on “Wonderful Christmastime,” Sir Paul McCartney set out to make a timeless christmas classic and also to figure out what every button on his synthesizer did, and he absolutely succeeded at one of those things
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if i never have to hear that song again, i will be blessed.
i worked at a community based clinic in columbus and they played christmas music on the speakers for months and that song came on multiple times a day and i wanted to jump off the roof.
what’s crazy is this was a mental healthcare facility. so i never knew why they were playing music over the speakers when we were trying to do therapy sessions 😂
they also kept the A/C on IN THE WINTER. IN COLUMBUS, OH.
Not my favourite Christmas tune, but The Christmas Oratorio (German: Weihnachtsoratorium), BWV 248, an oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach takes three hours to play. Doesn't go over well on AM radio either.
God, I hate that song with a passion...and I remember falling in love with Paul when I was in 3rd grade. Love the Beatle Paul; not so much the solo one.
For what it’s worth, this absolutely awful track is like the aural equivalent of eating a big box of Christmas cookies and having a bit too much Irish cream.
No regerts. *hic*
Back when I worked retail, I think they had three separate versions of that “We Need a Little Christmas” from the musical Mame playing during a full shift.
Its crazy, the more you listen to it the more insane it gets. lol. Guy really walked into the studio and just started fucking around and said "You know what, this is gonna be a christmas song" lmao
OMFG The Shins covered it. WHYWHYWHY? Also, I can remember the smell of the mall and the feel of the fabric as I expertly refolded things into a perfect square ALL DAY
Pedant quibble: This "song" was released in 1979, long before texting was a thing. McCartney faxed it in. As a matter of fact, if you listen closely you can hear the wee wooooo wee boing boing rrrrrgh under all the synth diddling at a couple of points.
River is a fabulous song, but I wonder if we'd feel the same if it had been worn smooth by overhearing. Ditto Soulful Christmas. It's qwhite interesting to note that the ones that get overplayed are pretty much all twee white pop. Other options are available: https://youtu.be/hdcPy9yt8v4?si=1uPmFtlWSOv6HGkA
I do also love both depending on mood (although I generally listen to both back-to-back as it is), but I still tend to prefer the original as a keyboardist by nature. ☺️ That finish is powerful.
No, the worst Christmas song in history is Blue Christmas by Elvis, and the worst song overall is Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon. Both make me want to throat punch the singer.
A few points:
1. You don't like Werewolves of London? Why?
2. You've clearly never heard "Fever for the Flava" by Hot Action Cop, which I maintain is the worst song in history.
3. And you've also never heard "Christmas Shoes," the actual worst Christmas song.
1."Ah-woooo" is why I can't stand Werewolves of London. Worst wolf howl ever; just corny & lame
2.Checked it out. I'd rather hear that for all eternity than Werewolves once
3.Musically, there's nothing wrong with Christmas Shoes. Doesn't have Elvis's stupid singing style or the corny backing vocals.
ANY version of Blue Christmas is better than Elvis's. I would rather listen to a polka/rap crossover version of that song sung by Yoko Ono than listen to the stupid way Elvis sings that song.
Oh, I don't mind it.. once in a while.. it's just the constant replaying of it while never even giving the original a capella version a nod that peeves me. I mean, I know it's a post-facto SV-authorized version, but it's a dub track/remix, it's *not* SV's original, or SV's redo of her own work.
Damn. I've been saying this for years. Just posted the same. Said it to my wife tonight at dinner, a few minutes before the song came on. Slightly different focus, though. "Hey, Paul. Not even you could make a song from this!" (hits key) "bwemp...wemp...wemp"
That song can be best interpreted by the fact he got the wings band members to record it with him then he re-recorded it playing all the parts himself so that he didn't have to give any credit for the songs to anyone else. That way he could keep all the money from the annual air play 🤣
Someone pointed out to me before that the first verse and chorus of that Paul McCartney song sounds like they’re getting ready to celebrate a satanic mass when they’re suddenly interrupted. It’s changed my perspective on it.
This is the post that made me love this song. It was "eh, OK" before. But now, I love the idea of the singers suddenly hiding all of their Occult Paraphernalia when a Normie walks into the room/isolated clearing.
