That “Bloodrock” song from a few weeks ago now goes through my head every time I’m on a plane that’s flying low…spooky.
Here’s this week’s Song of the Week, from Can’t Explain…
Big Star, “Jesus Christ” (1974)
It’s that time of year again, and for the next several weeks I plan to wage make peace in the war on Christmas by featuring seasonal songs. As always, you are invited you to share better songs, similar songs, or anything you’ve a mind to in the comments. I know this first one is not particularly Christmassy, but they will mostly get sweeter from here on out, I promise. And besides, what else can you call a song that repeatedly goes to the line “Jesus Christ was born today / Jesus Christ was born”? It comes from my favorite album by Big Star, Third (also known as Sister Lovers), which is an astonishing amount of heartache anyway. For some of us, it appears that’s what we’re looking for in the first place, and year round, whether we know it or not.
One more before the veins open: “Nightime”
More at Can’t Explain.
Origuy
Haven’t seen this posted here: Barack Obama, editor of the Harvard Law Review, in a 1991 Black History Moment on TBS.
Arm The Homeless
Ain’t Nothing Like You from Blackroc makes me feel all warm and fuzzy with hope that modern music is not quite neutered…yet
Villago Delenda Est
Just this. Enjoy!
Origuy
Required Canadian content: Snow by Loreena McKennett
Arm The Homeless
“They say that you’re fast-shootin’ Papa, and when you want it, you take it just like an outlaw”
Lewis Thomason
Granmaw got run over by a rain deer.
gives you that warm fuzzy feeling
Stephen1947
This is by far the best Christmas song ever recorded, or that ever will be recorded.
Tom
Love this song because you really don’t know if Chilton is being sincere or if that’s contempt dripping from his tongue (I tend to think the latter).
“We’re gonna get born now…”
Yutsano
Icelandic edition.
joeyess
Here’s my volley in the War on Christmas.
elmertfudd
Reindeer roasting on an open fire,
Jackals nipping at your toes,
Yuletide carolers being hung from a spire,
And folks dressed up like commandoes…
Mnemosyne
Two of my favorites, sweet and melancholy:
Sweet: “The Christians and the Pagans” – Dar Williams
Melancholy: “Sometimes You Have to Work On Christmas (Sometimes)” – Harvey Danger
MikeJ
@Tom: My guess is both.
Villago Delenda Est
@elmertfudd:
He knows when you are sleeping.
He knows when you’re on the can.
He’ll hunt you down and blast your ass from here to Pakistan.
You better not breathe, you better not move.
You better off dead, I’m telling you dude,
Santa Claus is gunning you down.
The Fat Kate Middleton
South Park celebrates the holiday, with third grade teacher Mr. Garrison.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksOCE5S_Bec
Mnemosyne
Oh, and here’s my favorite Advent carol:
“O Come O Come Emmanuel” – Sufjan Stevens
Why, yes, I was raised Catholic, how could you tell?
jfxgillis
Wow. Thanks for asking since because you asked I found this live version of PPM’s A Soalin’ from around 1962 or so.
Arm The Homeless
Not much of a Christmas person, but Winter always seems relevant for this time of year.
Donut
http://youtu.be/BQlyqQ5kpS8
Rinse, repeat.
Yutsano
@Origuy: In a similar vein (and also Canuckistani.)
Cat Lady
@Mnemosyne:
Love.him. Went to see him a couple of Octobers ago – drunk chick in front of me kept yelling for him to play That Was The Worst Christmas Ever. He played everything else I wanted to hear except for that. Also, how many people could make a heartbreakingly beautiful song about John Wayne Gacy?
tworivers
@Stephen1947:
That is a fantastic song, no question.
Then of course there’s this chestnut from 1987 courtesy of Run DMC.
Paul
Joyeux Noël gothique!
https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#all/12d1b0d2f073a3d8
bonkers
Hopefully Big Star fans here already know about this, and those that don’t git yer tushies over here now:
http://omnivorerecordings.com/2011/11/omnivore-opens-webstore-with-exclusive-big-star-third-test-pressing-edition-on-clear-vinyl/