By: Dale King
I think it’s great that FM 104. 3, the radio station in West Palm Beach, plays Christmas music 24/7 during the holiday season. They actually started the specialty tunes two weeks before Thanksgiving and will continue right through Dec. 25.
For some reason, this year, I am more tuned in to the Christmas music than in the past. I think I’m trying to get more involved in the season – and this is certainly an inexpensive way to do it.
So, I listen in the car and at home. And since I am listening more often, I’m also plugging in to the styles of singers as they interpret the sounds of the season.
I’ve come away with one conclusion so far. And I hate to say this because it involves a vocalist who is no longer with us, and whose career was one of the biggest and best in Hollywood.
Unfortunately, I’ve decided that Dean Martin is not very good at singing Christmas songs.
That doesn’t mean he’s not good at other things. When he was making movies with Jerry Lewis, they were a great team. Then, afterward, in films, Bravo! And his TV show was a big hit – particularly the Dean Martin Roasts.
But Dean – and I say this sincerely – you shouldn’t have tried singing Christmas songs.
To me, the memory of Dean Martin will always be of a man in a tuxedo, hanging on a microphone stand, a drink in one hand, a cigarette in the other. With that picture in mind, how can you enjoy a song like “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer?” (I mean really, who’s got the red nose here?)
Dean does sing about Rudolph, and it just doesn’t sound sincere. At one point in the song, he even gives Santa Claus a German accent! (Would Gene Autry to a terrible thing like that?)
I don’t want to sell Dean short. But when you think about his hits – I mean his big, big hits – what comes to mind? “Everybody Loves Somebody.” Great song. But you can slur the words and it still comes out OK. Doesn’t happen with “White Christmas.”
Anyway, I don’t go crazy when I hear Dean singing. I may flip the station — or I may just endure it. After all, Christmas comes but once a year.
I do have one other concern about Christmas music. It bothers me that most of the classic Christmas carols are sung by people who have passed away. Let’s look at the numbers: “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby; “The Christmas Song” by Nat “King” Cole. And let’s not forget about Gene Autry, Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Burl Ives and others who will not be rockin’ around the Christmas tree this year.
Thank God we still have people like Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis and Brenda Lee who are still among us. And others are also joining the club: Madonna, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Josh Groban, Michael Buble and Jose Feliciano.
Also, last year, I mentioned in this column that I thought Bruce Springsteen’s version of “Santa Claus is coming to Town” was one of the funkiest Christmas tunes I’d ever heard. This year, it has a new meaning for me because I happened to meet Clarence Clemons, the saxophone player in the E Street Band last year, a few months before he died of a stroke. So, when I hear the song, and Bruce yells, “Hey, Clarence, you been practicing hard all year so Santa will bring you a new saxophone,” I feel a tinge inside. The loss of Big Man Clemons was tragic.
Anyway, I don’t want to Grinch out. There’s plenty to do before the holidays arrive. Enjoy the time – and enjoy the music.