Thursday, December 23, 2010

Bing Crosby & David Bowie - Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth

Due to work and family life, this blog has become sadly neglected over the past year. I'm going to make a New Year's wish to post more regularly but, in the meantime, here is a seasonal Guilty Pleasure I left off my list last year.

This version of the classic Xmas carol, originally written in the '40s as 'Carol of the Drum', comes from a 1977 Bing Crosby TV special. The pairing of David Bowie and Bing Crosby is most odd; Crosby looks like he hasn't the faintest clue who Bowie is and Bowie seems to be too high to care! Still, I've always liked this carol, ever since I had to perform it for a Xmas show at junior school one year, and the specially written counterpoint 'Peace On Earth' fits beautifully - apparently this was added as Bowie told the show's producers that he hated 'Little Drummer Boy' and asked if there was anything else he could sing!
Merry Xmas/Chanukah/Kwanza/Festivus to one & all and have a very Happy New Year.


Bonus clips: Here's a recent remake by Will Ferrell & John C. Reilly.


My kids have been singing this non-stop all through Chanukah and beyond...

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