It was only five years ago that I first became aware of the existence of a song called “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” and I remain convinced it’s all an elaborate prank. - ThreadSky

kevinmkruse.bsky.social • 79 days ago

It was only five years ago that I first became aware of the existence of a song called “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” and I remain convinced it’s all an elaborate prank.

Comments

gonzanic.bsky.social•79 days ago

Best. Song. Ever!

doublebuttons.bsky.social•79 days ago

That song is on regular rotation on the Baltimore radio station that only plays Christmas songs for 6 weeks.

mirandayaver.bsky.social•78 days ago

The things you have brought into my life, Kevin…

kevinmkruse.bsky.social•78 days ago

I regret this one. I feel your pain

mirandayaver.bsky.social•78 days ago

When I had Alexa play the song because I had to know, my husband promptly walked out of the room. Wise man.

profmdwhite.bsky.social•78 days ago

First people don't know The Odyssey, now this...

amandajsummers.bsky.social•79 days ago

This song is such a bop.

soddruntlestuntle.bsky.social•79 days ago

worst christmas song ever, imho

idahohuckleberry.bsky.social•79 days ago

Only 5 years ago?

tammiewillis.bsky.social•79 days ago

You should probably just forget about it entirely. The original version is one of the most annoying holiday songs of all time.

deathbymeteor.bsky.social•79 days ago

5 years? You lucky bastard. I've had to deal with a parent "singing" it now for...over 30 years. And I actually got her a hippopotamus for Xmas one year back then (thank you Toys R Us)

capnevd.bsky.social•79 days ago

Cause of my kiddo, I just heard a song called "I don't eat a banana... cause I'm a piranha" and when you hear it with a heavy brit accent you go.... ohhhh... !!!

loridorfman.bsky.social•78 days ago

It’s real. 🎶 We have a hippo collection at our house because my darling husband was fond of singing “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” when he was a kid. So, hippos now adorn the bookshelf. The hefty ones make good bookends.

sgmax.bsky.social•78 days ago

Did you never encounter “I gad a hippopotamus” by Patrick Barrington?
https://allpoetry.com/I-had-a-hippopotamus

say-yes.bsky.social•78 days ago

I sang that at a Christmas pageant when I was in the 3rd grade while one of the older kids pushed a large paper mache hippo around the auditorium…that was a million years ago & I remember it like it was yesterday…😬

ncpix2009.bsky.social•79 days ago

Oddly enough, this is the second reference to that song I’ve seen recently: https://www.newsfromme.com/2024/12/19/marks-xmas-video-countdown-7-2/

chldplz.bsky.social•79 days ago

The 20 hippopotamuses on my Christmas tree say it's no prank!

kellumdander.bsky.social•78 days ago

I first sang this song in 1979

bfolk.bsky.social•79 days ago

I adore I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas. I learned about it from a Dr. Demento collection in the 80s.

Wait... Was I ahead of people in this? !!!! Wow!!!!

drscottk.medsky.social•79 days ago

It’s up there with Dominick the Donkey and All I want are crabs for Christmas (a Maryland classic) for top 3 quirky Christmas songs of all time.

ptpower.bsky.social•79 days ago

I'm 69 and I'd not heard of any one of these three until today.

tracyforner.bsky.social•79 days ago

how?

humanspareparts.bsky.social•79 days ago

it’s easier than you think

tracyforner.bsky.social•79 days ago

nah, not buying it...

andyk250.bsky.social•79 days ago

📌

thisjillrocks.bsky.social•79 days ago

who wouldn't want a moist baby hippo for Christmas :)

pieper444.bsky.social•79 days ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsvOrtcrA5c

trishastulz.bsky.social•79 days ago

The worst song. And of course the one that gets stuck in my head the easiest.

smsaideman.bsky.social•79 days ago

definitely influenced by Sandry Boynton

dropoffthekeylee.bsky.social•79 days ago

It’s my daughters favorite and on my Christmas play list.

saletan.bsky.social•79 days ago

It’s your students. They’re playing a hippo campus prank

huh-nope.bsky.social•78 days ago

Not nearly as traumatic as the song about Santa cucking my dad. Your childhood trauma mileage may vary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bl9aJ2tQ74g

allistronomy.bsky.social•79 days ago

You are obviously not Canadian. Telus released this tv commercial over a decade ago and it’s been a staple in Canadiam playlists and Christmas concerts since. I played this more than Sleigh Ride this year at band concerts.

