Merry Madness — The Tournament of Holiday Music (Part 8). The Sweet 16.
Buckle up, buttercups. It’s time to start bringing it all home.
We’ll start at the top of our bracket, where two of our #1 seeds continued on their dominant course. Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” pushed Celine Dion around and knocked out “O Holy Night.” If you’re surprised by this, you probably don’t know how life works. Anyway, that’s how life works.
Meanwhile, Nat King Cole barely edged out a tough Brenda Lee whose “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” took him to double overtime before falling just short. Personally, it was a tough one to watch. I think “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” could have made it further in any other region. But hey, that’s the way the bracket gets busted.
Two other tough games followed as Andy Williams’ “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” matched up against Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home.” I thought I knew how this one was going to end. I love me some Love, but have you listened to this Andy Williams juggernaut? It’s unstoppable! It starts with a flourish and never slows down. The arrangement, the orchestration and the blasting band are just too much. And even though I don’t know what the “scary ghost stories” are that he’s talking about, he catches me up in an enthusiastic blizzard of snow flurries. Sorry, Baby. 89–78.
And then it was The Ronettes vs. The Drifters. Damn. That Drifters version of “White Christmas” is just too toe-tappin’ & finger-snappin’ good! The Ronettes see their storybook “Sleigh Ride” come to an end, 77–74.
In the West, Bing Crosby got sent “Home for Christmas” earlier than expected. It appears that “if only in my dreams” was not a good enough promise. Bobby Helms keeps Jingle Bell Rockin’ as he advances to the Elite Eight.
There he’ll face Burl Ives and “Holly Jolly Christmas,” who knocked out another personal favorite of mine, Stevie Wonder. It hurts, but I’m not here for me. I’m here for the people. And the people deserve a Hollier, Jollier Christmas. 90–72.
Mariah Carey sent the E Street packing as her “All I Want for Christmas is You” took “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” down in commanding fashion. The Boss and crew just couldn’t compete with this wall-of-sound throwback. She’s got the goods, folks — and she shows the goods off a lot.
And for Canada’s sake, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Mikos Bublikos whooped up on Amy Grant’s “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing.” I’m actually tired of this guy winning. I only put him in this tournament because it would have caused a Canadian riot (pillow fight) if I have left him ooot. It’s a great song, but he actually ruins it at the very end when he gets way too cute and says, “Sure, it’s Christmas…once…amor.” Not “more”, “amor.” Unless that’s a Canadian thing. Oh, and in case you didn’t notice, I just found out he’s Canadian. He barely canucks by, 65–63.
See you on Christmas, when we determine which of these remaining eight songs will be crowned the Greatest Holiday Song of All Time!
Merry Christmas!
-j
