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It's Been 'Round Since You Know When...   Printer-friendly page   Send this story to someone
Friday, December 22, 2017 - 08:00 AM
Posted by: Karl

Karl

THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY STARTS HERE:

... with CHRIS ISAAK, live at Universal Studios. Your holiday-themed numbers include "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Hey, Santa," "Last Month of the Year," "Blue Christmas," and "Christmas on TV." Bonus: Dreidel banter! Double Bonus: "It's a Bad Brains Christmas, Charlie Brown."

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS:  Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.  Mental Floss has "The Real Story Behind A Charlie Brown Christmas (and why it almost wasn't shown)." The WaPo has reflections from producer-director Lee Mendelson.

DARLENE LOVE & RONNIE SPECTOR duet on "Sleigh Ride" and "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree."

THE POGUES:  It's not Christmas Eve in the drunk tank (or even St. Patrick's Day) without a "Fairytale of New York."  From 2012, here's the backstory. And at The Week, Michael B. Dougherty argues that it's the greatest Christmas song of all time. NME has 25 Things you didn't know about the tale.

ANTON BARBEAU, an occasional collaborator of the late Scott Miller, crafted his own "Xmas Song."

THE CURRENT has your hipster holiday music stream.

THE ALL SONGS CONSIDERED Holiday Extravaganza.

THE 10 BEST PUNK CHRISTMAS SONGS, according to L.A. Weekly.

35 ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY SONGS, courtesy of NME.

NORAD will be tracking Santa, per usual. CNET has a history and behind-the scenes story.

THE 25 BEST CHRISTMAS ALBUMS, according to Complex. BONUS: The L.A. Times rounds up the Merry and the Meh, including the evolving Christmas Time Again, by The dB's and Friends.

15 BIZARRE CHRISTMAS ALBUMS, courtesy of Mental Floss.

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY of Christmas Songs.

BILLY MACK: Because "Christmas Is All Around."  ALSO: Is Love Actually is an awful movie? PLUS: We now know for sure what happened to Harry and Karen.

THE FLAMING LIPS perform "White Christmas" as only they can.

WHITE CHRISTMAS: A Snapshot Of The Most Successful Song In Music History.

SUPER FURRY ANIMALS: "The Keep That Keeps Giving."  Not to be confused with "The Gift," which is not Christmasey at all.

THE COURTEENEERS drop a video for "Winter Wonderland" that's not that Winter Wonderland.

CALEXICO: Speaking of presents, here's their "Gift X-Change."

THE MUPPETS: "Ringing of the Bells." Not to be confused with Super Furry Animals.

MICHAEL CAINE looks back at The Muppet Christmas Carol.

EMMET OTTER's JUG BAND CHRISTMAS Soundtrack.

JON BON JOVI sings "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" to R2-D2 in his first professional recording.

AN XMAS FLASH MOB from the Berklee College of Music broke out into an impromptu performance of the classic Christmas carol “O Holy Night” at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts.

GLAM XMAS:  I started the month with Wizzard's awesome "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day" and Slade's "Merry Christmas Everybody" (1973's UK Xmas No. 1). The circle is now complete.

HALL & OATES: "Jingle Bell Rock," reduced to its molten kitchy essense.

THE MOST COVERED CHRISTMAS SONGS, according to FiveThirtyEight.

16 WEIRD FACTS About Big Christmas Hits.

MARIAH CAREY's “All I Want For Christmas Is You” just hit the top 10 for the first time ever.

HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS is airing on TNT — for one night only, tonight, though they're showing it twice.  Otherwise streaming on Amazon. Also, a 5-year-old called 911 on the Grinch.

DAVID BOWIE & BING CROSBY'S cross-generational duet o­n "Little Drummer Boy." This historic event was recreated by Will Farrell and John C. Reilly. Plus, Jack Black and Jason Segel have done a cartoon cover

NOW SHOWING: Wednesday's wide releses are Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, which is currently scoring 77 percent on the ol' Tomatometer; and The Greatest Showman, which is scoring 47 percent.  Today's wide releases include Pitch Perfect 3, which is currently scoring 33 percent; Father Figures, which was not screened for critics; and Downsizing, scoring 57 percent. Expanding wide or near wide are Darkest Hour, scoring 84 percent; and The Shape of Water, scoring 94 percent.

THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS:  Many people believe human activity is causing global warming.  I blame Snow Miser and Heat Miser.

CHICAGO CHRISTMAS MEMORIES:  If you grew up in Chicago (and I suspect other places), the season is not complete without watching the short cartoons of "Hardrock, Coco & Joe" (a story fantastic, a story so queer), "Suzy Snowflake" and the jazzy version of "Frosty the Snowman."

THE BEATLES fan club messages for 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969.

TEN OR TWELVE UNDERRATED Holiday Tracks (Some of which already appear here).

A CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR YOU...FROM PHIL SPECTOR: Essayed by Aquarium Drunkard and NME.

THE TRON 1982 HOLIDAY SPECIAL, courtesy of Funny Or Die.

THE SEX PISTOLS & THIN LIZZY played "A Merry Jingle" for Top of the Pops.  BONUS: The Pistols' final UK show was a Christmas benefit.

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: Pate even had a song titled "Rope Around The Moon," so watch the whole thing. BONUS: Vintage Bailey backlash from warped, frustrated old people at the New York Times and Portfolio. DOUBLE-BONUS: 22 TV variations on It's A Wonderful Life.

ALL THESE KIDS WANTED FOR CHRISTMAS was warm blankets.

RUDOLPH, THE RED-NOSED REINDEER:  Pull up an ice block and lend an ear!  Herbie wanted to be a dentistNTTAWWT.  BONUS:  The Rankin-Bass classic continues to inspire ads like 2009's Verizon ad, following 2008's Apple ad, even more so 2007's AFLAC commercial, and AT & T bringing in Rudolph, Bumble, and Santa for 2015.BONUS: The restored original Rudlph and Santa can be yours for a mere ten million dollars.

FESTIVUS:  For the rest of us.  Technically already started, so I can be one of your grievances.

SCARY GHOST STORIES: I overheard Andy Williams crooning "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" in a store this month, and the lyric about "scary ghost stories" never really struck me before.  Took me a second, but I supposed he was referring to Dickens.  It turns out -- as noted by a coworker -- that this was a thing in Victorian England...  and the modern day. BONUS: Krampus, which has now inspired a major motion picture, and a Nativity set. DOUBLE BONUS: NME rounds up 10 Deliciously Scary Christmas Movies. TRIPLE BONUS: 18 Killer Santas From Film and TV.

LIAM NEESON auditions as a mall Santa.

TEN UNFORGETTABLE Musical Christmas Moments On Film.

THE 30 BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES, according to Empire magazine.

FIVE REASONS Why Die Hard is a Christmas movie, not including the ornament.

HOME ALONE: Did Kevin McCallister grow up to become the Jigsaw Killer?

DRECK THE HALLS: A Holiday TV Specials Retrospective.

23 TV EPISODES based on "A Christmas Carol."

NAT KING COLE:  His chestnuts are roasting.

MAYMO THE BEAGLE gets 210 bottles for Christmas.

THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, as told by cats.

27 DOGS That Do Christmas Better Than You Do Christmas.

29 CATS Trying To Figure Out This Whole Christmas Thing, and 29 CATS Who Just Want To Help You Decorate Your Tree.

A SHETLAND PONY in a Christmas foursie.

14 ANIMALS Who Tried to Ruin Christmas.

CHRISTMAS ON CHRISTMAS ISLAND involves millions of crabs.

AN AUSTRALIAN FAMILY shot into the Guinness Book of Records in 2011 after decorating their home with an astonishing 331038 Christmas lights. If the video at the link doesn't work, try this one.

1659 Reads

St Vincent, Curtis Harding, Hiss Golden Messenger, Goats   Printer-friendly page   Send this story to someone
Thursday, December 21, 2017 - 08:00 AM
Posted by: Karl

Karl

EURYTHMICS'. Dave Stewart declares "Christmas is For Lovers".

