Top Ten Holiday Tunes: By Less Lee Moore

1. “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” Band Aid

I know this song’s privileged, paternalistic attitude is totally inappropriate, but it just reminds me so much of teenaged Christmases, I can’t help but love it. Plus, it features many of my teen musical crushes: Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Boy George, and of course, Marilyn (before the drugs took their toll).

2. “Super Sunny Christmas,” Redd Kross

This is a great tune about celebrating Christmas in Australia and will always remind me of the Christmas of 1993 when I saw Redd Kross play live four shows in a row!

3. “We Wish You A Merry Christmas,” John Denver & The Muppets

A Christmas Together has been a family tradition for many years, but this particular song still makes me laugh. “Piggy pudding?!” “Figgy pudding. It’s made of figs.” “Oh sorry.” “And bacon.” “What?”

4. “Little Drummer Boy,” The Monarch & Doctor Girlfriend

Like many things on The Venture Bros. show, it’s a reference to David Bowie, this time the Bowie and Bing Crosby duet from 1977. The funniest part for me is the faithful reenactment of the dialogue from the beginning of the video for the original song. “Come in David Bowie, now.”

5. “Hard Candy Christmas (Prison Visit),” 21, 24 & The Mighty Monarch

I’m not sure where The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas fascination comes from on The Venture Bros., but this is one of at least two references to it. It’s also completely hilarious, especially when Doc Hammer breaks character for about a half second and laughs in the, “Oh yeah, that’s gonna happen” line. And who knew 24 had such a compelling vibrato?

6. “Venture Aid 2006,” Venture Industries & Friends & Enemies

I know this makes THREE Venture Bros.-related Christmas songs on my list, but they are all vital listening for me every time December rolls around. How could I resist a cover of the number one song on my list? The Monarch really belts it out in this tune. “Thanks God!”

(Note: These three Venture Bros. songs, and a few more, can all be found on the Holiday Havoc section of the Quick Stop Entertainment blog.)

7. “Merry Christmas Baby,” Elvis Presley

The Elvis White Christmas CD—which is really a compilation of Elvis’ Christmas Album and The Wonderful World Of Christmas—is by far my favorite Christmas music ever, so it was difficult to pick just one song from it. The religious standards are breathtaking and I’m not even remotely devout. Yet this bluesy, sexy number, recorded later in Presley’s career when his voice was at its most fragile and compelling, is just amazing.

8. “Christmas Medley,” Boney M

It’s not Christmas without Boney M. In Canada, anyway. The whole album is awesome, but this medley of four songs, including “Silent Night,” is a good representative track.

9. “Podsafe Christmas Song,” Jonathan Coulton

I loathe Alvin and the Chipmunks, so this send-up of just how annoying they are—without once mentioning them by name—is priceless. Jonathan Coulton has at least two more Christmas songs in his repertoire, but this one is my pick.

10. “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day,” Wizzard

I refer to the video for this song as “the one where Gandalf plays piano.” The song is fantastic, by the way.

Check out the other Top Holiday Tunes Lists here.