I just wanted to take the time to mention one of my absolute favorite Christmas songs ever - "Christmas Is Coming" by Canadian '80s band The Payola$. They are rather obscure, as is the song, but it is a song which details the singer's crappy life and ultimately expresses the belief that Christmas brings with it the hope that things will get better. I love this song and can't listen to it without a lump forming in my throat. I did so want to post it here on the ol' blog, but unfortunately it is rather rare. That said, there is a lot of Payola$ music out there on Lala and imeem.com, to name a couple, but the only place I found to listen to even a sample of Christmas Is Coming is on Amazon.com. If you go to this link, http://www.amazon.com/Edge-Christmas-Various-Artists/dp/B000001J70 you will find yourself on the page for a compilation CD called The Edge Of Christmas on which said track appears. This is itself a great CD with contributions from Queen, Kate Bush, The Ramones and others, but if you scroll down to the 'Listen To Samples' section, you can hear a small snippet of this great song. I will post the lyrics here at the bottom. As to the band themselves? Well, lead singer Paul Hyde enjoyed some moderate post-Payola$ success, but it was guitarist Bob Rock who went on to bigger and better things, producing Motley Crue, Metallica, Skid Row, 311, Our Lady Peace and D.O.A. to name but a very few.
Christmas is coming
It's been a long year
I'm still in the same place
I'm still over here
Been down to the market
Got lost in the crowd
Come home to my records
I play 'em too loud
(Chorus)
Christmas is coming
It's been a long year, I wish you were here
Been down to the U.I.
Lined up in the queues
Been down to the welfare
With holes in my shoes
The kitchen's still leaking
It floods on the floor
The landlord won't fix it
He only wants more
Chorus
Been down to the U.I.
Lined up in the queues
Been down to the welfare
With holes in my shoes
But I'm not complainin'
I'm happy, you see
And I'm still here waiting
So come and see me
Christmas is coming,
It's been a long year, I wish you were here.....
what about "sometimes you have to work on Christmas" by Harvey Danger? Equally rare, though.
ReplyDeleteIf not more so, my son.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post! This is my favorite Christmas song of all time (which I suppose indicates that I have a tendency towards melancholy, now that I think about it). In any case, I have never known the artist's name or the exact title, because I only hear it once a year if I am lucky. Now I know what they are, and will TRY to get a copy.
ReplyDeleteWhatever holidays you celebrate: I hope that they are very enjoyable!
Thank you, I'm glad you appreciate it. I myself would probably never have encountered this song if it hadn't been for the DJ Jim Keller who worked for KNDD 107.7 (The End) in Seattle. He hosted the new wave/ alternative 80s retro show on what was otherwise an alt/grunge station during the 90s. One year I taped his Christmas show and this was one of the gems on it. I kept that tape for many years and played in the car when I lived in Georgia. It reminded me of the cold and snow I missed so much in Seattle. Anyway, you may have noticed that I posted a YouTube video of it this year in my late November post titled Christmas Countdown Starts Now! Here's the link. http://jeffie2k.blogspot.com/2010/11/christmas-countdown-starts-now.html
ReplyDeleteEnjoy.
Thank you! I love it and it plays in my head sometimes and I couldn't find it anywhere-can't believe someone else loves it too!
ReplyDeleteAlexa
I noticed this song for the first time this year, and really really like it...found out who sung it, and remembered "I Will" by Rock and Hyde, I love that too -- Jani
ReplyDelete