Billy Blagg's 19th Annual Advent Calendar of Christmas Songs

[Billy Blagg]

It's back for yet another year. From December 1st - 25th, the usual smorgasbord of chestnuts, turkeys, tasty morsels and stomach-churning leftovers.

As usual, there is a page for the 19th Calendar at:
https://blaggadventcalendarchristmasson ... gspot.com/

The Home page for access to all the Calendars, plus Spotify lists, is at:
https://www.billyblaggsannualadventcale ... ngs.co.uk/


 

[stubbo-admin]

Many thanks to everyone who has contacted me this year, either here, WHOmail, personals or carrier pigeon. I can't tell you how nice it is, not only to hear from people who follow the Calendar annually who I can catch up with in one way or another, but also to hear what people have liked, disliked or couldn't give a toss about. It genuinely makes it all worthwhile.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of relegation-free New Years.

Hopefully, we can do it all again for the 20th in 2026. Imagine that?

Thanks Billy. Enjoyable and consistent as always. Have a great Christmas!

[Billy Blagg]

Don't forget the whole Calendar is here (With extra things not posted on WHO)
https://blaggadventcalendarchristmasson ... gspot.com/

And the Spotify link is here

[Billy Blagg]

Many thanks to everyone who has contacted me this year, either here, WHOmail, personals or carrier pigeon. I can't tell you how nice it is, not only to hear from people who follow the Calendar annually who I can catch up with in one way or another, but also to hear what people have liked, disliked or couldn't give a toss about. It genuinely makes it all worthwhile.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of relegation-free New Years.

Hopefully, we can do it all again for the 20th in 2026. Imagine that?

[honky cat]

Thanks as always
DeRobert for me
WIshing you a peaceful day
Maith thú féin! Bíodh Nollaig iontach agat!

[Mex Martillo]

Merry Christmas Billy
Just finished listening to the full calender, while having my morning coffees. It's becoming a Christmas tradition for me to do while I wait for the house hold to get up and going.
This years winner for me, by a clear margin, is Favourite Time, by The Cords from day 6.
And honourable mention to It's Christmas Time Again by Little Charlie from day 13
Thanks Billy

[OK_Guy]

Merry Christmas Billy,

Enjoyed your Chistmas Song list, looking forward to next years.

[Billy Blagg]

The sad loss of the genius of Brian Wilson this year, was partly overshadowed by the joy at having him with us for so long. If you'd suggested in the late 60s or 70s that the former Beach Boy would still be touring and composing halfway through the second decade of the 21st Century, you'd have been laughed at, such was the decline in his health in his late 20s. 

It was said that when Wilson's mental state was at its worst, he played Phil Spector's Christmas album 'A Christmas Gift For You' every day for a year, so obsessed was he with Spector's production. The terrible irony is that, despite his unparalleled mastery of song writing and production, Wilson never really emulated the man he admired the most in terms of Christmas music. 

The Beach Boy's Christmas album is one of the band's worst and even during his spectacular renaissance in the late 90s with 'Smile' and 'That Lucky Old Sun', Wilson's 'What I Really Want For Christmas' is patchy and ultimately disappointing.

Nevertheless, there is no way I could complete 2025's Calendar without something acknowledging Brian Wilson's brilliance and - with 'Little Saint Nick' - already entered on day 21 of the second Calendar, I've gone with 'Christmasey', a song he composed with Jimmy Webb.

Merry Christmas everyone!

[easthammer]

Thanks, Billy, once again, for providing the music for the season.
Happy Christmas to you and yours

[Billy Blagg]

'And the star you fell in love with / Comes out on Christmas Eve'

The message is oh so sweet, yet oh so short. So short, in fact that, under two minutes, it's worth repeating, so here's Carmarthen's Zygotic Mynci with their original recording and an equally lovely cover from Glasgow's own Teenage Fanclub.

May your own star guide you on this most magical of days.

[Billy Blagg]

If you know...

[Billy Blagg]

'Oh man I miss you / Just wanna kiss you' say Amsterdam's The Silhouettes on this jangly pop delight.

[Billy Blagg]

The Godmother of Rock 'n' Roll, whose unique blend of spiritual, blues, and gospel, all played on a heavily distorted electric guitar, inspired the first generation of pop musicians, including Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and, of course, Elvis. There's a good argument that says, whatever music you are listening to tomorrow, it wouldn't exist without Rosetta Tharp (nee Nubin).

From the 'Gospel Train' album, here is the familiar Carol like you've never heard it before.

[Billy Blagg]

It's the last shopping Saturday before Christmas, so time for a Blagg GOFGOF (Get one free, Get one free) of sorts.

This Calendar window comes courtesy of WesHam - not a typo, his name really is Wesley Ham - but better known to most of us as @CouchPotato, who suggested this excellent track from Taylor Momson's 'Pretty Reckless Christmas'. The album/EP is only seven tracks long, but every one is a little gem.

Couchy, as I like to call him, tells me that Momson played Cindy Lou Who in Jim Carrey's 'Dr Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas' movie back in 2000, and I'll have to take him at his word as I've not seen it (Though I do have a pair of Grinch socks).