The first time I heard it I leaving my shitty 20something era job in my shitty 20something era car to drive home at night through some pretty heavy snowfall. Almost literally what a panic attack sounds like, under those conditions.
IIRC this song literally was the result of Paul locking himself in his Nigerian studio with the new synth and a metric buttload of weed for a day, by his own admission. By that metric it turned out pretty well.
There's also just a tactile satisfaction that comes from analog controls. That little click you get when you flip a toggle. The gentle resistance of a knob turning.
no it’s not really like that. you programmed patches on the cs-80 using knobs and dials and switches. all the ‘modules’ you’d think of on a modular synth are instead built into the body area behind the keyboard and connected internally so you just have outputs of some kind at the back
to preprogramme patches on the cs-80, hilariously, i think there were two you could save, and you saved them on a miniature version of the full set of controls on the face that hid under a panel? please tell me i’m not misremembering this
I've always enjoyed this one since I was a child. The lyric isn't great - but that goes for most Christmas records. He *was* experimenting with synths (McCartney II recordings at the same time.) It's quirky and catchy to me.
I think it’s a shocking indictment of the educational system that it took that kids choir all year long just to practice singing ding ding ding dong in four part harmony.
It's a ridic song, but I love it. In HS, our AP Bio prof had us do a "fun" project where we took holiday songs & rewrote as bio ones. Bestie & I killed with "Simply Loving Writing a Punnett Square" & it's a warm fuzzy memory. I remember every lyric; it's been 26 years.
My HS bestie was, & is, a huge Paul fan. She's the reason I know so many truly bonkers songs from his catalogue. I even like Temporary Secretary bc it always made her do a little goofy dance & sing along. I love him bc I love her so much 🥰
My goal EVERY Christmas season is to NOT HEAR THAT FUCKING SONG.
It literally makes me angry if I hear it.
I’ve left stores when it’s come on.
I HATE IT!
Give me more “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” and Bob and Doug Mackenzie’s “Twelve Days of Christmas”. Now, THOSE are Christmas classics!
I was a care aide and looked after a gentleman with autism.
He once threw himself into a Christmas display in a store when that song came on. Totally destroyed the tree.
I absolutely understood.
I’m 99.999999999% positive it was that damn song that made him do it.
Had to give it a proper listen to understand, as I only ever hear this song in businesses where there's too much ambient noise to hear the synth wackiness, but my goodness 😂 actually cried laughing over how right this tweet is
“Wonderful Christmastime" is the worst song ever made, it must have taken no more than 30 seconds make up.
Paul McCartney has written some excellent songs, but this is an embarrassment and an insult. It's just a load of musical padding over a well known phrase.
Good so I’m not the only fan of that song lol…everyone around me either says “it’s alright” or “Don’t really like it”…I’m like y’all crazy it’s a classic!!
#wonderfulchristmastime #paulmccartney #Christmas
If he reduced the volume of those high pitched synth strings, or just completely omitted them, it'd be a really good song because those irritate my ears a bit.
Honestly, it sat next to songs like Temporary Secretary, which is tough to follow.
Hahah I like the theory that it’s people trying to do witchy things that keep getting interrupted and therefore have to pivot to Christmas nonsense in order to not get caught
Personally quite fond of Wonderful Christmastime. I did 15 years in retail and think I know just about every Xmas single going. Everyone has that one song that is triggering. Mine is Brenda Lee's Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree. Torture.
It is the only Christmas song that makes me want to scream. It’s so bad that I’d rather listen to Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer 10 times than have to listen to Wonderful Christmastime.
While I appreciate the humor, I think it's unfair to dismiss the musical value of "Wonderful Christmastime". The song may not be to everyone's taste, but it's still a well-crafted and catchy tune that brings joy to many.
i’ll be honest with you though… i want this. this is what the cs-80 is based on and what benny andersson from ABBA is still rocking to this day. iirc his is one of 3 i know of out of the 100 made that still works (he had it fully refurbished by his synth guy)
I'm a big fan of Sir Paul. That being said, I absolutely hate "Wonderful Christmastime". That, and "Let 'Em In". They're both inane and simplistic - something I'd imagine an 8 year old Paul would compose and look to his parents to praise him for.
