5 Holiday Novelty Songs to Play on Repeat
Sometimes you just need a break from traditional holiday music. I mean, that 1000th repeat of “Jingle Bells” or “The Christmas Song” can make you lose your enthusiasm faster than getting a lump of coal in your stocking. So in the spirit of extending your holiday cheer (which is the only thing that lets you tolerate Aunt Edna for the entire family holiday party, am I right?), REBEAT offers five of the funniest and oddest novelty holiday songs that are sure to brighten your day!
1) “Dominick the Donkey,” Lou Monte (1960)
Move over, Rudolph, and meet Dominick, the Italian Christmas Donkey. Dominick helps Santa “climb the hills of Italy” since the reindeer can’t navigate the terrain, he understands Italian, and brings his paisans presents straight from… Brooklyn! For decades, this adorable little song from Italian novelty singer Lou Monte was known mostly in Italian-American communities (and across New York City, where it’s been a staple of the Z100 morning radio show for years). But thanks to a 2011 re-release and some unexpected attention from a BBC morning show — one of the hosts just happened to be named Dominic — it became a dark horse competitor for the highly-contested title of top Christmas song in the UK (2011). It missed the top spot and came in third — not bad for an obscure novelty song released over 50 years ago — and has been slowly taking its rightful place as one of the cutest songs of the season.
2) “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t be Late),” David Seville (1958)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hAUWyp0qzs
AAAALLLLVIIINNNN! The helium-voiced Chipmunks and their “dad” Dave Seville won three Grammys and made #1 on the Billboard Top 100 with this 1958 novelty classic. The adorable ode to the joys of Christmas presents, led by Dave (and interrupted by his critiques) never fails to bring smiles as the song dissolves into classic Chipmunks’ bickering. Of course, the Chipmunks aren’t everyone’s cup of tea; those who think their voices are more painful than nails on a blackboard may prefer this alternative: Bob Rivers’ “Chipmunks Roasting on an Open Fire.” (Warning: super gross.)
3) “All I Want for Christmas is a Beatle,” Dora Bryan (1963)
This particular item is still on my holiday list, though I respectfully disagree with Dora Bryan’s indifference about which one ends up under the tree (“Ringo, Paul, John, George, they’re all the same”). The one you get totally matters. Bryan’s Vaudeville-style song was huge hit during the UK’s 1963 holiday season, just weeks before Beatlemania spread across the world. It was played nearly continuously on the radio, earned Bryan an appearance on “Top of the Pops,” and even won her the coveted title of “Best Bad Record of 1963.” As Beatlemania became a worldwide phenomenon, the song quickly became a holiday favorite among fans. The Beatles themselves liked it, too; they even sang part of it on one of their annual Fan Club Christmas records.
4) “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” Elmo & Patsy (1979)
We now interrupt holiday fun and games for an important holiday PSA from Elmo & Patsy: don’t let grandma forget her meds and drink too much eggnog again this year. Originally recorded and produced independently by the husband and wife duo on their personal label, Oink (!!), “Grandma” gained a bigger following each year and was eventually picked up by CBS Records for national release in 1984. It has been released, re-released, covered, and parodied nearly endlessly since then, and even inspired a 2010 film — which, unbelievably, is even more ridiculous than the original song.
5) “Hanukkah in Santa Monica,” Tom Lehrer (1990)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSCmZU0eFJg
When we think of Hanukkah humor (and we should think of it more often!), the first thing that usually comes to mind is Adam Sandler’s hilarious Hanukkah song — the original and the two sequels. But there’s been a rise in novelty Hanukkah material in the last few decades that shouldn’t be overlooked. This one was recorded a little later than the usual REBEAT offering, but it’s worth a listen. Can’t you just see it performed by an old-time comic in a Florida resort?
What’s your favorite holiday novelty tune? Let us know in the comments!
