Let's hope there will be a White Christmas

I don't think we will have a White Christmas this year, but there is always a possibility of celebrating with the classical version of White Christmas with Bing Crosby together with Marjorie Reynolds from the movie "Holiday Inn" 1942.



The second videoclip is from the finale of the movie "White Christmas" 1954. I was lucky to just get it almost for free on DVD.



I will also share a couple of Swedish versions of the song. Last time I did it was 2006 but these are slightly different. Hope you enjoy it:

* "Jag drömmer om en jul hemma" (I'm dreaming of a Christmas at home") - Bertil Boo, "the singing farmer" known in Sweden from the films with Åsa Nisse. I think this is from the end of the 40ies or possibly beginning of the 50ties.

* "Jag drömmer om en jul hemma" - Bengt Westin, should be about the same time as Bertil Boo but I don't know anything about the singer.

* "Jag drömmer om en jul hemma" - Lasse Lönndahl, wellknown singer in Sweden, this recording is from the 60ties.

* "White Christmas" - Hep Stars, popband from the 60ties. Benny Andersson, the organist, later was known as one ot the members of ABBA.

* "White Christmas" - another popversion with Lena Maria and Sweet Wine from the 70ties.

* "White Christmas" - Vikingarna (The Wikings), thypical Swedish dancemusic, I think this recording might be from the 70ties.

* "White Christmas" - Vit Aggression (White Aggression). The last one is probably the most disgusting version there will ever be. This is a White Power-band and they put a racist message into the song. Remember I warned you: This is certainly not very nice.

Christmas Music in Swedish Channel Four

This morning I visited the morning program in Channel 4 and played some of my Christmas records. This is of course in Swedish but the rest of you might still be able to listen to some music and look at some of my covers.

They had some severe technical problems and I didn't get any information at all about what they wanted from me. I was spending the whole morning in the studio and played music 4 times. They show the first three times at their websajt:

First time

Second time

Third time, together with Triad

Nostalgic Christmas in Denmark

This is a nostalgic videoclip from Denmark. I never heard of "Julebal i Nisseland", but it looks like a traditional TV-show to me. I found it quite amusing. Hope you like it as well. And I would be grateful if anybody happens to have information about the film.

This is some information I got from "Anders":

Anders said...
The clip is from the film "Far til fire i sneen" (1954). It's the second film of a whole bunch of "Far til fire" films. They're hugely popular in Denmark and are still being produced today (but obviously with a different cast.)

The original "Lille Per" (the brat who sings the song) was a popular child actor, and they continued to use him for way too long, which made him look totally ridicolous in his boyish outfit. And as the story goes with child actors, he developed an addiction for hard narcotics, tried his luck as a pop singer, and ended up as a photographer for a hard porn magazine.

More info here:
http://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_til_fire

and here:
http://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_til_fire_i_sneen

Six different versions of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer is of course one of the most well known Christmas Songs. Interesting also because the invention of the song is so closely linked to the commercial side of Christmas celebration. The poem was printed in a book that was distributed to customers visiting Montgomery Ward, a big American warehouse, 1939. The author was a copy writer named Robert L.May.

A few years later May came up with the idea of composing a melody and asked his brother in law who was a composer, Johnny Marks. The record was an immediate success; 2 million copies were sold more or less at the same time as the records hit the stores. The first Swedish versions appeared in 1950.

I share six versions of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and as a bonus you also get a different Swedish song about a Reindeer:

• “Rudolf med röda mulen”, Lou Sandy, the first Swedish version from 1950.

• “Rudolf med röda mulen”, Alice Babs, famous and brilliant singer, also recorded during the 50ties.

• “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”, Melodeers, recorded at the dance hall Nalen in Stockholm during the mid 50ties.

• “Rudolf med röda mulen”, recorded for Indiska, a Swedish chain of shops selling clothes and other stuff from India, a modern instrumental version with traditional Indian instruments.

• “Rudolf med röda mulen”, Janne Andersson, Swedish popstar. The song is from the album “Glitter, Glögg and Rockn’roll” (Glitter, Glühwein and Rockn’roll) recorded during the 70’s as a Swedish answer to Phil Spectors legendary Christmas Records. The result? Judge for yourselves!

• "Rudolf med röda mulen", Micke B Tretow, legendary producer that used to work with ABBA. This is a strange experimental version that might amuse somebody. I don't think it was ever sold in ordinary records stores.

