12 days of christmas

Onwards goes the journey and one can not forget the Christmas movies involving the classic Alvin and Chipmunks. There are several, and one of the better ones is the one with the Golden Harmonica, and since I have not seen the more modern versions, so in my book an oldie is a goodie.

Being called a chipmunk as a child really makes this one special. Why a chipmunk? Well I was even more perky and spritly as a youth than as an adult, but one can not forget the chipmunk duo og Chip and Dale. Yes, this dates me a bit. However it is true, in the 90s the jokes were rige, but in the 2010s and 2020s the cultural sphere seems to put the reference more farther afield.

Any ways, back to the song. Squeaky voices, happy messages, as nd the intense childhood desire for none other than… A hoolahoop! Ahh, the simple things.

And in case you wonder to which one of the Chipmunks I most related, id you know me well you’ll know that that answer is simple: Simon!

Enjoy another blast from the past!

Christmas Don’t Be Late

Alright you Chipmunks
Ready to sing your song?
I’ll say we are
Yeah, let’s sing it now!
Okay, Simon?
Okay
Okay, Theodore?
Okay
Okay, Alvin? Alvin? Alvin!
Okay!

Christmas, Christmas time is near
Time for toys and time for cheer
We’ve been good, but we can’t last
Hurry Christmas, hurry fast
Want a plane that loops the loop
Me, I want a hula hoop
We can hardly stand the wait
Please Christmas, don’t be late

Okay, fellas get ready
That was very good, Simon
Naturally!
Very good, Theodore
He-he-he-he
Ah-Alvin, you were a little flat
Watch it, ah-Alvin… Alvin? Alvin!
Okay

Want a plane that loops the loop
I still want a hula hoop
We can hardly stand the wait
Please Christmas, don’t be late
We can hardly stand the wait
Please Christmas, don’t be late

Very good, boys
Let’s sing it agan
Yeah, let’s sing it again
No, that’s enough, let’s not overdo it
What do you mean overdo it? We gotta sing it again!
Now wait a minute, boys
Yeah, let’s beat it, I’d like to sing it again

Alvin… it’s not that… not but, what?
Theodore, just a minute…
Simon will you cut that out, get off me

With a trip to the Emerald Isle, we find ourselves reading a poem set to music in the form of Miss Fogarty’s Christmas Cake. Despite the obvious symbols of Christmas goodies being gingerbread, candy canes, sugar cookies, and other minty chocolate goodies, nothing could be less Christmasy than a cake, lest it be a bunt.

Yes that’s right, the famous bunt cake. Strange in its design and depth of rectangle bread-like shape, and covered in strange toppings all leaving a strange “Is this bread, or is this a cake?” inquiry. Well, looking into this Irish melody, you can tell the ingredients are really interesting, and the effect on the eater is metaphorically rather dicy.

So think twice before you take a piece of this delectable festive bunt. And by the way, can this Miss Fogarty be trusted? I mean really, who is she anyways? Instead you can open your ears instead of your mouths, and listen to a less risky journey about an otherwise unknown Christmas bunt cake in this Christmas song. 

Miss Fogarty’s Christmas Cake

As I sat in my window last evening
The letter was brought round to me
A little gilt-edged invitation sayin’
Gilhooley come over to tea
Each Christmas, the Fogartys’ sent it
So I went just for old friendships sake
And the first thing they gave me to tackle
Was a slice of Miss Fogarty’s cake

And there were plums and prunes and cherries
There were citrons and raisins and cinnamon, too
There was nuts, and cloves and berries
And a crust that was nailed on with glue
There were caraway seeds in abundance
Such that work up a fine stomach ache
That could kill a man twice after eating a slice
Of Miss Fogarty’s Christmas cake

Miss Mulligan wanted to try it
But really it wasn’t no use
For we worked in it over an hour
But a piece of it wouldn’t come loose
Till Kelly came in with a hatchet
And Murphy came in with a saw
But Miss Fogerty’s cake had the power
For to paralyze any man’s jaws

And there were plums and prunes and cherries
There were citrons and raisins and cinnamon, too
There was nuts, and cloves and berries
And a crust that was nailed on with glue
There were caraway seeds in abundance
Such that work up a fine stomach ache
That could kill a man twice after eating a slice
Of Miss Fogarty’s Christmas cake

Miss Fogarty proud as a peacock
Kept smiling and talk’n away
Till she tripped over Flanagans brogans
And she spilt the patin in her tea
Aye Gilhooley she says you’re not eat’n
Try a little bit more of me cake
Oh no Miss Fogarty says I
Any more and my stomach would break

And there were plums and prunes and cherries
There were citrons and raisins and cinnamon, too
There was nuts, and cloves and berries
And a crust that was nailed on with glue
There were caraway seeds in abundance
Such that work up a fine stomach ache
That could kill a man twice after eating a slice
Of Miss Fogarty’s Christmas cake

