We’ve covered a number of crappy pop songs from the late 1990s and early 2000s on HARK. But the world of crappy original pop holiday music from this era is vast and diverse, as illustrated by this week’s songs, requested by Katelyn. Hilary Duff gives us the uninspiring but possibly science-fictional “Santa Claus Lane”, while Canadian wunderkinds The Moffatts deliver the maddeningly catchy “Earl the Christmas Squirrel”.
How did we decide to follow up our 50-song milestone extravaganza? With a double dose of Mariah Carey, of course! We cover the pop songstress’ modern Christmas classic (you know the one), as well as her more recent – and more peculiar – take on the New Year standard Auld Lang Syne.
In this very special milestone episode, our list hits 50 songs and we celebrate by attempting to knock out the top and bottom songs on the list! Ian and RJ surprise each other with their picks for the very best and very worst holiday songs, and joy and rage abound.
As Pride month comes to an end, RJ and Ian review and rank two gay-themed Christmas tunes. Queercore punk band Pansy Division’s “Homo Christmas” charms our pants off, while “RuPaul the Red Nosed Drag Queen” leaves some lingering questions.
With the summer solstice approaching, Ian and RJ take this new dawn as an opportunity to discuss two songs about a thus-far neglected winter holiday – the New Year! Ella Fitzgerald undersells herself in the charming “What Are You Doing New Years Eve?” while Sufjan Stevens’ “Auld Lang Syne” sounds as Sufjan Stevensy as you expect, complete with banjo and theremin (or perhaps a saw). Also, Prince is issued a lifetime ban from the podcast. Your move, Prince.
We address an anonymous request (probably from Santa) and review and rank two boy band originals (Santa’s a big fan of boy bands). Listen in to hear us reminisce about the pop-est of 1990s pop music and answer the most important of questions: N’Sync or BSB?
RJ & Ian review two holiday hip-hop songs. While the genre hasn’t got a lot of love on the show so far (Busta Rhymes’ collaboration with Bieber notwithstanding), we have a lot of good things to say about these two – one an endlessly endearing Christmas classic, the other a surprising Hanukkah romp. You can read the NPR article we reference, “Light a Fire for Hanukkah Music”, here: http://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2010/12/02/131699442/matisyahu-light-a-fire-for-chanukah-music
You know the tune: the one in which we tell children they are being watched while they sleep. You probably also know the beloved Bruce Springsteen version of it. But which version do we think The Boss might have been inspired by? Listen in to learn about Springsteen’s cover, its antecedents, the Elf on the Shelf conspiracy, and much more.
How do we follow an episode of two fun, charming, wonderful songs by legendary musicians? By reviewing and ranking two weird, dull, mystifying songs by legendary musicians, of course! RJ and Ian try to decipher the how and why of Tom Petty’s “Christmas All Over Again” and struggle to understand anything at all about Bob Dylan’s “Must Be Santa”. Many thanks to our friend Andy for requesting “Must Be Santa”! You can check out Andy’s work at wahwriter.wordpress.com, or follow him on twitter @ DeputyMasterWAH! For links to all the stuff we talked about in this episode, check our tumblr: harkpodcast.tumblr.com!
In honor of the uniquely Canadian upcoming holiday, Victoria Day, RJ & Ian review and rank two holiday songs fit for a queen. And thank God, they’re the best songs we’ve heard in weeks! These two under-appreciated Christmas tunes by truly legendary artists have us in high spirits – won’t you join us? The admission is free!