The best and worst Christmas pop songs
Christmas catastrophes
Twins: Jingle Bells (Hong Kong)
VIDEO from doreenchooTwins is a fabricated Cantopop duo in every sense: the girls aren’t actually twins and they can barely sing. But they’ve released a holiday album that successfully mangles 20 English songs in ways we never thought possible. In the video, several children bully a pudgy boy dressed as Santa, who retaliates by bashing them in the skull. A delightful Christmas message.
SM Town: Jingle Bells (Korea)
VIDEO from mytaebinnyA few friends gather at a snowy lodge and cheerfully exchange Christmas gifts. Quite sweet so far. Enter a Korean rapper with bleach-blond Vicky Beckham hair and vocals that could kill a whale. Oh dear. The other pop artists join in, and we are left to wonder what might have been.
Jose Mari Chen: A Wish on Christmas Night (Philippines)
VIDEO from egaygigiNo, this isn’t a South Park spoof song but it sure sounds like one, what with the la-la-la harmonies and synth strings. On the album jacket, the Filipino singer sits grinning in a three-piece suit, legs crossed. How on Earth did this go triple platinum?
Hinoi Team: Merry Xmas to the World (Japan)
VIDEO from phronesis5Hyper-frenetic Eurobeat is alive and well in Japan, and the cute performers make this track no easier to swallow. Nor do the translated lyrics. “Being softly close to our hearts, let’s talk about various things. We stare each other bashfully. The love accelerates.” Anyone got a bucket?
Arif Lohar: Yesu Maih Sab Bolo Yesu Masih (Pakistan)
VIDEO from wilsongillA radiant image of Jesus abruptly cuts to the portly folk singer shaking his fists and stomach. By the end of the track, which seems to go on for forty-five years, Arif has jiggled through every dance move in the book: the hair sweep, the wind-up, the raise-the-roof.
Festive fantastic
Rumble Fish: Last Christmas (Japan)
VIDEO from orienkoreanKorean band Rumble Fish built up an indie following before releasing its first album, and for good reason: the four members are talented performers. I dig the sweet female vocals and pounding bass line in this pop-rock Last Christmas.
Tommy Heavenly6: I Love Xmas (Japan)
VIDEO from AkuraTenshiPopular Japanese singer Tomoko Kawase has several alter egos that converge in this Christmas tune. Her rock/punk persona, Tommy Heavenly6, screeches over the guitars, but the far sweeter Tommy February6 also makes a cameo.
DBSK: Santa Claus is Coming to Town (Korea)
VIDEO from kkyang84Oh beautiful boys! You’d better watch out for gleaming white teeth and doo-wop harmonies. I don’t blame the fangirls for screaming for two minutes straight.
Jang Ri-In: O Holy Night (China/Korea)
VIDEO from losts0ul09Jang Ri-In is the first Chinese solo singer to break into the South Korean music industry. O Holy Night really showcases her vocal control and range. About halfway through, the rhythm and strings kick in while she freestyles. Gorgeous.
Song Bing Yang: Merry Lonely Christmas (China/Korea)
VIDEO from RikawendyBorn in Sichuan, Song Bing Yang was childhood friends with Jang Ri-In and sang on one of her tracks. She helped Yang sign with Korea’s SM Entertainment. With that warm voice and shaggy haircut, I predict his debut will be a hit.
CNNGo Comment Policy: CNN encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. All comments should be relevant to the topic and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. You are solely responsible for your own comments, the consequences of posting those comments, and the consequences of any reliance by you on the comments of others. By submitting your comment, you hereby give CNN the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying and other information you provide via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity. CNNGo Privacy Statement.
Comments are moderated by CNNGo, in accordance with the CNNGo Comment Policy above, and may not appear on this blog until they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting. Also, due to the volume of comments we receive, not all comments will be posted.
User Comments and Reviews
What do you think?
Leave a comment or submit a review. You have to be logged in to comment.