos here all month we had to come up with some ground rules. This mostly consisted of calling "dibs" on certain songs. Tony already knew what song I wanted to claim and graciously let me do "the Fairytale post." I'm a huge fan of The Pogues. But I'm even bigger fan of Kirsty MacColl, who was sadly taken away from us 12 years ago today. Fairytale of New York isn't just my favorite Christmas song, it's one of my all-time favorite songs any time of the year.

17 December 2012 - Amy Grant & Vince Gill - Tennessee Christmas

Y'all know I love Amy Grant.  This song is from her first Christmas album - she's done at least two - but this version is done with her then-future husband Vince Gill.  It's simple, beautiful.... and not Bible-thumping.  Enjoy it.

14 December 2012 - Lucille Ball - We Need A Little Christmas

This Christmas song is from the musical "Mame".  Let me give you some context.  The setting is late November, one week before Thanksgiving.  Everyone thinks Auntie Mame is nuts for wanting to decorate for Christmas.  But she deems it necessary, to raise everyone's spirits.

Now, we see Christmas stuff in stores in early September.  Who's buying this stuff?!

Anyway, as a Christmas song, this works great - it portrays the season as a real morale booster.  And it is!  And Lucy - who we all love - isn't much of a singer, but she is perfect in portraying the improving mood of this delightful song.

13 December 2012 - Sunny Sweeney - One More Christmas Beer

I really don't have much to add here. This hilarious and relatable Sunny Sweeney Christmas song pretty much speaks for itself.

12/12/12 - Everclear - Santa Baby / Eartha Kitt - Santa Baby

This is a song meant to be sung by a girl.

Art Alexakis is not a girl.

So why does this version work?

But it does.  It's slightly creepy, and it's still compelling and fun and brings something that others just couldn't.  Plus, it sounds great with guitar (and that bassline!).



And, for those of you who think this version is an abomination.... here's Eartha Kitt.  She wasn't Catwoman yet, but she purrs through this song beautifully!