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Even after long-term exposure to Christmas music, DJs retain a tolerance—some, even a love—for the holiday tune
By Rob Levy
During the holiday season, a disc jockey’s ears are barraged with novelty records, one-off collaborations, oh-too-cute sappiness and some of the best and worst pop music ever recorded. They suffer for their art as they spin the sometimes magical, often mediocre music that is the Christmas pop record.
Whether they choose the timeless charm of “White Christmas,” the political sophistication of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” the fuzzy-wuzziness of the Temptations’ “Give Love at Christmas” or the schmaltzy cheese of Wham!’s “Last Christmas,” just about every artist—from Sufjan Stevens to Bruce Springsteen, the South Park kids to Sinatra—has tried his or her hand at making the quintessential Christmas record. We asked some of St. Louis’ most resilient radio DJs the inescapable question: What’s your favorite Christmas song?
DJ Needles, KDHX (88.1 FM)
“It’d be easy and possibly predictable for a hip-hop DJ to say ‘Christmas In Hollis’ by Run-DMC—so I will! It’s a hip-hop Xmas joint created in 1988, smack dab in the middle of the Golden Age of Rap (’86–’89) after the early crawl-and-walk stage but before the corrupt/tainted crap of today. You have these hardcore cats from Queens, N.Y., rappin’ about Santa Claus and snowmen without losing a bit of street cred.”
Les Aaron, KPNT (105.7 FM), KYMC (89.7 FM) and KDHX
“The Pogues’ ‘Fairytale of New York.’ Kirsty MacColl’s at her best, and the song is so bloody real ... a Shane [MacGowan] masterpiece.”
Bob Reuter, KDHX
“‘Christmas Boogie’ by the Chipmunks and Canned Heat. It begins with the Chipmunks doing their Christmas song, then Canned Heat comes in. Their lead singer, the Bear, interrupts, saying, ‘Wait a minute, you mice! This is 1968, not 1958. You mice better get it together!’ The song goes on, all of one chord, with Alvin yelling along, ‘Hey, look, I’m dancing the boogie, Bear!’ It always brings a tear to my eye.”
Cornbread, WIL (92.3 FM)
“‘I Farted on Santa's Lap.’ It’s sung by an adorable child that sounds like it’s all sweetness and sentiment until they tomahawk you with a chorus sung by a class full of kids: ‘I farted on Santa’s lap, and now there won’t be any presents under the Christmas tree.’ I’m cryin’, thinking about it. Poor kid—it ain’t his fault his mom bought him a chili dog at the mall.”
Smash, KFTK (97.1 FM), KLOU (103.3 FM)
“I have a vast collection of Christmas music. I love the genre. I have three faves ... ‘The First Noel’ tells the story. ‘Angels We Have Heard On High’ proclaims the glory. ‘Joy to the World’ says it all—‘The Lord is come, let Earth receive her King!’”
Dennis Owsley, KWMU (90.7 FM)
“One of my favorites is Bill Evans’ great composition for solo piano, called ‘Peace Piece,’ that always takes me to a place of wishing that all political leaders and all religious leaders around the world would get serious about the simple concept of peace for all people.”
Dave Miller, KFUO (99.1 FM)
“‘Walking in the Air’ by Howard Blake. It’s featured in The Snowman. The best version is [the] Cincinnati Pops, on the Telarc label. There is something very moving, almost haunting, about the melody—the boy soprano singing the words and it becomes most memorable, almost surreal."