For all the best songs that were Sir Paul getting the Beatles out of his system, you gotta listen to RAM (look for the yellow cover with the McCartney restraining a sheep)
Yup. I love Sir Paul and revel in most of the music he’s created. I also love holiday music — the good, the bad and the ugly. Hell, I have a holiday music blog at https://bellsrringing.blogspot.com. But Wonderful Christmastime is an unlistenable monstrosity. Sorry. 😢
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me: well. let’s see. i got astroterfed by an army of paul mccartney stan bots recently for some reason. they love synthesizers i guess
my family: we thought you had a job
i worked at a community based clinic in columbus and they played christmas music on the speakers for months and that song came on multiple times a day and i wanted to jump off the roof.
they also kept the A/C on IN THE WINTER. IN COLUMBUS, OH.
Like sympathisers but more electronic I guess
And also, hope you're having a Wonderful Christmastime!
https://bsky.app/profile/laurenflans.bsky.social/post/3lcbwjwfqss2b
No regerts. *hic*
I do actually enjoy it in moderation.
It was the recording and releasing of the results that I contend represent crimes against humanity.
I have heard so many variations of the Little Drummer Boy...
I do NOT miss retail during the holidays.
This song was one of only maybe 12-15 also awful songs played on repeat. But this one...whewff.
It's SO WEIRD on top of being terrible but also a brain worm (today ruined already 😂)
Horror song
The superior version
https://youtu.be/WYLf5Jwb9Gs?si=9u-qcqzhNxZ6uyMW
Honestly, I'm not a fan of Xmas music to start with.
He was very good at one of those things!
to each their own.🙂
1. You don't like Werewolves of London? Why?
2. You've clearly never heard "Fever for the Flava" by Hot Action Cop, which I maintain is the worst song in history.
3. And you've also never heard "Christmas Shoes," the actual worst Christmas song.
2.Checked it out. I'd rather hear that for all eternity than Werewolves once
3.Musically, there's nothing wrong with Christmas Shoes. Doesn't have Elvis's stupid singing style or the corny backing vocals.
But have a nice day! 😁
But whatda I know.
Just not in the way that he intended
And still 10 times better than that lethargic dirge Lennon came up with.
And a chunk of this George Harrison song
https://open.spotify.com/track/4bYpOfPbNe6J8X7ZzPNrA6?si=MWRfoNo6Tn2T9M7i17oTxw
But the song is awesome. Kinda.
Wonder if these bots are descendants of the synth Paul used on the song. Maybe you’ve insulted their grandfather 🤔
"What are you boys doing in here?!"
*Pause*
"SIMPLY! HAVING! A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS TIME!"
"Well, that's all right then. Wash up; dinner's ready."
the plans that they made...
https://youtu.be/KB7LX8mRRHM?si=d2UdsgdUhQRIdQok
https://youtu.be/Cv3Gv_jWlkQ?si=KHPOp4ru4pcn7yAp
Even humbug blueys have their place.
#ChristmastimeMisteltoe&Wine🎶
https://youtu.be/Rt0dflSPD5o?si=b6mfG3NmM3IIS0fQ
Keep up the good work
I want to know what this one does
The main reason I've never taken to using digital effects is that they don't have enough switches and knobs and sliders
Really bad British food.
Paul: More synth!
John: More war!
Paul: More synth!
John: More war!
It literally makes me angry if I hear it.
I’ve left stores when it’s come on.
I HATE IT!
Give me more “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” and Bob and Doug Mackenzie’s “Twelve Days of Christmas”. Now, THOSE are Christmas classics!
He once threw himself into a Christmas display in a store when that song came on. Totally destroyed the tree.
I absolutely understood.
I’m 99.999999999% positive it was that damn song that made him do it.
The poor guy was so distraught. I felt so bad for him.
I'm participating in the war on the bots, on the side of the bots.
Paul McCartney has written some excellent songs, but this is an embarrassment and an insult. It's just a load of musical padding over a well known phrase.
#wonderfulchristmastime #paulmccartney #Christmas
Honestly, it sat next to songs like Temporary Secretary, which is tough to follow.