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Friday, November 15, 2013

Christmas with Alvin and a Wookie ?!


Christmas Songs that everyone should know

Week Three!
Are you enjoying your weekly dose of Christmas Songs ??


First Song:

"The Chipmunk Song (Christmas dont be late)"
Written by Ross Bagdasarian (a.k.a. David Seville - The Chimpmunks Adoptive Father) in 1958. Bagdasarian recorded all the voices though the credits are given to the fictitious Chipmunk Characters.

It reached number one on the Billboard Top100 in the US and stayed there for four weeks. Funnily enough was the only Chipmunk single to ever reach number 1.  
Ross Bagdasarian had only one other single that being "Witch Doctor" which also topped the charts in 1958. 


Fun fact for you. The Chipmunks were named Alvin, Simon and Theodore. They were named after Liberty Record's President Al Bennett, Owner Si Warnoker and the engineer on duty when it was recorded, Ted Keep.

After 45 years the song made it back into the Top 100 in 2008 after the success of the movie "Alvin and the Chipmunks"

This song won Three Gramys and Bagdasarians "Witch Doctor" won two Gramys for Musical Engineering.  




Second Song:

"What do you get a Wookie for Christmas (when he already owns a comb)"
From the Album "Christmas with the Stars - Star Wars Christmas Album"

I kid you not!!



Most of the Album is sung by Anthony Daniels (C3PO).  

It is however most known for the first professional recording of Jon Bon Jovi.  
He sings the lead vocals in  "R2-D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas."
Jon Bongiovi (his birth name) was employed to sweep floors at the studio where it was recorded. His Cousin owned the studio and co produced the album.  

The Track list for the album is :
"Christmas in the Stars" – 3:17
"Bells, Bells, Bells" – 3:15
"The Odds Against Christmas" – 3:04
"What Can You Get a Wookiee for Christmas (When He Already Owns a Comb?)" – 3:24
"R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas" – 3:16
"Sleigh Ride" – 3:36
"Merry, Merry Christmas" – 2:09
"A Christmas Sighting ('Twas the Night Before Christmas)" – 3:43
"The Meaning of Christmas" – 8:08

On a side note, did you know there was a television show "Star Wars Holiday Special"
It was aired only once. November 17 1978 in the U.S. and Canada on CBS.  
George Lucas was quoted as saying "If I had the time and a sledgehammer, I would track down every copy of that show and smash it."
There is lots of random facts and history and Lucas quotes about it but you can look it up i just wanted to share this totally odd song.





Have you ever received a Christmas gift 
that was totally odd??

I got a plain black nothing special plastic soup spoon for a gift a couple of years ago .....  odd 
yes i use it.








From now till Christmas each week we are sharing Christmas Songs that i think everyone should know.
Why?  Why not!    No real reason just some are so great and some so bad and some are just hilarious!
I'll include some fun and fascinating trivia (that you just wont want to miss) and maybe a little story of my own.
I would really really love for you to get into this with me -  maybe sing a tune and share some stories with us :) 








7 comments:

  1. I had no idea The Chipmunks where so old! Also, thank you SO MUCH for the Star Wars Christmas Song, my Star Wars Obsessed son is going to LOVE it!
    xx

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  2. I religiously listen to the Star Wars Christmas every year. We had the ORIGINAL tape of this album that we listened to in the car every Christmas. It is still one of my ULTIMATE fave Christmas albums.

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    1. That is gold my friend! love it :)
      They did release it on CD in the 90's shame you probably couldnt find it now.
      Did you ever see the Christmas TV Special. I've seen parts ... alarming. very alarming lol. thanks for stopping by xx

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  3. Oh thankyou for sharing! Jon Bon Jovi, really lol. Never heard that bit of trivia before, I was JBJ mad when I was a teen, I thought I knew everything about him! Funny, love Yoda in the santa suit :)
    Can't think of anything too odd that I'd ever received.

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  4. Bugger I am on the iPad and the videos won't show, will check these out for sure especially the jbj!!

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  5. Ok Bel you got me with the Chipmunks! I can't wait to show it to my daughter tomorrow morning - so my new Christmas faves are Wham's last Christmas and the chipmunks - eclectic taste I know! I guess my Grincheness is reducing :-)

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