Tag: Christmas

The Killers Christmas: “Dirt Sledding”

Killers Christmas

Christmas season can only mean one thing, that it is time for the Killers to release their annual Christmas song. Since 2006, the Killers have given us a new Christmas song every year, with all proceeds going to benefit AIDS charities through the Product RED campaign. This year’s song is “Dirt Sledding,” featuring Ryan Pardey and Richard Dreyfuss.

“Dirt Sledding” begins with an atmospheric sound, picking up into a 1950s Elvis Presley rock sound at around the 1:23 mark. You may detect some Big Bopper and Queen influences too.

Pardey has portrayed Santa in several of the Christmas Killers songs, and he does it again here. Actor Richard Dreyfuss is on board to lend his voice at around the 3:13 mark. Check it out.

Every year since the band’s first annual holiday song, the wonderful “A Great Big Sled,” the Killers give us a worthy Christmas song. Last year, the Killers presented us with what should become a Christmas classic, “Joel the Lump of Coal.” While this year’s contribution may not rise to the level of a classic, it is a cool-sounding song for a cool cause.

If you are interested in other Killers Christmas songs, The Guardian and NerdGlow have tried to rank the past songs.

What do you think of “Dirt Sledding”? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Sam Smith: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”

    Sam Smith had a great year, and he ended is ending the year by giving us a moving new version of an old classic. Check out Sam Smith singing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and have a merry Christmas.

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    Darlene Love’s Final Letterman Performance of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”

    Darlene Love Baby Please Come Home
    Chimesfreedom has previously noted that Darlene Love‘s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” is among our favorite Christmas songs and favorite pop songs of all time. So, with David Letterman retiring, we will miss Love’s annual appearance on CBS’s Late Show with David Letterman to sing the song written by Phil Spector, Ellie Greenwich, and Jeff Barry.

    Unfortunately, Love has stated that out of respect for Letterman, she will not take the annual tradition to another talk show. Fortunately for us, Friday night we got one more massive performance of the song, which started out as a tradition on Letterman’s NBC Late Night show back in 1986 when she was only accompanied by Paul Shaffer and a four-piece rock band. Check out the final Late Show performance of the song that originally appeared on the 1963 album A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector.

    Why did Love stay on top of the piano after the song? Love explained to the New York Times that she knew she would start crying if Letterman hugged her, so she remained on top of the piano knowing “Dave ain’t coming up here.” Even so, you see her holding back the tears after Letterman shakes her hand. Thanks to both Love and Letterman for a wonderful tradition.

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Marty Brown Sings “The Little Drummer Boy”

    The LIttle Drummer Boy

    Country singer Marty Brown recently performed a live version of the Christmas classic “The Little Drummer Boy.” Accompanied by harmonica and fiddle, Brown shows his great singing voice especially when he takes the song into the higher register. Check it out.

    A previous Chimesfreedom post recounted the history of the song and TV special of “The Little Drummer Boy.”

    If you want more holiday music from Marty Brown, check out this home recording of “Blue Christmas.” The video is completed by Brown doing his Elvis Presley imitation starting at around the 50-second mark. Check it out below (and for more on Elvis’s connection to “Blue Christmas” check out this story).

    What is your favorite version of “The Little Drummer Boy”? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    The 1977 Johnny Cash Christmas Show

    Cash Christmas Check out this video for the 1977 broadcast of The Johnny Cash Christmas Show. The show features June Carter Cash, the Carter Family, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, the Statler Brothers, and “special guest star” Hee-Haw‘s Roy Clark. On the TV special, Cash recounts some of his past Christmases, including recalling his stint in the military and learning to play the guitar.

    One of the most touching moments is when Cash, Lewis, and Perkins pay tribute to the fourth member of the Million Dollar Quartet, Elvis Presley. The three men and Roy Orbison play “This Train is Bound for Glory” for Elvis (31:40), who had died in August of that year.

    Several of the artists sing non-holiday former hits. Carl Perkins sings “Blue Suede Shoes” (20:35) for example, and Jerry Lee Lewis rocks out on “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” (27:30). Somewhat surprisingly, Roy Orbison sings “Pretty Woman” (24:05) instead of his 1963 holiday hit, “Pretty Paper.” Lewis calms down for “White Christmas” (30:00).

    This special is one of four Johnny Cash Christmas specials that CBS broadcast from 1976 to 1979. You may watch the other ones collected on Dangerous Minds. Also, check out our earlier discussion of the connections between the song “This Train,” the past, and the present.

    What is your favorite variety show Christmas special? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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