• “Rolf Ren” with Torsson, a different song about a reindeer by a slightly ironic but very charming band from southern Sweden. The story is basically that the reindeer has too short legs but in the end of the song they will still bring him along because they need someone to carry the youngest son of Father Christmas. From the middle of the 80ties.

Christmas Special with German favourite Heino

Almost 24 minutes with the German singer Heino is maybe more than most people need. But here is a film that I found at You Tube that will certainly provide a German touch to your Christmas celebration. Heino is walking around in a wintry landscape surrounded by well behaved and singing German children; together they present a number of Christmas Songs. He sings German translations of the most well known songs as well as local German favourites. I've tried a few times to upload it to the blog but didn't have any success, probably because it' too big. I also had problems with uploading this Medley with Christmas songs, so I might as well give you the links instead.

Until Yesterday I only had one Christmas-song with Heino but then I discovered a full album that was shared at falalalala.com, a Mecka for people that are interested in Christmas Music.

Four versions of Frosty the Snowman

"Frosty The Snow Man" is one of the most silly Christmas-songs that I know of. Still you find it in so many different versions. I want to share some very different Swedish versions. Two of them are old, I particularly like Margret Jonsson when she flips out in the "hopp lalalala hopp lalala..." towards the end of the song. The Spotnicks were quite famous during the early 60ties, partly becouse of their costumes (se picture, this is not their Christmas Album - it's the small green cover - but the other one I show just to give you an idea of what they looked like). Ultima Thule is a patriotic skinheadband. They made at least two Christmas Records with different skinheadband and both contains this version of Frosty The Snowman. As I said last time I shared something with Ultima Thule: Not very enjoyable but maybe of some interest. Last I want to share another song about a Snowman. Cacka Israelsson was Swedens first artist performing in a country style.

Four different versions of Frosty the Snowman and one bonus song:
Snögubben Froste - Monica Lind (from the 50ties)
Snögubben Froste - Margret Jonsson (from the beginning of the 60ties)
Frosty The Snowman - Spotnicks (60ties, instrumental)
Frosty the Snowman - Ultima Thule (skinheadsband)
Snögubben (The Snowman) - Cacka Israelsson (50ties)

Norwegian version of Yngve Stoor

Can't help sharing this video that I found at You Tube. Sputnik is is a musician and truck driver from Telemark in Norway. He plays country music, but in this video he sings a popular Swedish Christmas Song that I shared just recently: "Sjömansjul på Hawaii". And he does it in a lovely and unexpected way. Enjoy!

For more information about Sputnik, visit his website.

Klasse Möllberg brings back childhood memories

One of the most wicked Christmas Songs that I know of is "Nisses juljoddel" (A Christmas Gnomes Yodel). It was an instant success during the Christmas Party at Sunkit, it's a song that makes you smile and dance at the same time.

Klasse Möllberg is a multi talented person (Wikipedia for more information, all of this is in Swedish). Many children know him as "Banarne", regular partner of Trazan Apansson in Childrens programs and from "Electric Banana Band". It's impossible to translate but it a paraphrase of Tarzan, Trasan in Swedish means cloth. Banarne is supposed to be some kind of monkey; his name is combined of the Swedish word for banana and Arne, a common male name.

Klasse Möllberg also made a program for Children before Christmas 1992 and recorded the songs from the program, Klasses julkalender. There is a tradition in Sweden with a Christmas Calendar in radio and TV.

Listen to 3 songs from "Klasses julskiva":

* Nisses juljoddel (A Christmas Gnomes Yodel)

* Jul med Fantomen (Christmas with the Phantom)

* Snögubben är naken (The Snowman is naked)

Christmas in the Brothel

This year I was thinking of sharing the whole album "Bordellmammas visor" that I shared some parts of last year. But now I found out that they are selling it as a CD. So my suggestion would be that those that are interested are bying it instead, it's rather cheap by the way if you by it at the Internet, e g Ginza.

If anybody wonders: I have a similar policy as other similar blogs, I share music that can not be bought on a CD. Most of it is ripped from e g an LP, EP or sometimes even 78's. Most of the music I share has no commercial value, and if somebody thinks differently please tell me and I remove the links.

For more information about "Bordellmammas julvisor", please read my posting from 2006.