ST VINCENT stops by WFUV for a chat and mini-set.

CURTIS HARDING stopped by World Cafe for a chat and mini-set.

HISS GOLDEN MESSENGER, Live at the Bowery Ballroom, Dec. 7, 2017.

BLOSSOMS shares a cover of McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime" that imho is a big improvement.

 

KENDRA SMITH rejoined THE DREAM SYNDICATE on "Too Little Too Late" in L.A.

R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe and Mike Mills talk about "Try Not to Breathe" on the Song Exploder podcast.

THE HORRORS talk to Under The Radar about the fifth album which could have split them up.

THE BEST RESSUES of 2017, according to All Songs Considered.

IN MEMORIAM: NPR collects World Cafe performaces from some of the artists we lost in 2017.

 

T.J. MILLER's  animated series The Gorburger Show has been canceled by Comedy Central after one season, ostensibly unrelated to allegations of sexual misconduct in college.

GARY GODDARD, Hollywood producer, is accused of sexual misconduct by 8 former child actors.

MATT DAMON skipped the Downsizing premiere after taking flak for comments about Hollywood's  sexual misconduct scandals.

MINDY KALING welcomed her first child, a baby girl named Katherine Kaling, on Dec. 15.

VAL KILMER talks about battling cancer and more...

HUGH JACKMAN talks about his marriage.

CATT SADLER: Longtime E! News host has said goodbye after learning her male co-host was paid twice as much as she.

LEONARDO DICAPRIO is -- and I know this is tough to believe -- hooking up with another young model.

CHAPPAQUIDDICK dropped a trailer online.

 

GOAT YOGA comes to stressed travelers at the Denver airport.

LOUD ORGIES OF MEXICAN FISH could deafen dolphins, say scientists.

THE BATTLE to contain Africa's venomous snakes.

ABANDONED PETS swamp shelters in post-hurricane Puerto Rico.

1858 Reads

Pre-Holiday "News" is Slow. But Things.   Printer-friendly page   Send this story to someone
Wednesday, December 20, 2017 - 08:00 AM
Posted by: Karl

Karl

DARLENE LOVE's final "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)" for Letterman.

THE NATIONAL plays a mini-set on KEXP.

BENJAMIN BOOKER plays a mini-set on KEXP.

LUKAS NELSON & PROMISE OF THE REAL stopped by World Cafe.

FIRST AID KIT covers Lorde's "Perfect Places."

 

YO LA TENGO backs MICHAEL SHANNON & FRED ARMISEN on Suicide's "Ghost Rider."

PAUL McCARTNEY is vlogging on Instagram.

THE 30 BEST TOM WAITS SONGS, according to SPIN.

MICRODISNEY is reuiniting after 30 years. My Mom was a fan.

WOLF ALICE is profiled Under The Radar.

THE BEST SONGS of 2017, per Said The Gramaphone.

LARGEHEARTED BOY's Favorite Albums of 2017.

THE GUMMY AWARDS results are announced.

 

T.J. MILLER (Silicon Valley) is accused of hitting and sexually assaulting a woman while in college.  He denies the claim.

MATT DAMON thinks the men in Hollywood who aren't sexual predators should be talked about more.

LADY GAGA is set for a 100MM Vegas run.

THE OFFICE: Returning to NBC?

JOHN LEGEND has been tapped for the title role in NBC's live staging of Jesus Christ Superstar, set for Easter Sunday. 

EVA LONGORIA and husband Jose Baston are expecting their first child together.

HEATHER NORTH, the longtime voice of the danger-prone Daphne Blake on TV's Scooby-Doo, has died.  She was 71.

 

SEVEN THINGS All Corgi Owners Know.

THE COMEDY WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS for 2017 are announced.

A COCKERELL, chased by a man with a golf club.

GOATS perform all your holiday favorites.

1608 Reads

Stars, Hanson, Lo Moon, Cat + Lynx   Printer-friendly page   Send this story to someone
Tuesday, December 19, 2017 - 08:00 AM
Posted by: Karl

Karl

KIM WILDE drunkenly warbles "Kids In America" and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" on the subway.

