The Novelty Song
Inevitably American Thanksgiving passes and the next day the radio stations become “Your All Day Christmas Music Station.”. In the radio station’s desperation not to be repetitive, they dig up the annoying “novelty” songs. One such song which, I’m certain most of you would be able to sing along with your own unique imitation, is one that has been around since 1958. See if you can guess from the lyrics.
Christmas, Christmas time is near,
Time for toys and time for cheer.
Here is a hint. The best way to sing this song is in a room full of helium and breathe deeply. If you haven’t guessed yet, this annoying foursome first appeared lip-synching on The Ed Sullivan show in 1958, which clinched 4 million records sold in seven weeks, and earning them three Grammy awards.
We've been good, but we can't last,
Hurry Christmas, Hurry fast.
When I hear this song I want to put tin foil on my cavities, which I imagine to be less painful. Unfortunately I have to admit I insisted my parents buy me the album when it first came out, which supports the unpopular theory that children are not very bright.
Want a plane that loops the loop,
(Alvin:) Me, I want a Hula-Hoop.
By now, surely you know I’m talking about Alvin and the Chipmunks and their all too famous Christmas Song who’s sole message is “Bring on Christmas, I want my presents – NOW”. Growing up I too felt the agony of anticipation on Christmas Eve to hear the reindeer on the roof and feel the weight of the stocking on my feet at the end of the bed in the morning.
We can hardly stand the wait,
Please Christmas don't be late.
When my children were young I recreated the excitement for them and reveled at their wide eyes as they came downstairs to the pile under the tree. The speeded up voices of the chipmunks chattering song had nothing on the next ten minutes of kids whizzing through the pile to find their names on presents, the squeals, the tears and on to the next before the first was fully unwrapped. Weeks of preparation for a ten minute free-for-all,
Nowadays Christmas is a subdued affair which, happily, still obliges my scattered children to return to the nest for a few days where we revel in each others company, eat too much and sadly know we won’t all get together again till the next year. It’s a fallow time in our Christmas history together, we are happy to be without presents and sleep in late on Christmas day. I imagine though when they start having children, The Chipmunks will be back into our lives and the chattering will start all over again. The Chipmunks cloying cuteness and the hype around Christmas can be highly annoying but in a way, I have to admit, I kind of miss liking it.
Inevitably American Thanksgiving passes and the next day the radio stations become “Your All Day Christmas Music Station.”. In the radio station’s desperation not to be repetitive, they dig up the annoying “novelty” songs. One such song which, I’m certain most of you would be able to sing along with your own unique imitation, is one that has been around since 1958. See if you can guess from the lyrics.
Christmas, Christmas time is near,
Time for toys and time for cheer.
Here is a hint. The best way to sing this song is in a room full of helium and breathe deeply. If you haven’t guessed yet, this annoying foursome first appeared lip-synching on The Ed Sullivan show in 1958, which clinched 4 million records sold in seven weeks, and earning them three Grammy awards.
We've been good, but we can't last,
Hurry Christmas, Hurry fast.
When I hear this song I want to put tin foil on my cavities, which I imagine to be less painful. Unfortunately I have to admit I insisted my parents buy me the album when it first came out, which supports the unpopular theory that children are not very bright.
Want a plane that loops the loop,
(Alvin:) Me, I want a Hula-Hoop.
By now, surely you know I’m talking about Alvin and the Chipmunks and their all too famous Christmas Song who’s sole message is “Bring on Christmas, I want my presents – NOW”. Growing up I too felt the agony of anticipation on Christmas Eve to hear the reindeer on the roof and feel the weight of the stocking on my feet at the end of the bed in the morning.
We can hardly stand the wait,
Please Christmas don't be late.
When my children were young I recreated the excitement for them and reveled at their wide eyes as they came downstairs to the pile under the tree. The speeded up voices of the chipmunks chattering song had nothing on the next ten minutes of kids whizzing through the pile to find their names on presents, the squeals, the tears and on to the next before the first was fully unwrapped. Weeks of preparation for a ten minute free-for-all,
Nowadays Christmas is a subdued affair which, happily, still obliges my scattered children to return to the nest for a few days where we revel in each others company, eat too much and sadly know we won’t all get together again till the next year. It’s a fallow time in our Christmas history together, we are happy to be without presents and sleep in late on Christmas day. I imagine though when they start having children, The Chipmunks will be back into our lives and the chattering will start all over again. The Chipmunks cloying cuteness and the hype around Christmas can be highly annoying but in a way, I have to admit, I kind of miss liking it.