This Track Is Fire!

This version of the song was released all the way back in 1959, so it's hardly new. And though I have most certainly heard this track hundreds of times now in my life, I never really listened to it nor paid any particular attention to it. It was just Christmas "static." Honestly, I don't know what changed, other than sometime in the last couple of weeks not only did I start singing along, I started requesting it from my smart speaker. I even added it to my Christmas mix. So, for some reason 66 years after its release this song has become an earworm for me. Merry (day after) Christmas!

So this is Christmas... I can think of no better a way to announce this very day that those words and this song. I hope you're having a lovely and happy Christmas today!

In late 1984 I was just 11 years old, but on my way to deciding what my musical tastes would ultimately be, and this is my first favorite Christmas song. I remember distinctly my parents owning the 45 of this single and playing it during the holiday season.  I'm not sure where that record went, but my love for this song persists, 41 years later. I have a routine setup at home that when I tell my smart speaker "Merry Christmas" the Christmas tree lights up and this song starts playing. That's the love I have for this song. Have a lovely Christmas Eve!

I think from yesterday it's pretty clear that I have an affinity for Christmas music that is not the norm, and this track is no different. And really, shouldn't there be more punk rock songs about Christmas? I think so. Enjoy!

 Let's get this out of the way right now: this is my favorite Christmas song of all time. Perhaps you have you disagree, and you're certainly welcome to, but for me, this the gold standard, not because it's both dark and hopeful, but in many ways it's very real, and I can appreciate that. Enjoy!