Holiday Earworms, vol III

Okay, here's the list for the iPod set, i.e., those who want SONGS, not albums... In no particular order:

• White Christmas, Bing Crosby. I mean, really... Is there any version that does more to say what needs to be said about the importance of snow at Christmastime?
• Jingle Bells, Brian Setzer Orchestra. This would be the instrumental version, found on Merry Axemas: A Guitar Christmas. Who needs a horse-drawn sleigh when Brian is driving this musical hot rod? Awesome.
• Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band. When I was young and Springsteen was at the height of his powers I didn't get it. Now that I'm a "professional" musician approaching 38... I TOTALLY get it. There's tangible joy in this performance, something that is present in nearly every Springsteen show, and it is one of the finest examples of the E Streeters' capabilities.
• Ave Maria, Perry Como. This is so good it'll make you weep. The finest piece of music ever written, sung exactly how it should be sung; with a sweetness and tender conviction that Como's understated and underappreciated voice is perfect for.
• Silent Night, Mannheim Steamroller. Before M.S. became the holiday juggernaut it is today, there was their first Christmas release in the late 80's. This may well be the best and clearest interpretation of this perennial holiday favorite... Completely without words.
• Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Judy Garland. Most interpretations of this song have happier lyrics that completely gloss over the context in which the song was originally performed in the movie "Meet Me in St. Louis." I have never seen the movie, but when I listen to this original recording I can imagine a scene that one day I may get to compare with the original. A song of resignation, one that makes me think that we need to accept Christmas blessings no matter how big or small they are.
• Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, John Denver and the Muppets. If you need to have the more "accepted" version of the lyrics, I think this is the best alternative. A duet between Mr. Denver and Rowlf the dog (aka Jim Henson) is simultaneously funny, uplifting and sentimental. Surprisingly excellent.
• Run Rudolph Run, Dave Edmunds: There are a zillion versions of this, and all are pretty good (goode?). But this one is most enjoyable for me due to the drive and the chunk of the guitars. Cool.
• The Christmas Song, Mel Torme. He wrote the damn song, first of all. Second of all, "The Velvet Fog" is perfect for conveying its simple sentiments and spot-on imagery. Mel Torme is killer on this.
• Winter Wonderland, Tony Bennett. Tony. F***ing. Bennett.
• Christmas in Prison, John Prine. OK, a little dark for most tastes, but damned if this tune just doesn't make me want to pick up a guitar and write a song from the hip. If it could only be as good as this one. Willie Nelson also covers this one very well.
• 12 Days of Christmas, Bob & Doug McKenzie. This song, in general, shouldn't ever be recorded. It's a party song, one that begs audience participation in order to work. The best way to enjoy this song otherwise is to completely poke fun with/at it. Bob & Doug never fail to make me laugh on this one, citing with deadpan certainty the far more appropriate gifts of 20th century mankind... At #1? A beer. In a tree.

How am I doing so far? More earworms to come later...