BLOGMAS #1: FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG
Greetings and Good Tidings!
This being my first year in the blogosphere, I thought I'd tackle Blogmas. Historically, writing challenges have pushed me as a writer and tapped into my subconscious; perhaps the same will be true of my blogging. There are worse things than daily doses of cheer, right? Besides, I'm not usually big on holidays, and having kids really requires that I get into the spirit in a hurry!
I'm working from the Grinch's 25-day Christmas Challenge, and the first day is dedicated to a favorite Christmas song. What better way to kick the holiday off than with this classic from Run D.M.C.?
While "Christmas in Hollis" may not be canon for the myriad Christmas cover albums lining your local stores, it's hard not to enjoy the combination of a sick beat and a strong narrative. I have a real predilection for storytelling, if you can't tell, so this song definitely caught my attention early on.
Do the lyrics sound familiar? Can't quite place them? Maybe this will jog your memory:
That's right, folks. Run D.M.C. and Bruce Willis come together for forty-five beautiful seconds to set up one of the greatest Christmas movies of all time (check back for a lengthier homage on Day 4 of Blogmas).
My first encounter with "Christmas in Hollis" was through Die Hard, and it set the stage for a lifelong love of traditional songs/stories being turned on their heads. Though I was too young to appreciate it as a kid, I've come to really appreciate how this song situates "Jingle Bells" in Queens, taking a holiday centered on the white experience and creating a more inclusive narrative.
Of course, I love plenty of holiday songs. Here are a few favorites that didn't quite make the cut for #1:
1. "Do You Want to Build a Snowman" - Frozen Soundtrack
2. "I Saw Mommy Kissin' Santa Claus" - Jackson 5
3. "In Like a Lion" - Relient K
4. "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" - Elmo n' Patsy
5. "Jingle Bell Rock" - Daryl Hall and John Oates
