Holiday songs?

BillMason · #1 11-17-2008, 12:26 PM

We might get booked for a $1200 Christmas Party gig coming up this December, and are starting to think about what holiday songs we could learn and play. Te one that springs to mind immediately is Jingle Bell Rock... anyone else have some other suggestions? They should be easy to learn.

Phalex · #2 11-17-2008, 12:37 PM

Last year we did a killer version of Winter Wonderland ala Stryper. That one was a whole lot of fun.

I've always thought that Christmas with the Devil by Spinal Tap would be awesome. Great Acoustic version: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvCjZJenyN8 Harry Shearer is the man!

And let's don't forget Justin Timberlake's holiday hit "**** In A Box"

PRUNEFACE · #3 11-17-2008, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillMason

We might get booked for a $1200 Christmas Party gig coming up this December, and are starting to think about what holiday songs we could learn and play. Te one that springs to mind immediately is Jingle Bell Rock... anyone else have some other suggestions? They should be easy to learn.

Hi, my band is doing a cover of a cover by a group Relient K.
The song is "Sleigh Ride," and it has a nice, swinging bass line. A little Pop-esque, it looks like it'll be fun to perform.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74VJFOGv5IM
(First 40 secs are slow and without bass, but it picks up quite a bit.)

deekay911 · #4 11-17-2008, 12:42 PM

Please Come Home for Christmas....several bands covered it...

Largedon · #5 11-17-2008, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phalex

Last year we did a killer version of Winter Wonderland ala Stryper. That one was a whole lot of fun.

I've always thought that Christmas with the Devil by Spinal Tap would be awesome. Great Acoustic version: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvCjZJenyN8 Harry Shearer is the man!

Only if you can have a dwarf run on stage and throw a smoking Christmas tree.

Actually some good songs are:
This Christmas - Donny Hathaway version
I Believe in Father Christmas - Emerson Lake and Palmer
What Christmas Means to Me - Stevie Wonder (it was on a Gap commercial or something last year)

Hopefully this is few outside the box tunes so you not just playing Jingle Bells for 30 minutes.

spunj13 · #6 11-17-2008, 03:47 PM

august burns red (a metalcore band) did an amazing instrumental version of Carol Of The Bells last year that i was really impressed with. i've heard a number of different style versions of it and that one would probably work out pretty well

[spunj13]

XansNiceSweater · #7 11-18-2008, 04:41 AM

My band does a Christmas album every year.
Write some of your own stuff, the reactions are priceless.

Disappear · #8 11-18-2008, 07:39 AM

I think Bela Fleck and the Flecktones did a Christmas Album. . .

Steve · #9 11-18-2008, 08:27 AM

Please Come Home for Christmas is the best ever

Christmas in Dixie works great in Florida

Blue Christmas...who doesn't like Elvis?

Jeff K · #10 11-18-2008, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deekay911

Please Come Home for Christmas....several bands covered it...

Definitely! Great song, and good belly-rubbin' music...

Chris Hodges · #11 11-18-2008, 10:17 AM

Linus and Lucy!! Always a winner.

scottbass · #12 11-18-2008, 10:35 AM

Do yourself a huge favor - go buy a copy of Twisted Sister's "A Twisted Christmas". Seriously. You wanna do Christmas songs the RIGHT way? Just listen and emulate.

Is there anything better than "We're Not Gonna Take It" with the words changed to "O Come, All Ye Faithful"? No. There is nothing better than that in the entire Christmas season!

IMH (yet correct) O

...or, if your tastes are a little more subdued (aka WIMPY), go get the Bare Naked Ladies' Christmas CD.

JayM · #13 11-18-2008, 10:58 AM

The Roches "Sultans of Swing" version of We Three Kings is pretty great. Springsteen's Santa Claus is Coming to Town will probably work. If you have a female singer you might consider The Waitresses Christmas Wrapping.

You should probably look at the track lists for the Cool Yule, Very Special Christmas, etc. pop / rock Christmas collections for ideas.

Good luck.

JmJ · #14 11-18-2008, 11:45 AM

"Christmas in jail" is an instant classic to all who hear it.

buzzbass · #15 11-18-2008, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottbass

Do yourself a huge favor - go buy a copy of Twisted Sister's "A Twisted Christmas". Seriously. You wanna do Christmas songs the RIGHT way? Just listen and emulate.

Is there anything better than "We're Not Gonna Take It" with the words changed to "O Come, All Ye Faithful"? No. There is nothing better than that in the entire Christmas season!

IMH (yet correct) O

...or, if your tastes are a little more subdued (aka WIMPY), go get the Bare Naked Ladies' Christmas CD.

I took my son to that tour last year, it rocked hard. anything off that album would be a great bet.

Obe · #16 11-18-2008, 01:00 PM

Another vote for Linus and Lucy! Also, You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch is good, especially if somebody can sing that low, and a friend's band did Do You Hear What I Hear, with just basic barre chord strumming and it works!

BassIsBoss · #17 11-18-2008, 01:18 PM

Run Run Rudolph.....whizzin' like a sabre jet...who wouldn't want to sing that. And not too many chords to confuse the bass player.

BillMason · #18 11-18-2008, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassIsBoss

Run Run Rudolph.....whizzin' like a sabre jet...who wouldn't want to sing that. And not too many chords to confuse the bass player.

LOL, except with our band it is the two guitar players. Hopefully that one is in G, E or A...

CerealKiller · #19 11-18-2008, 02:54 PM

It's more of a rocking orchestra gig, but Mannheim Streamroller has some good Christmas stuff. You could maybe peel something from that.....

gweimer · #20 11-18-2008, 02:59 PM

Two that we've done in the past, with my old band:

"Oy to the World" - No Doubt
"Father Christmas" - The Kinks