Every family has a weirdo. In my family, it really takes some effort to earn that designation. So, whether you believe this or not, I am NOT my family’s weirdo. Nope, that title belongs to my brother, the man who has an art degree from Ball State with a minor history. What is his career? He’s a retired military man who started out in tanks but quickly was moved to intelligence work.
God love him, my brother is full of more verbal crap than most people. Before Mom passed nearly three years ago, I asked her why she was always “buying” whatever line of bull crap he was giving her. She looked at me, shrugged her shoulders and simply said, “He wasn’t the athlete and math & science person that I was.” Personally, I took that answer as code that art majors just understand each other. Plus, his masterful use of conversational bull is probably the reason why he has had a very successful career in intelligence, since he was not gifted with the mathematical brain that I was. And, that’s why I used to worry about his act when he was younger and serving in Kosovo, Iraq and Ethiopia.
Since he is weirdo, his Christmas gifts are often some of the best. One year he gave each of us Birkenstock sandals that everyone loved. He has initiated the now annual Nerf gun battle when he purchased four guns for the four oldest men in the family, him, my boys and me. Unfortunately, the kid with whom I once shared a bunk bed and used to greet him each and every Christmas morning with a quiet “Merry Christmas!” only to have him retorted in a loud voice, “QQQQQUUUUUUIIIIIEEEEETTTTT!!!!!”
What I want to stress is that any and all novelty Christmas songs in this countdown is my nod to him. For some reason, he prefers those “hits” created by comedians and other nutballs. Additionally, he has a love for what he considers to be “happy” Christmas songs that sound bouncy while also conveying darker lyrics, such as Wham!’s “Last Christmas.”
Here it is, my younger brother! This is my blog’s nod to this man’s place in my life, for better or worse. Merry Christmas Stephen!
Here’s the countdown! Peace.
50. Ike & Tina Turner – “Merry Christmas Baby” (1965)
49. Otis Redding – “White Christmas” (1968)
48. Vince Guaraldi Trio – “Christmas Time Is Here” (1965)
47. Al Green – “The First Noel” (1990)
46. Carpenters – “Merry Christmas Darling” (1970)
45. Paul McCartney – “Wonderful Christmastime” (1979)
44. Madonna – “Santa Baby” (1987)
43. Zooey Deschanel & Leon Redbone – “Baby It’s Cold Outside” (2003)
42. Kacey Musgraves & Lana Del Rey – “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (2019)
41. Kurtis Blow – “Christmas Rappin'” (1979)
40. Luther Vandross – “The Christmas Song” (1992)
39. Eurythmics – “Winter Wonderland” (1987)
38. Ariana Grande – “Santa Tell Me” (2014)
37. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band – “Merry Christmas Baby” (1987)
36. Coldplay – “Christmas Lights” (2010)
35. Eagles – “Please Come Home for Christmas” (1978)
34. Run-DMC – “Christmas in Hollis” (1987)
33. Cocteau Twins – “Frosty the Snowman” (1993)
32. Kenny Loggins – “Celebrate Me Home” (1977)
31. Fitz & the Tantrums – “Santa Stole My Lady” (2010)
30. Wizzard – “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday” (1973)
29. Donny Hathaway – “This Christmas” (1970)
28. Bryan Adams – “Run Rudolph Run” (1987)
27. Kacey Musgraves feat. Leon Bridges – “Present Without a Bow” (2016)
26. Whitney Houston – “Do You Hear What I Hear?” (1987)
25. Darlene Love – “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)” (1963)
24. The Kinks – “Father Christmas” (1977)
23. Pretenders – “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (1987)
22. U2 – “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)” (1987)
21. Wham! – “Last Christmas” (1984)
We have nearly reached the top of this very tall mountain of modern Christmas songs. Tomorrow, we will finish it all off with my Top 20 yuletide tunes. See you tomorrow for the finale of this countdown! Stay tuned!
If My Records Could Talk 