Fireball's Festivus Festival

[Pastor Fireball]

With one week to go until Christmas Day, it's finally time for me to share with you the songs that truly put me into the holiday spirit. There are also a few selections that really put the jingle in my bells--from the master of the Christmas parody, legendary Seattle radio host Bob Rivers. This will be the last post of musical joy from me in 2018 because you know what's coming in a couple of days to close out my series: Musical turds!

Santa Baby, Eartha Kitt (1953)

This Christmas classic has been recorded by so many people over the years, but the future Catwoman's sultry delivery is what put this song on the map.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mk_GmhD053E

This Christmas, Donny Hathaway (1970)

This is another modern Christmas song that has been covered by many artists--most notably by Chris Brown for the 2007 motion picture of the same name, in which he also starred. The fact is that Chris Breezy cannot hold a candle to Donny Hathaway in any universe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcMWUArO8ak

Step Into Christmas, Elton John (1973)

Of course, Sir Elton had to make one more appearance in my series.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbRtGMm96F8

Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer, Elmo & Patsy (1979)

The all-time classic holiday novelty song!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgIwLeASnkw

Wonderful Christmastime, Paul McCartney (1979)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9BZDpni56Y

Last Christmas, Wham! (1984)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8gmARGvPlI

Christmas in Hollis, Run-D.M.C. (1987)

There haven't been too many Christmas rap songs, but I doubt that any of them could stand the test of time, like this one has.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR07r0ZMFb8

The 12 Pains of Christmas, Bob Rivers Comedy Corp (1988)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKZfYTBDkso

All I Want for Christmas Is You, Mariah Carey (1994)

Without a doubt, the most well-known and most successful Christmas song of the past 50 years. This tune regularly re-emerges on the Billboard Hot 100 every November and December, but it achieved its highest ever chart position just this week. Last holiday season, this tune peaked at #9. It's sitting at #6 right now, and could still go higher before 2018 ends. Out of all the holiday songs, only "The Chipmunk Song" has charted higher in the entire history of the Hot 100.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXQViqx6GMY

The Twisted Chipmunk Song, Bob Rivers Comedy Corp (2000)

An animated parody of the aforementioned highest-charting Christmas song of all time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLNsC1l-EEI

Shoppin' Around for a Christmas Tree, Bob Rivers Comedy Corp (2002)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBi6QynmYPs

Candy Cane Lane, Sia (2017)

This is the song that I debuted on the Bored last year... and here it is again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElmsIGT85tI

I'll be back on Thursday for the grand finale of this entire series. You've been hearing about it for years... and now you will finally experience my fifty worst songs of all-time.

[Bob Juch]

You forgot my favorite: