Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 13: The Best Chrismukkah Pageant Ever

Chrismukkah means different things to different people. For more traditional Jewish families turned off by what can be viewed as an over-commercialization of the season, it’s a knock at a modern Hanukkah that ignores the true roots of the celebration. To families with both Jewish and Christian backgrounds it’s a happy medium between two major, competing holidays. And for me and my decidedly secular group of friends (with our myriad of cultural backgrounds) it’s merely a reason to get drunk on eggnog and eat chocolate coins for as many nights as humanly possible.

This final episode of 2006 comes to you as a cockeyed look at the holidays, as well as a celebration of people who are more concerned with enjoying some time off from work and the company of the ones we love than in taking some stand concerning what to call the titular holiday season. In truth, I don’t care what you celebrate, or even if you celebrate; I just want you to have a nice time.

I would’ve loved to have integrated some Kwanzaa songs into this podcast as well, but even those I know who celebrate Kwanzaa couldn’t direct me to any nerdy/funny songs about the festival. And winter solstice? Are there any solstice songs at all? If so, please feel free to enlighten me.

Call me politically correct if you like. Call me apathetic; it don’t bother me. Feel free to tell me “Happy Hanukkah” or “Happy Kwanzaa” or “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas.” Hell, feel free to substitute the Greek “X” and call it X-mas. It’s cool with me. Getting offended about such things is highly overrated in my opinion.

In what is, in each of these opposing cultural realms, considered to be the time of year when we reach out to our fellow man in the spirit of giving, it appears as though we’ve gotten a little too concerned with making sure our team is represented in the proceedings or (even worse) that other teams aren’t. That’s kinda shitty, doncha you think?

In summation: if you expect this podcast to carefully respect the precepts of ancient religious celebrations or to examine their complex and often opposing relationships, prepare to be disappointed. If, however, you’d like to hear some funny, funky songs about the holidays, the download link is below.

Download Radio Free Hipster Ep. 13: The Best Chrismukkah Pageant Ever Size: 40.1 MB Running Time: 43.51

Show Notes

Intro: AM Radio Medley / mash-ups.co.uk - “Rudolph Loves to Boogie”

I’ve been sitting on this track for ages, just waiting to play it. This seemed like as good an opportunity as ever!

Z’s 1^st interlude: “Sad and self-referential”

What can I say? I am just cheesy enough to reference my own material.

Track 1: Clark Griswold rant / Spinal Tap - “Christmas with the Devil”

Radio Free Hipster needs more Spinal Tap. Do I smell a New Year’s resolution?

Track 2: Eric Cartman - “Oh Holy Night”

“Jesus was born and so I get presents.”

Track 3: Go Home Productions - “Carpenters Christmas”

From the very excellent Santastic II: Clausome compilation.

Track 4: Another Clark Griswold rant / dj BC - “Hanukkah Song (Goyimix)” / Smooth E - “Hanukkah Hey Ya!”

I put a moratorium on “The Hanukkah Song” a number of years ago, but this version was too good to pass up.

Track 5: DJ John – “The Christmas Massacre of Charlie Brown”

Check out John's non-holiday mash-ups for more good shit. But beware; he does nasty things to Daft Punk.

Track 6: Former Fat Boys – “Where Are You Christmas”

Check out the video for FFB’s other holiday single “I Want It (Gimme Gimme)((Toys)).”

Z’s 2^nd interlude: “Dreidl-Bells”

Both Santastic: Holiday Boots for Your Stocking and Santastic II: Clausome are filled with bootleg-y goodness.

Track 7: Meter vs. Yard - “How George Bush Stole Christmas”

High-C heard my complaint about the lack of holiday-themed nerdcore and hit me up with this. You really need to hear the whole thing to get the full effect.

Track 8: The Kinks – “Father Christmas” / OK Go – “Father Christmas”

The Kinks aren’t really nerdy, so their inclusion was a gift to myself. OK Go, on the other hand, seem to have some legitimate nerd chops.

Track 9: Voicedude – “Santa Benz”

My mother pointed out that a sped-up Janis Joplin sounds a lot like Rod Stewart. Creepy, eh?

Track 10: Sarah Silverman - “Give the Jew Girl Toys”

This song has much less punch when I sing it. I don’t know why.

Track 11: Bob & Doug McKenzie - “12 Days of Christmas”

I only included the intro to this track due both to time constraints and an overwhelming urge not to lose my two Canadian listeners.

Track 12: Divide and Kreate - “Jingle Jane”

I think the reason I felt comfortable making subtle nods to previous episodes is that I find it hard to believe that some people have actually listened to all my previous podcasts.

Z’s final interlude: “Good will toward men”
I also have trouble believing I’m still milking that “nerd news and interviews and …” thing.

Track 13: The Pogues – “Fairytale of New York”
Shane MacGowan is truly one of the ugliest creatures I have ever seen. Thankfully, this doesn’t preclude him from being one of the most brilliantly lyrical beasts the rock ‘n’ roll world has ever birthed.

And there you have it, folks. Consider it a little card from your old pal Z. in the form of an uneven musical montage. I hope it finds you safe and in the best of spirits. Feel free to pump these jams at your next seasonal shindig, and let me know the jewels I managed to miss. Happy Holidays!