The 25 days of Christmas: Day 3

Strap in.

Today’s song is another modern riff on a classic: Barry Manilow’s “Carol of the Bells/Jingle Bells,” from his 2007 album In the Swing of Christmas. Turns out Barry’s been churning out an album every year or two nonstop for decades, and while I can’t testify as to the quality of all of them, this song is some top-notch manic jazz. Turn it up and be amazed at how he turns this innocuous little song into something transcendently bonkers. Tempo changes, key changes, new lyrics added into the middle—he somehow makes an absolute career out of freaking Jingle Bells in under three minutes. Incredible.

Two parting notes on this song:

1. “Jingle Bells” was not written as a Christmas song, and the lyrics’ only connection to Christmas is the mention of snow. It was probably written for Thanksgiving, though there’s some speculation that it was just a drinking song. It’s no “Gin & Juice” but I suppose in the 1850s one had to take what was offered.

2. My wife waited tables for several years in the early aughts at a very posh restaurant in New York. She waited on many celebrities, and says that Barry Manilow was hands-down the best. He was charming, pleasant, complimented her wine recommendation, and left a big tip. That’s nice to hear.

Tomorrow we’ll switch tempos to something a little mellower.