"Wonderful Christmastime"

In "Wonderful Christmastime" by Dweezil Zappa, freaky guitar bits interrupt this otherwise standard contemporary standard, written by Paul McCartney in '79. The scion of Frank Zappa his known for his name and guitar mastery. His father was best known for a few novelty songs (despite his massive and eclectic catalogue), the wintry lines from one of which has been made into a Christmas tree ornament.

 

"Little Saint Nick"

via AndrewGold.com

 ❄  In honor of today being St. Andrew's Day -- a fete of Scottish nationalism -- here's Andrew Gold (not Scottish but from the San Fernando Valley), with "Little St. Nick", yet another Beach Boys ode to a car but with a Christmas flavor. The Brian Wilson charmer gifted the oeuvre with the over-obvious lyric:

"Christmas comes this time each year"

and performed with more guts here by L.A. Guns.

Gold has a great pedigree, son to an Oscar-winning composer (for Exodus") and the top dubbed-in singing voice in movies (Marni Nixon).

"Best Christmas Ever"

 

via WonderGirlsWorld.com

K-Pop (that's "Korean pop" for the uninitiated) doesn't stop at Psy and his earworm "Gangham Style" (a video perhaps you haven't seen). Among that cultural tsunami is The Wonder Girls, and included here for their version of "Best Christmas Ever" -- a remake of the Ronnie Spector tune from her 2010 EP of the same name, a much grittier but scratchier song. This catchy K-Pop'd treatment has all the edges buffed off from the original but none of hip-hop stylings which put the Wonder Girls on the map, and consequently on the Very Special Christmas 25th Anniversary collection (the entire series is worth investigation).

Not to be confused with the alt-rock supergroup, the Wondergirls.

"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"

Since retailers have determined it's Christmas time, let's jump right in with the late-too-early Amy Winehouse (which proved to be a Dickensian name -- and what could be more Christmas than that?)

"Do They Know It's Christmas"

The Bob Geldof-organized Band Aid benefit record for Ethiopian famine relief was the catalyst for truckloads of charity efforts that saved lives, which pretty much solidifies the song's status as Best Christmas Song Ever.