STARS stopped by WFUV's Studio A for a chat and mini-set.

HANSON plays a Holiday Tiny Desk Concert.

LO MOON plays a mini-set at KXT.

 

AVEY TARE (Animal Collective) shares a video for “Ms. Secret.”

OASIS gets a two-hour discussion on Political Beats with columnist Stephen Miller, which includes a very funny bit on Noel editing his own Wikipedia entry.

MICHAEL McDONALD talks to World Cafe about how he (and his kids) feel about having impressions done of his voice on late-night television, and being parodied in a web series about yacht rock.

JASON ISBELL & AMANDA SHIRES talk to The Record about speaking up.

AQUARIUM DRUNKARD's Year in Review 2017.

 

ANNA KOURNIKOVA & ENRIQUE IGLESIAS are first-time parents after a secret pregnancy.

JOHNNY DEPP and his former lawyers are suing each other.

THE LAST JEDI: Skywalker unlike the galaxy has never seen. (Spoilers.)

RIDLEY SCOTT reveals how Kevin Spacey was erased from All the Money in the World.

PARAMOUNT carves out territory for four tentpoles through 2021.

THE 20 WORST FILMS of 2017, according to The A.V. Club

TITANIC, 20 Years Later.

A CHRISTMAS STORY: Zack Ward, who played bully Scut Farkus in the classic film,talks about the royalty checks.

 

A STRAY CAT broke into a zoo and befriended a lynx.

SNOW MONKEYS & SIKA DEER, getting it on... mass hysteria!

WRANGLER, he Yellow Labrador who joined the Today show in 2016 to help educate the public on service dogs, is now joining a K-9 unit focused on detecting explosives

SHEEP. MARY tussle over baby Jesus in children's pageant gone hilariously awry.

1540 Reads

Holidaysing Very Hard. But I have Things.   Printer-friendly page   Send this story to someone
Monday, December 18, 2017 - 08:00 AM
Posted by: Karl

Karl

SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS are dreaming of a "White Christmas."

RAYN ADAMS & SHHAKEY GRAVES played Austin City Limits.

FOO FIGHTERS played a Christmas Medley on SNL.

THE DECEMBERISTS & LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA share “Ben Franklin’s Song.”

WEEKEND BOX OFFICE:  The Last Jedi, to no one's surprise, topped the chart with a whopping 220MM.  That's signigficantly less than the 247MM debut of The Force Awakens, but was also to be expected from the mddle film of a trilogy that lacks Han Solo.  There's some drama in the gap between the critics on Rotten Tomatoes and the fairly bad public score there. However, TLJ also got an "A" CinemaScore and high marks from other similar surveys, so it will be interesting to see how this one stands by year's end.  Ferdinand placed with13.2MM, which seems like a terrible start until you remember that it was up against Star Wars; it still has a chance to find an audience over the core holiday season.  Coco, last weekend's champ, showed with 10MM, which seems good given both TLJ and Ferdinand competitng for family dollars.  Wonder took the fourth slot with 5.4MM, edging past Justice League's 4.2MM.  BTW, The Last Jedi's opening weekend beat Justice League's entire run in North America so far. Ouch.

PETER JACKSON claims Harvey and Bob Weinstein made an effort to blacklist Ashley Judd and Mira Sorvino from starring in the Lord of the Rings franchise in the late 1990s.

MATT DAMON talks about Harvey Weinstein and sexual harassment.  Minnie Driver isn't having it.

BEN AFFLECK is continuing treatment for alcohol and substance abuse.

KELLY CUTRONE accuses Russell Simmons of attempted rape.

MATT LAUER's secret relationship with a TODY production assistant.

GENE SIMMONS is accused of “unwanted, unwarranted sexual advances” in a new lawsuit.

CAROLINA PANTHERS owner Jerry Richardson put his National Football League franchise up for sale, hours after the league said it had taken over an investigation into allegations of workplace misconduct.

1553 Reads

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