The now 32-year-old Momson accompanies her 7-year-old self for the first part of the song, then rocks out with her Pretty Reckless band before, at least in the video, returning to a voice and piano version. If you're listening to the EP on the Spotify link, though, the two versions appear as the opening and closing tracks.

Got that? I will be asking questions on Boxing Day, you know.

[SurfaceAgentX2Zero]

I saw them in Buxton on the first night of their tour. They were very good except Eliza is now, disappointingly, the spit of her Mum and keeps blathering on about how great the North is.

You've missed out badly, there, Blagg.

[easthammer]

There was a time when each year's Calendar had to have a version of 'White Christmas' and a seasonal novelty record, but somewhere over time that has been forgotten. I think it's time to change that.  So, I'm going to say 'jing-a-de-jing' and you're going to say...?

Sending you off to the Calendar for the answer at: https://blaggadventcalendarchristmasson ... gspot.com/


 

Billy all I can say about Domonic the Donkey is

he ought, he ought to have not bothered

[Billy Blagg]

Billy, sounds very Earth Wind and Fire ish?

It does, but is that just the sound or is that actually their riff? It's really frustrating, as I know when someone points it out I'm going to 'DOH'.

[Far Cough UKunt]

Billy, sounds very Earth Wind and Fire ish?

[Billy Blagg]

Last Friday party night of the season, and if this doesn't get you up on that dancefloor, doing your funky stuff then you should probably make an appointment to see your doctor (Good luck with that, mind).  

Can anyone help me with that horn riff? It's from something else, isn't it?

[Billy Blagg]

OK_Guy » 18 Dec 2025 01:01

Mate, I think you need to sit down for a few hours with a festive beer, a mince pie and a decent film. Stay off WHO for a while, too, perhaps? (Well, until the Calendar has finished anyway). Merry Christmas. 

[OK_Guy]

lets hope you lucks in on Christmas Eve Billy, otherwise you got Santa coming down the chimney to look forward to, he likes to leave a present.

personally I think Santa is a 'groomer' I mean, every year he builds a Grotto and invites little kids to sit on his knee, he then ask them what present(s) they would like for Christmas all in front of the Parents, then he boast about coming down the Chimney for his reward... fuck my it's obvious we've all be groomed by this King of the Nonces, probably why he's never been rumbled.

fuck it, this website is getting to me, to much nonsense-nonce talk and now I even think Santa is a pervert. 

ps... don't forget to leave out mince pies & brandy on Christmas Eve.

[Billy Blagg]

Nothing warms the cockles of the hearts of the Blagg Acre elves more than when one of the Calendarists (as I like to think of them) gets in touch to suggest a song. 

The usual expectation here is that people don't (understandably!) bother to check the 475-odd tracks that have been on previously, and suggest one that has already appeared, but that's not the case this time. This year, two people have contacted me with excellent suggestions. 

First up is JaneLV, who recommended 'Warm This Winter', a song originally a big hit for Connie Francis in 1958, but on this version, recorded by Australian Gabriella Cilmi for a Christmas Co-op promotion in 2008. It's particularly prescient this year, as my local Co-op department store has just closed after 144 years. Where were you when we needed you, Gabby?

Song aside, also coincidentally, I met a JaneLV in the bar at a Pretenders gig last year, and despite a year having passed, and her having a penchant for men with a rucksack, and consequently failing to take me up on my offer of a Sunday lunch until a month ago, it's all circled around again this year.

I wonder if it's the same woman? After all, it does seem unseasonably warm this winter. Perhaps, I'll find out on Christmas Eve, who can say? 

[honky cat]

There was a time when each year's Calendar had to have a version of 'White Christmas' and a seasonal novelty record, but somewhere over time that has been forgotten. I think it's time to change that.  So, I'm going to say 'jing-a-de-jing' and you're going to say...?

Sending you off to the Calendar for the answer at: https://blaggadventcalendarchristmasson ... gspot.com/

 

My guess was Keith Harris and Orville, 
Which was close 

[Billy Blagg]

There was a time when each year's Calendar had to have a version of 'White Christmas' and a seasonal novelty record, but somewhere over time that has been forgotten. I think it's time to change that.  So, I'm going to say 'jing-a-de-jing' and you're going to say...?

Sending you off to the Calendar for the answer at: https://blaggadventcalendarchristmasson ... gspot.com/

[Mex Martillo]

I was waiting for that to burst into an upbeat, maybe rocky chorus, but it never did! Moody Blues were better.

[Billy Blagg]

Lenny Kaye is largely known for his work with the Patti Smith Group, but here in this slow Country-tinged tale of woe, Kaye is a store Santa by day, dispensing gifts and good cheer to children ('Good or bad it's not for me to say / I believe all of God's children should have their own way') but going home of a night to a lonely room at the far side of town, where he sits under 'unkissed mistletoe' and drowns his sorrows, while wishing for the real St Nick to bring him wonder and magic to brighten his life.

It's a tragic tale for our time.

Best listened to with a Jack Daniel's and a Tesco Finest mince pie.