https://youtu.be/0UZQZnLZxFI?si=1NHvrC_NJtTg29D5

karenbdc.bsky.social•79 days ago

Canadians (in some provinces) were subjected to that song in a Christmas commercial about 15 years ago. The earworm that stuck forever

august.thoughtify.space•77 days ago

I have no idea why, but this song was a regular for most of my childhood Christmases.

cforde.github.io•78 days ago

But have you heard Santa Shark?

cyrusbeene.bsky.social•79 days ago

😂Confession..it’s on my Christmas playlist.

sic-utere.bsky.social•79 days ago

Tell me you at least know Dominic the Donkey

maxharvey.bsky.social•79 days ago

In dis house Dominic is a hero. END UH STOWRY

bigjondaniel.bsky.social•79 days ago

Is that from season 2 of Narcos?

ivannevarez.bsky.social•79 days ago

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=y9HoXsLvOyU&si=V7q1i-KRrVpDJ8I1

zombiegirl1972.bsky.social•79 days ago

As long as we don’t talk about the Christmas Shoes song.

evegranger.bsky.social•78 days ago

I think we can agree that the Christmas Shoes song is nauseating at best, and at worst emotionally abusive.

zombiegirl1972.bsky.social•78 days ago

I JUST made a post about that song 🤣🤣🤣 agreed!!!

rlheppner.bsky.social•77 days ago

It was a hit in the 50s, then it pretty much disappeared until its revival about five years ago. So you’re not alone!

haileyithappens.bsky.social•79 days ago

I’m starting to expect my generation having file sharing and looking for Christmas songs must be why we know these novelty songs.

comfortweight.bsky.social•78 days ago

What?!! How???

tatertot1381.bsky.social•79 days ago

My husband is 54 and this year is the first year he had ever heard the song.

bc200969.bsky.social•79 days ago

Last year was my intro to all things merry and hippo. Strange days indeed. Happy Festivus!!!

uncalum83.bsky.social•79 days ago

Long game by GWU supporters who wanted "Hippos" instead of "Revolutionaries" as their mascot.

joekatz45.bsky.social•79 days ago

It should really have been I Want A Hippopotamus For Hannukah.

mariefollayttar.bsky.social•79 days ago

It came on twice today while I decorated the tree.
Somehow I missed it in the 80’s.

Hippo for Hanukkah feels right.

areaman65.bsky.social•78 days ago

Might as well go all in, right?

mariefollayttar.bsky.social•78 days ago

Holy holy hippo

everythingmachine.bsky.social•78 days ago

A friend of mine made her own menorah out of a toy t-rex with the individual candle holders epoxied on.

areaman65.bsky.social•78 days ago

9-year-old me would have loved that.

OK, 59-year-old me loves it too.

stephanieshultz.bsky.social•79 days ago

It gets stuck in my head

sgadarian.bsky.social•78 days ago

Ask and you shall receive! https://youtu.be/V7PG1rhn5zY?si=kuInk0k0Gq0Okd-w

joekatz45.bsky.social•78 days ago

Shana! You rock!

sgadarian.bsky.social•78 days ago

I’ve listened to ALOT of Hanukkah music the last few days!

mikestucka.bsky.social•78 days ago

Possibly of interest? https://youtu.be/TwqiYHRfrfo?si=LJ80TawqqrlDM7Lg

sgadarian.bsky.social•78 days ago

Amazing.

furyrose.bsky.social•79 days ago

A hippopotamus for hippoponnukah

blueskyeddie.bsky.social•78 days ago

Every other year I find a new Xmas song that I swear was never played before. This year it's the one with Elton John and Ed Sheeran. 2 years ago it was Chris Rhea.

no1circles.bsky.social•79 days ago

A decent animal based christmas song, but it's no Dominick the Donkey.

beccasmullet.bsky.social•79 days ago

It's actually pretty great. I think I first heard it as the John Lithgow version....