Maloney was hit with the colic
O’Donald’s a pain in his head
Mc’Naughton lay down on the sofa
And he swore that he wished he was dead
Miss Bailey went into hysterics
And there she did wriggle and shake
And all of us swore they were poisoned
From eating Miss Fogarty’s cake

And there were plums and prunes and cherries
There were citrons and raisins and cinnamon, too
There was nuts, and cloves and berries
And a crust that was nailed on with glue
There were caraway seeds in abundance
Such that work up a fine stomach ache
That could kill a man twice after eating a slice
Of Miss Fogarty’s Christmas cake

Yes it would kill a man twice after eating a slice
Of Miss Fogarty’s Christmas cake

For those living in the Northern Hemisphere and English speaking world, the holiday season is filled with at least a hundred classic movies. More are created each year, and the list grows, but we always return to the ones that bring us nostalgia and happiness of simpler times. Enter, Burl Ives and the epic puppet animation tv special of 1964: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

A reindeer is born a little different than the rest, and is joined by the squeaky voiced elf Hermey who aspires to be a dentist, and the gruff Yukon Cornelius who represents all the hopes and dreams of the gold rush. The sultry and unique voice of Burl Ives compliments the children’s drama with other songs like “A Holly Jolly Christmas.” A visit from the Abominable Snow Monster, which of course adds furhter conflict to he mix, is frankly terrifying for kids.

The journey takes us to the Island of Misfit toys, and eventually ends with acceptance and a happy ending. It’s a happy and simple message about discrimination and eventual acceptance. The song is nice, but the film is even better. Look for it on Youtube for a laugh and a window into the childhood classic of millions.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Had a very shiny nose
And if you ever saw it
You would even say it glows

All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games

Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say
“Rudolph with your nose so bright,
Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight”

Then how the Reindeer loved hiim
As they shouted out with glee,
“Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,
You’ll go down in history!”

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,
You’ll go down in History.

Continuing on our journey brings us to a Christmas favourite, rooted strongly in my childhood. Such journey includes a stop by Gayla Peevey. The idea of having a hippopotamus in the house is novel, but truth be told, I’d rather have an elephant or giraffe friend, though clearly not in the house as they wouldn’t fit.

A classic and often kitch choice, this song features a very strong and unforgettable bassoon part, clearly the epic strong and obscure sound of the lower double reed family. Long live the bassoon, as well as long live the hippo, which strangely, or perhaps not so strangely, makes a frequent appearance in my social media feeds. Whether it be to eat a watermelon or generally just swimming around, a smile is always brought to your face when the little ears of the hippo shake!

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
I don’t want a doll, no dinky Tinkertoy
I want a hippopotamus to play with and enjoy

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
I don’t think Santa Claus will mind, do you?
He won’t have to use our dirty chimney flue
Just bring him through the front door
That’s the easy thing to do

I can see me now on Christmas morning
Creeping down the stairs
Oh, what joy and what surprise
When I open up my eyes
To see my hippo hero standing there

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
No crocodiles, or rhinoceroseses
I only like hippopotamuseses
And hippopotamuses like me too

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
A hippopotamus is all I want
Mom says the hippo would eat me up
But then teacher says a hippo is a vegetarian

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
The kind I saw this summer at the zoo
There’s lots of room for him in our two car garage
I’d feed him there and wash him there
And give him his massage

I can see me now on Christmas morning
Creeping down the stairs
Oh, what joy and what surprise
When I open up my eyes
To see my hippo hero standing there

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas
Only a hippopotamus will do
No crocodiles, or rhinoceroseses
I only like hippopotamuses
And hippopotamuses like me too

In the spirit of the season, or rather to get me into the spirit of the season, I introduce my Twelve Days of Christmas with musical selections from obscure places and my life. 

To start this, I present to you a childhood staple, Sharon, Lois, and Bram. I had the tapes and its how I learned English at home, though this selection is less English focused. Sometimes I wonder how or why I became a polyglot, and this might be one of those inciting incidents in my life.

Sung in a multilingual version, here it comes… It took awhile to figure out all the languages since I don’t have access to the inlay of the original cassette tape, but I have pretty good ears for languages. ✌️邏

The Twelve Days of Christmas
1. 🇨🇦 A Partrige in a Pear Tree
2. 🇪🇸 Dos palomas blancas
3. 🇫🇷 Trois poussins français
4. 🇯🇵 和の小鳥
5. 🇬🇧 Five Golden Rings
6. 🇮🇱 שש אווזות
7. 🇦🇲 յոթա կարապ լողում էն
8.🇮🇹 Otto ragazze
9. 🇮🇳 नौ ओर ते नाची
10. 🇬🇷 δέκα άνθρωποι πηδούν
11. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Eleven Pipers Piping
12. 🇹🇿 Wapiga ngoma

Happy Holidays!