Merry Christmas From Outside The Beltway!

Merry Christmas to all the OTB regulars and anyone else who may drop by! Nothing political today, at least not from this corner for the Internet. Instead, some Christmas music and consider this an open thread for the day. We’ll be back to our regularly scheduled political ranting soon enough.

To set the mood, here’s the great Nat King Cole:

Frank Sinatra:

The seemingly odd and yet perfect combination of David Bowie and Bing Crosby:

And a full 40 minutes of Ella Fitzgerald:

I’ve made a “no politics” vow (well except for this I guess)  for today, but things will be back to what passes for normal tomorrow.

FILED UNDER: Uncategorized, ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. James Pearce says:

    No politics, huh? So I guess this year you won’t be denying that Die Hard is not only a Christmas movie, but an exceptionally good Christmas movie, cuz you’re on the wrong side of history there, pal.

    Merry Christmas everyone.

    3
  2. Mikey says:

    That Crosby/Bowie collaboration is an unequaled masterpiece.

    @James Pearce: You might like this ornament…

    Merry Christmas to all!

    3
  3. MarkedMan says:

    Merry Christmas to all, and best wishes for the new year.

    1
  4. Mister Bluster says:

    Deck Us All With Boston Charlie…
    Thank You Walt Kelly
    RIP 1913-1973

    3
  5. Barry DeCicco says:

    Merry Christmas, everybody!

    1
  6. Grumpy realist says:

    Merry Xmas everyone! Hope you are having a great time!

    1
  7. Jake says:
  8. Kylopod says:

    Greetings from the War on Christmas!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jzhd0SU8k4

  9. Mister Bluster says:

    Clicked on Jake’s link since it mentioned Tricky Dick. Got a deceptive website warning.

    3
  10. Gustopher says:

    The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl…

    https://youtu.be/j9jbdgZidu8

    She is missed. There is so much warmth in all of her insults in this song.

    3
  11. Teve says:

    @Mister Bluster: the Washington examiner was started by a conservative christian billionaire to promote his agenda.

  12. Ebenezer_Arvigenius says:

    Merry Christmas to all of you. Get it while you still can :P.

    1
  13. Mikey says:

    @Gustopher: That’s an all-time favorite of mine. Kirsty’s cover of Billy Bragg’s “A New England” is outstanding as well. Here they are singing it together, a few years before Kirsty’s unfortunate passing.

    2
  14. Mister Bluster says:

    @Teve:..the Washington examiner was started by a conservative christian billionaire to promote his agenda.

    Seems like I’ve heard that before.

    1
  15. de stijl says:

    Merry Christmas, ya wankers!!!


    @Gustopher:

    She is missed.

    Perfect call on this song. I miss Kirsty – she had a otherworldly voice and such a presence. Kinda in love with her.
    They Don’t Know (1979)
    https://youtu.be/kIsyQ2qCDQ8

    Chip Shop (country version)
    https://youtu.be/3bA3aQQue7g

    1
  16. de stijl says:

    Kirsty MacColl is the reason that The Simpsons exist.

    If there is no They Don’t Know, then no Tracey Ullman and no Tracey Ullman Show. No Tracy Ullman Show and Matt Groening’s sketches die on the pad.

    (Actually the Tracy Ullman cover kinda pisses me off cuz it’s not a cover but a full-on copy with a Paul McCartney cameo in her vid )

    Kirsty MacColl – Terry
    https://youtu.be/pivL4QdtiuM

    1
  17. de stijl says:

    This is probably my favorite “Holy Crap!” vid ever.

    It’s Kirsty doing “Terry” on some TOTP analog in Austria or somewhere with Lemmy on guitar.

    Lemmy, from Motorhead, is playing back-up to Kirsty doing throw-back girl-group pop.

    https://youtu.be/8vHDigOYSk4

    Gahhhh! Mind explosion! So freaking cool!

    2
  18. de stijl says:

    @Mikey:

    Good call!

    Here’s the 12 inch “dance” version with a backing band that sounds kinda like Big Country.

    Kirsty MacColl – New England
    https://youtu.be/2SkdjsY6TKA

    Brilliant! It’s my favorite version.

    1
  19. de stijl says:
  20. de stijl says:

    My fave Xmas song 4ever is Bollocks to Christmas by The Business (1981).

    It has a Christmasy sound. But it totally works as a just a song.
    https://youtu.be/tHg8DK4132Q?list=PLlMwJ0HGPsL–7jtTMC8MSsjljY6OZbAB

  21. Mikey says:

    @de stijl:

    Vandals – Oi! To The World

    Fantastic! Another of my all-time favorites.

    1
  22. DrDaveT says:

    Merry Christmas, folks. Here are a few of my favorite seasonal tunes that I hope you’ll enjoy:

    Po’ Little Jesus

    Lo, How a Rose (Distler setting)

    The Star Carol (Alfred Burt)

    What Child Is This? (Vince Guaraldi trio)

    1
  23. Liberal Capitalist says:

    Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals!
    🙂

    1
  24. Just nutha ignint cracker says:

    @Mister Bluster: I loved that. I bookmarked the link last year so I wouldn’t lose it. Thanks again.

  25. James Pearce says:

    @Mikey: I love that ornament. I don’t have a color printer anymore, or I’d have one in the tree right now.

    (I wanna get one of these for next year.)

    1
  26. Mister Bluster says:

    @Just nutha ignint cracker:..Boston Charlie…

    We will have to thank my dear departed Dad for my appreciation of Pogo. Per WikiP it debuted the same year I did. 1948.
    It was one of the selected comic strips he would read to me out of the Sunday Funnies when I was very young.
    He would not read me Flash Gordon or Dick Tracy as he said they were too violent!
    I would look at the color drawings and try to figure out the words.
    Maybe he was on to something.

    Here is an encore of Walt Kelly’s genius!
    Happy New Year to All!
    gb

  27. al Ameda says:

    I wish all here at OTB peace and good health.

    1