paulstubbjr.bsky.social•79 days ago

But, but ... Moo Deng

caramia5.bsky.social•79 days ago

But Kevin only a hippopotamus will do

emeldaalonzo.bsky.social•79 days ago

maudi63.bsky.social•79 days ago

They even tried to make a vintage looking video pretending it was the Ed Sullivan show in 1953. 👇
I bet Gayla was really born 15 years ago and not really in 1943. https://youtu.be/JP-TPCs9Fj8?si=-ohUc6bh59OPerDG

lizziekv.bsky.social•79 days ago

I know it's very old because my dad has an antique wind-up victrola, and that's one of the (few) records he has for it!

erchristensen.bsky.social•79 days ago

Dec. 29 will be the 18th anniversary of proposing to my wife while this song played in the background.

billjondoyle.bsky.social•79 days ago

oh, it’s real!

docdailey.bsky.social•79 days ago

My favorite one!

farrahkaya.bsky.social•78 days ago

A generation of Canadians can relate to that song more than you’d expect: https://youtu.be/6r1L9NtBHRI

jimmonsoon.bsky.social•79 days ago

Shocking they haven’t made a movie out of it yet

e91waggin.bsky.social•79 days ago

I learned about it 2 days ago, and I think you may be right.

rickbritt.bsky.social•79 days ago

you know how many traumatic earworms you've caused with this?

mtdave.bsky.social•78 days ago

The ancient prophecy has been fulfilled:

https://bsky.app/profile/newsjul.bsky.social/post/3le3afcpakk2q

mtdave.bsky.social•78 days ago

It’s based on a scribal error in a 6th century text, where the scribe misspelled Hippolytus.

borgly.bsky.social•79 days ago

Perfect combo of charming and irritating.
"Jingle-O" on the other hand...

illneverlogoff.bsky.social•78 days ago

Considering Dominic The Italian Christmas Donkey

micheleonly1l.bsky.social•79 days ago

One of my favorites. Also live Straight, No Chaser's version of The 12 Days of Christmas

momoklepto.bsky.social•78 days ago

This song sees me.

andyk250.bsky.social•79 days ago

heathersdesk.bsky.social•78 days ago

Favorite Christmas song of Pablo Escobar.

3leggedcat70.bsky.social•78 days ago

amwclark.bsky.social•77 days ago

GUESS WHAT?!
https://bsky.app/profile/newsjul.bsky.social/post/3le3afcpakk2q

herderofcats.bsky.social•79 days ago

Nope no prank. She still sings it at the OKC Zoo every year 🙂

seenitall.bsky.social•79 days ago

I had this song on a 45 when I was a kid. It helped me learn English!

rogerjacucci.bsky.social•78 days ago

All I want for Christmas...

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5KzNhPINK3UmR99MfOEetC?si=bAI1nUx8RXqn3C-ZlimXBQ

caderoux.bsky.social•79 days ago

No crocodiles or rhinoceros, all I want are hippopotamuses!

caramia5.bsky.social•79 days ago

“Hippopotamuseseses…”

motherflicker.bsky.social•78 days ago

Now THAT song is great.

ebharrington.bsky.social•79 days ago

If you'd like a Gnu for New Year's Eve, check out this song from Flanders and Swann!
https://youtu.be/OPgo6s1lBbw?si=Aq3edw9M-gQ2cJfN

gramsjc.bsky.social•79 days ago

I’ve loved that song for years!

gonyr24.bsky.social•79 days ago

How did you go so far into adulthood without knowing that song? Do you also not know about Dominick the Donkey?

originallisamarie.bsky.social•79 days ago

hogan590.bsky.social•79 days ago

That's my wife's favorite Christmas song, and I will be calling on your seconds in due course.

tapirtrouble.bsky.social•79 days ago

It's been used as part of an ad campaign by Telus (Canadian telecom company) for several years, so people have been seeing it on their TVs and in internet commercials.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UZQZnLZxFI

Hippo plushies still available at their online store.
https://merch.telus.com/TELUS-Hippo-8-Plushie

amylcarmack.bsky.social•79 days ago

It is, by far, my favorite holiday song!

missficklereader.bsky.social•79 days ago

Nope, it’s been my mother’s favorite Christmas song since childhood, which would have been the 1950s. It’s okay, though—my husband and I were in a timeline where John Prine didn’t exist until he died in this one & then we switched over…