Pretty Paper, Precious Presents and Powerslams: For Christmas - Round 5 of my WWF Grudge Match!

Welcome to Round 5

of my

WWF

(Wow What Fun)
Grudge Match!

WWF Grudge Match is inspired by the pro wrestling exhibitions I watched

on television when I was a kid. Today I present, for your entertainment and

edification, original recordings, covers and a song parody, all competing

for your approval. Your mission, Jim, if you decide to accept it, is to

tell me which songs and which versions, if any, you prefer.

LET THE

WWF Grudge Match

BEGIN!

Remember, ladies and gentlemen...

This is only an exhibition...
This is not a competition...
Please... no wagering.

 JIMMY BOYD 

This is a kinder and gentler edition of Grudge Match because it features the uplifting

sounds of the season. The first Christmas song brings a tear to my eye every time

I listen, because it takes me back to my earliest memories of childhood. In fact,

this was the first record I ever owned, given to me by my parents, I was told,

on my second birthday. The song was waxed by 13 year old Jimmy Boyd,

a California singer who, in 1960, lived many a young man's dream by

marrying beautiful model & actress Yvonne Craig who later played

"Batgirl" on the hit TV series Batman. Let's go way back to the

age of innocence, Christmas time 1952, to hear an evergreen

that generations of children know and love. Jimmy Boyd

sings-- "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." 

 "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" 

 - Jimmy Boyd (Christmas 1952, 

 highest chart pos. #1 BB/#6 Cash Box) 

 THE LENNON SISTERS 

In my previous post, The Lennon Sisters invited us to enjoy the holidays on

"Christmas Island." The sweet sibling songbirds from Lawrence Welk are back

this week to take part in my Grudge Match. Here now are The Lennon Sisters

singing their version of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." 

 "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" 

 - The Lennon Sisters (from 1960 album 

 Christmas With The Lennon Sisters) 

 WHAM! 

1984 was a tremendous year for the English pop duo Wham! The act

scored three chart-topping singles in the U.S. with "Wake Me Up Before

You Go-Go," "Careless Whisper" and "Everything She Wants."

The song "Last Christmas," released in the UK and other countries as the double A

side of "Everything She Wants," shot to #1 in three countries and #2 in eight others.

The music video shows Wham! members George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley

along with their girlfriends and other twenty-somethings enjoying the holiday

at a Swiss ski resort. In conjunction with the charity super group Band Aid,

George and Andrew donated all royalties to the mid 80s Ethiopian famine.

 "Last Christmas" - Wham! 

 (Christmas 1984, double A side 

 of "Everything She Wants," 

 highest chart pos. #1 Denmark, 

 Slovenia & Sweden) 

 MEGAN SINGER 

Who can forget Shady Green's contribution to my

New Year's Day, 2019, post - the singing Singer Family

of San Diego, California, and their cool cover of the

Tommy James hit "Draggin' The Line"? Requests

have been pouring in (from my mama) to see

it again, so here goes.

Just when you thought it was safe to stick your hand in the fan, daughter

Megan Singer is back with another cover. Miss Singer proves she's a

zinger with this a delightfully gruesome piece of performance art

entitled-- "Zombie Last Christmas!"

 "Zombie Last Christmas" - Megan Singer 

 (Christmas season 2016) 

 THE LENNON SISTERS 

Please listen to a third song from The Lennon Sisters' 1960 Christmas album.

Here again are 'lil Chanet," Kathy, Peggy and Dianne, The Lennon Sisters,

singing a seasonal song that was written in 1934 and has been popular

ever since and recorded by many artists-- "Winter Wonderland." 

 "Winter Wonderland" - The Lennon Sisters 

 (from 1960 album Christmas With 

 The Lennon Sisters) 

 TONY BENNETT 

In 1968 the ageless wonder Tony Bennett, sometimes nicknamed

Tony Benefit for donating so much of his time to charitable causes,

reached Billboard's special holiday chart with this fine rendition

of "Winter Wonderland." Yule love it! 

 "Winter Wonderland" - Tony Bennett 

 (Christmas 1968, highest chart pos. 

 #87 Billboard US Holiday 100, 

 from 1968 album Snowfall aka 

 The Tony Bennett Christmas Album)  

 I'm wrestling with the idea of

bringing you more volumes of

WWF Grudge Match

Stick around... oh, and by the way...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

WWF Grudge Match 4: Don't Run With Headscissors!

Welcome to Round 4 of my

WWF (Wow What Fun)

Grudge Match!

This is the series inspired by the pro wrestling exhibitions I watched
on TV as a kid. Today I present, for your entertainment and edification,
three original recordings, two covers and one that samples the daylights
out of the original. I'd like you to tell me which recording or recordings
if ANY!!!... :) you like most. Ready... set...

LET THE

WWF Grudge Match

BEGIN!

Remember, ladies and gentlemen...

This is only an exhibition...
This is not a competition...
Please... no wagering.

 GRUDGE MATCH #1 

"Tragedy"

 THE BEE GEES 

Rockers revenge - "Disco Demolition
Night" - was still a few months away

and the disco oriented Bee Gees were
still going strong in the U.S. and UK

when in early '79 they released their
15th album Spirits Having Flown
which yielded three chart topping
singles including this one, "Tragedy,"
a song written by the brothers Gibb.

"Tragedy" - The Bee Gees

(Mar. 1979, highest cht pos. #1,

from Feb. 1979 album
Spirits Having Flown)

 STEPS 

Fast forward two decades to 1999
when "Tragedy" turned to triumph

for the English group Steps. Re-

leased on a double A sided

single with "Heartbeat," the
dance pop cover reached #1.

"Tragedy" - Steps

(Feb./Mar. 1999, highest chart pos. 
1 UK/New Zealand, released as
double A side of "Heartbeat")

 GRUDGE MATCH #2 

"My Boyfriend's Back"

 THE ANGELS 

In the late summer and fall of 1963 the girl group The Angels
topped the pop chart with their sig song "My Boyfriend's Back."

"My Boyfriend's Back" - The Angels

(Sept. 1963, highest chart pos. #1)

 KAT GRAHAM 

In 2009 Kat Graham, the R&B/hip hop singer
and actress known for her role on the TV series
The Vampire Diaries, released "Boyfriend's
Back," a rap song that samples the Angels' hit.
Kat's kool kaper might not be a cover in the
strictest sense, but it's close enough..
and it slays!

"Boyfriend's Back" - Kat Graham
(2009 cover and video)

 GRUDGE MATCH #3 

"Grease"

 FRANKIE VALLI 

In 1978 Frankie Valli had a #1 charting hit with "Grease," the title
song of the musical film based on the stage play of the same name.

"Grease" - Frankie Valli

(July/Aug. 1978, highest chart pos. #1,
  live perf. on Soul Train, from OST of Grease)

 DAB feat.   SUSHY 

Susanna Galimi, stage name Sushy,
is a pop singer and songwriter from
Milan, Italy. DAB is Diego Abaribi,
an Italian DJ and producer. In 2009

Sushy & Diego teamed up to make
this "Grease" cover and video.

"Grease" - DAB (Diego Abaribi)
featuring Sushy (2009 single)

I'm grappling with the idea

of bringing you more volumes of

WWF Grudge Match

in the near future.

Stay tuned!