Lady Gaga, Barenaked Ladies add flair to holiday songs
The Fray - "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)"
Lady Gaga - "Christmas Tree"
Lady Gaga, never one to miss out on the festivities, brings her signature style to the holiday season with “Christmas Tree,” featuring producer Nick Dresti, or Space Cowboy. Gaga gets points for originality with this song, which brings in bits and pieces from everyone’s favorite holiday tunes. The chorus plays off “Deck the Halls,” with a definitive twist. Not known for her modesty, Gaga certainly makes sure to stay edgy with “Christmas Tree,” featuring some very suggestive, but winning lyrics, including “Here, here, here, the best time of the year / Take off my stockings, we’re / Out spreading Christmas cheer.” Space Cowboy brings in an electronic flair, with Gaga ending the song in her famed “cherry cherry boom boom.” This sure-to-be Christmas favorite is available as a single on iTunes.
Everclear - "Santa Baby"
Alternative rock band Everclear, from Portland, Ore., is revered for radio hits like “Wonderful” and “Father Of Mine” and brings a little rock to Christmas with their cover of “Santa Baby.” The band stays true to the classic lyrics and beat, taking only a few liberties — lyrics include, “Santa baby, just slip a guitar under the tree for me.” Front man Art Alexakis gives the light-hearted track a rock and roll edge, stepping out of the song’s norm in style and gender. With the original song written from the lady’s point of view, with references to “all the fellas I haven’t kissed,” Everclear offers a new spin, daring to do a cover that has been previously recorded by talents like Madonna, Taylor Swift and Pussycat Dolls. The band’s new take can be downloaded on iTunes, from the album “Alternative Rock X-Mas,” released in 2007 with Capitol Records.
Damien Rice - "Silent Night"
Irish crooner Damien Rice, who is known for his unmatchable vocals that send chills down your spine, impresses with his cover of the Christmas classic “Silent Night.” Although Rice sticks to the beloved tune and borders on eerie with his stripped-down vocals, he replaces the “holy” lyrics with some of his own. Opening with “Silent night, broken night / All is fallen when you take your flight,” the song carries on to put words about a bad romance to a favorite tune. Rice’s “Silent Night” is available as a “hidden track” on his first album “O,” playing at the very end of bonus track “Eskimo”. It is also available, just as “Silent Night,” on album “Live from the Union Chapel,” which may beat out the recorded version.
Barenaked Ladies - "Hanukkah Blessings"
Barenaked Ladies, the classic alternative rockers known best for hits like “One Week,” offer a lot for the holiday season with their album “Barenaked for the Holidays,” released in 2004. With a little bit of humor added to the overall album, each song is still brilliantly arranged and gives the audience the best of Barenaked Ladies mixed with lots of holiday favorites. One of the best on the 20-song album is “Hanukkah Blessings,” which really showcases lead singer Jim Creeggan’s voice while sending a nice message with some complementary light-hearted humor. Taking a smarter approach to the importance of Hanukkah than say, Adam Sandler, they sing, “Light the candles for Hanukkah, for Hanukkah / We remember how Maccabees / Fought so all of us could be free.” “Barenaked for the Holidays” can be downloaded on iTunes for $9.99.