Word: clause
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...Crosby had "White Christmas," but the singing cowboy from Tioga, Texas, scored three huge Christmas hits in three years: "Here Comes Santa Claus" (#9 in 1947), "Rudolph" (#1 in 1949) and "Frosty the Snowman" (#7 in 1950). These were part of the Christmas novelty-song trend, which included "All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)" and "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." (Johnny Marks, who wrote "Rudolph," rode another trend in 1957 with the not-very-rockin' "Jingle Bell Rock.") This album, reissued in 2000, lassos together all of Autry's seasonal singles...
...What kind of Christmas album would rock 'n roll's first superstar make? Well, the opening track, a Leiber-Stoller R&B number called "Santa Claus Is Back in Town," sounded a declaration of war against the Christmas-music tradition. As Elvis growled and screamed it: "Hang up your pretty stockin's / Turn off de light / Santa Claus is comin' / Down the old chimney tonight." Sexually explicit enough for ya? The title track - which lyrically is just another song about being alone or lonely on a holiday that's meant to reunite loved ones - was sung...
...compositions ("Don't Forget to Feed the Reindeer," "Christmas Carousel" and "The Tree"). Lee could bring as much sex to singing as Elvis; but whereas he was singing from the gut and the gutter, she was the voice of mature eroticism. She sexualizes a neutral song like "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" (undermelody: "Big fat Santa's on his way"), turning Saint Nick into a sugar daddy. Mostly, though, the mood is one of longing and regret, which suits a vocal style so intimate it was practically internal. Her beautiful "White Christmas" emphasizes the distance between the singer...
...baby Jesus might appear on the 25th. Either way, a solemn Mary and Joseph look solemnly upon a manger full of hay. For something a little closer to home, check out Lawrence Street near Central Square. Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus are watched over by a jolly Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman. Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, each donning a Santa cap, flank the display, and two menorahs in the windows round out a confusing mosaic of holiday...
...even have any explicit connection to the birth of Jesus. Rather, traditions such as Christmas trees, Yule logs, giving and receiving gifts, and possibly even the date of December 25 itself arose out of pagan celebrations that pre-dated Christ altogether. Meanwhile the figure of Santa Claus actually arose out of a Dutch folk tale that was originally unassociated with the nativity. So much for always keeping focus strictly on the reason for the season...