New information about the Christmas Party at Sunkit

Important information for those heading for the Christmas Party at Sunkit: The time is changed to Monday the 15th of December. The Christmas Music will start at 8 pm as usual and continues for an hour or two. Then the regular party is on until 1 am, same as usual. I suppose there will be ham and mustard, I will se if I can find the red hats but usually it gets too warm anyway. We have a lot of new music but we will also play all the old favourites.

I am not quite sure about the pictures but they are probably from Erik Brodin that uses to take pictures at Sunkit. I hope it's OK that I'm using them. If not, please tell me and I will remove them. Apart from me (hiding in the shadow back of the bar) and Per you can se Ahrvid, a regular at Sunkit, and Magnus, one of the DJ:s.

Father Christmas meets Adolf Hitler

How can it be that Father Christmas suddenly disappeared? He is not under the Christmas Tree, maybe he took a ride with his car? Leif "Loket" Olsson (lok = locomotive in Swedish, don't ask med why he got this name) is a Swedish TV-personality, he introduced a Lotto-program in Channel Four but was replaced by younger faces a few years ago. During his most popular period he also recorded a Christmas Record together with Hans Edler, a legend in Swedish entertainment.

Hans Edler appears in the video and puts on a Hitler-mustasch for some reason. The lyrics are of course in Swedish but the story basically is about trying to find Father Christmas and rumours that he took his old car (a Ford) downtown and joined the line of unemployed. The message is that he should know that he is badly needed when Christmas is approaching.

For those with an interest for Hans Edler and a knowledge of Swedish I would also recommend Sunkit, you can even listen to music examples from his early experiments with electronic music, Elektron Kukesi.

Dances Around the Christmas Tree

Skansen in Stockholm is an open air-museum founded already in 1891 by Arthur Hazelius. The traditional Christmas has been celebrated here ever since and they have a nice Christmas Fair. When I was younger I used to work and sell things. It was nice but had the disadvantage that you needed to put traditional dresses on and they didn't really protect you from the cold. My memories are mainly that I was freezing all the time. Still it can be quite nice to come here for a visit some time in December.

The music I will share with you are from the 30ties of possible 40ties, I'm not sure. They are singing melodies for dances around the Christmas Three and the lead singer is Thor Modén, at that time a well known comedian appearing in many films. He performs together with Skansens womens choir. There are probably children dancing around the three as they are singing, that's the way it used to be.

The pictures shows a modern poster for Skansen, an old picture from Skansen in the 20ties and the third one, as you probably already guessed, is Thor Modén. There are many records with dances around the Christmas Tree but this is my all time favourite, it really puts me in the right Christmas mood.

Dans kring granen, part 1 (Dances around the Christmas Three)

Dans kring granen, part 2 (Dances around the Christmas Three)

Download the whole record in one zip-file.

Celebrate Christmas with Snoddas

Today it's simply impossible to understand how somebody like Karl Gösta Nordgren, “Snoddas”, once could have such a tremendous success. Of course it was another time in the early fifties when everybody looked at the same TV-channel and most Swedes still lived in the countryside.

Karl Gösta Nordgren was born in December 1926 outside Bollnäs in Dalarna, he died suddenly in February 1981 only 54 years old. The nickname Snoddas refers to the fact that his father sold condoms, he was named Gummi-Kalle (gummi = rubber) and the son was named "gummisnodden" (rubber band) or Snoddas.

He was a rafter and played bandy in the local team in Bollnäs. His first legendary performance was in the famous TV-program “Hylands hörna” (Hylands corner) named after Lennart Hyland, a popular TV-personality in Sweden for decades. In this program he performed the song Flottarkärlek (Rafters love). That started a "Snoddas-fever" all over the country and Snoddas performed constantly for a long period of time. In every place he had to sing "Flottarkärlek" that is still the most well known of his recordings.

But Snoddas also made other records and some have a Christmas Theme. "Min barndomsjul" is a sentimental song about childhood and "God jul, ni svenska sjömän" is about Swedish seamen working far away and sending them wishes of a Merry Christmas. Enjoy!

Music Examples:
Min barndomsjul (My Childhood Christmas)
God jul, ni svenska sjömän (Merry Christmas Swedish Seamen)

Boths songs in one zip-file.

A new chance to listen to Thore Skogman this Christmas

People have already been asking me to repost my favourite Christmas Songs by Thore Skogman. And of course I will do so.

