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Bah! Humbug |
What's to be expected of a Christmas album that includes titles like "The Man Who Slits The Turkey's Throats At Christmas" and "Santa Bloody Claus" set among more usual titles? A lot, as it turns out. Bah! Humbug is billed as "a humorous alternative to other Christmas albums" and it more than lives up [or should that be down?] to its billing. In turns, the songs on this release are irreverent, hilarious, and sincere in their send-ups of popular Christmas music and in their activist approaches to social concerns in today's world.
An anthology assembled by Scotland's Greentrax Recordings Limited, Bah! Humbug features some of the finest and funniest folk music writers and performers in the English-speaking world. Imagine this lineup: Eric Bogle, Tom Lehrer, Cyril Tawney, Robin Laing, Tom Clelland, Bill Barclay, His Worship and The Pig, The McCalmans, Enoch Kent, and Loudon Wainwright III. How can such a release not be a joy to hear?
Setting the mood for this release, "The Bells, The Bells!" begins with church bells ringing out for Christmas but the cheerful chimes soon slow, disintegrate, and crash into silence, portending the mayhem to follow.
"We Wish You A Merry Christmas" is the only song on the album without an obvious satirical twist or twinge of social consciousness. In closing the set, this song, performed by The GreenTrax Choir, brings us back from the wacky world we've been travelling to a Christmas more familiar to us all. This is a lively, somewhat Celtic performance with an interesting instrumental mix and beautiful vocal harmonies. A very nice touch is that artist royalties on this track are to be donated to Cancer Research.
From England, Cyril Tawney contributes two songs to this collection. "There are no Lights on our Christmas Tree" tells of a boy whose father wants no lights on while he is watching TV, not even the Christmas tree. In fact, the boy's father will not allow any Christmas festivities because they may interfere with his viewing. Funny though it may be, this song is bitter-sweet and even sad in the social comment it makes. "The Lone Shepherd" tells the story of the other shepherd, who had to remain and watch the flocks while his comrades went down to Jerusalem. It seems that, while the others lay watching their flocks, this fellow had a call to nature and, caught standing some distance away, remained behind while the others went down see the Child. Tawney tells the story sincerely and with subtle humour.
Written by Loudon Wainwright III (an American with strong Canadian connections) when George Bush the father was invading the Middle East, "Christmas Morning" feels very contemporary as a new George Bush prepares to follow in his father's footsteps. "So we watch the build up here we go again/There is sand, there are camels but where are the wise men?/Are they in Baghdad? Are they in Washington?" asks Wainwright. Besides impending war, this song also touches on the issues of AIDS, homelessness, human stupidity, and the need to work together to find better solutions.
Scottish comedian Bill Barclay presents a very funny live version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" in which all the gifts are alcoholic and the coherence of the singer declines with each gift received.
Eric Bogle, originally from Scotland but a long-time resident of Australia, is in his prime here, combining his skills of social comment and hilarity. "Santa Bloody Claus" is a very irreverent, rip-roaring song that hits just about every target possible in the commercial world of Christmas. Some listeners may have problems with language in this song, up to and including one word that has its centre blipped out. Like most songs on this release, the lyrics are printed in the insert booklet. However, parts of the lyric are changed and much of what is recorded does not show up in print. This one is well worth a close listen.
There are six more tracks by Tom Lehrer (America), Robin Laing (Scotland), Tom Clelland (Scotland), His Worship and The Pig (England), The McCalmans (Scotland), and Enoch Kent (From Scotland, now resident in Canada). Each song has its own special charm and satirical edge that invites at least a second listen to catch what may have been missed the first time through.
When the saccharine on the radio becomes too much this Christmas season, Bah! Humbug may be just the thing to add some spice to your seasonal listening. I certainly recommend it for anyone whose mind leans toward the weird or quirky and who also enjoys folk music that shows a social conscience.
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Since about February 14, 2004, |
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