This is what I wrote last Christmas:
In the beginning of December this year we got to know that Thore Skogman is dead. Quite a big thing in Sweden, I don't think there is one single person that can not sing a couple of his songs. The absolute all time champion of fast singing and incredible strange lyrics. A fantastic productivity - he made something like 1 000 songs during his life.

Nobody could write songs about so many odd things as Thore Skogman. We will never forget his songs for advertisements for loafs of bread, learning how to swim, eating rotten fish (Surströmming, a Swedish speciality) etc. Some of the best, and sometimes neglected, ones are about Christmas.

The first one, that I shared already last year, is "Julen är här". It tells about how people are eating too much food and keeps the doctor busy. Kids are fighting about presents, grownups are arguing etc. A tragic event worthy a native of the country known for many suicides, a musical companion of Ingmar Bergman or maybe rather Lars Norén.

The last ones are short songs for dancing around a Christmas tree, he made small changes in the traditional lyrics. If you wonder why the pig starts to fight it's because he doesn't want to get into the car just before Christmas. But suddenly they managed to take him to the butcher after all, sings Thore Skogman as cheerful as ever. Cold ham is a version of Kalinka, the Russian song, Kalinka in Swedish is close to "kall skinka" = cold ham.

* Julen är här (Christmas is here)
* Klappa på (Knock on the door)
* Tomtens renar (Father Christmas Reindeers)
* Två små röda luvor (Two small red hats)
* Skära, skära grisen (Cutting ham)
* Kall skinka (Cold ham)
* Så går vi runt kring ett julgrislår (So we are walking around a pigs leg)
* Ritsch Ratsch (Impossible to translate)
* Hej alla svin (Hello all pigs)
* Grisen börja bråka (The pig started to fight)

Zipfile with all the songs: Some people have problems with downloading the songs one by one so I also made a zip-file with all the songs. It differs a little as I decided to include the full versions of a number of medleys.

Yngve Stoor - king of Swedish Hawaii-music

Yngve Stoor was playing hawaiiguitarr and almost all his songs are in the hawaii-style. He is mainly known for one song: "Sjömansjul på Hawaii" (Seamens Christmas in Hawaii). But the Christmas Theme is present in many of his other songs as well.

Yngve Stoor was born 1912 i Dalarna and died 1985. During the 50ties he often performed together with the finish vocal group Harmony Sisters. He had a music shop in central Stockholm towards the end of his life and there people could also buy his own records. There are two LP-compilations with Christmas Music, the first one you can se a picture of, the cover of the second look exactly the same apart from a green background instead of a blue. Yngve Stoor often used his own record label LANI, e g for his two Christmas Records.



Some music examples:
Jul i Norden (Christmas in the Nordic Countries)
Jul på Julön (Christmas on the Christmas Island)
Godjulvisa på Hawaii (Merry Christmas Song in Hawaii, this is a Swedish version of a song that originally was performed by Bing Crosby)
Sjömansjul på Hawaii (Seamens Christmas in Hawaii)
Julens klockor (Christmas Bells)
Fridfull jul (Peaceful Christmas)
Tre små ljus (Three Small Candles)

Another option is to download all the songs in one zip-file.

Welcome to the Christmas Party at Klubb Sunkit

Information for those living in Stockholm:
The Christmas Party at Klubb Sunkit will be Monday the 22nd of December at 8 pm to 1 am. Garlic and Shots, Folkungagatan, close to tube station Medborgarplatsen as usual. No entrance fee. We are playing records for an hour or two, all depending on the interest from the audience. Sometimes people are dancing and Magnus and Burt prefers to go on drinking beer, and then we play longer. Sometimes people are begging to hear the usual music played at Sunkit and we have to stop earlier. So be there early if you want to listen to really unusual Christmas music.

Still no activity on this blog

There has been very little activity on this blog for quite some time. For obvious reasons. I know there are American Christmas blogs operating all year around (as well as Christmas shops, I visited one in August in Brevard North Carolina and bough some interesting stuff that I migh show later on). But for me I have no ambitions running this blog more than for a short period of time a few weeks before Christmas.

Normally I start to write about Christmas Music at the end of November. Some people have asked me about renewing old links. I might do that, I haven't decided what I will start with this year. So please come back. This year I will probably write some articles about my music in other places and probably we will have the yearly DJ-session at Klubb Sunkit. I will give you more information about this later.