This week on HARK, we’re building up to episode 100 with two classic songs from two classic Christmas specials: “Christmastime is Here (Vocal)” from A Charlie Brown Christmas and “Welcome Christmas (Reprise)” from How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
This week we cover “The Christmas Song” and “All I Want For Christmas” — but not the songs you’re probably thinking of. Inspired by an anonymous request, we let The Raveonettes and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs gently rock us to the recent past.
It’s a good time to give. And to make fun of bad Christmas music. This week on HARK, we recognize Giving Tuesday by talking a bit about some organizations that might be worth supporting, and just like, totally taking the piss out of “Do They Know It’s Christmas” by Band Aid and fellow well-intentioned infuriatingly-poorly-executed supergroup carol “Snow Snow Snow” by the Band of Merrymakers.
For the first time since the show’s launch, Ian and RJ are taking the week off from HARK! What you’re going to hear this week is a different podcast, which may or may not be from some kind of alternate universe. Many thanks to Emma & E for “filling in” this week! If you want to check out the other stuff Emma and E do, visit anopportunemoment.com and eandegames.com!
Hey. So, uh. It sure has been a year. We’re about to take some time off, but before we do, here’s a few new year’s songs intended to inspire some hope that 2017 might be more bearable: “This New Year Will Be For You and Me” by Lacrosse and “My Dear Acquaintance (Happy New Year)” by Regina Spektor. Hang in there.
This coming Tuesday is November 8th, a very important day! Yes, it is RJ’s birthday, and absolutely nothing else! NOPE. That means birthday boi’s choice, and RJ decides to use this occasion to return to two Christmas favorites who have been featured on the show previously: the Muppets and Sufjan Stevens. If RJ’s crying on the podcast, tell them you said Happy Birthday. (Also: vote please.)
Are you excited about Halloween? Chances are you’re more excited than our resident Halloween Grinch, Ian. He is literally complaining about Halloween again as I type this episode description. Anyway, this week we covered two Christmas songs best suited to this spookiest of seasons: “Monster’s Holiday” by Bobby Pickett and “All I Want for Christmas is Halloween” by Happy Fangs.
In this sort-of prequel to our Halloween episode, we listen to two metal holiday songs that conjure images ranging from kinda spooky to fairly upsetting to downright awesome – “I Am Santa Claus” by Bob Rivers and “Hanukkah Gone Metal” by Gods of Fire. Thanks to Jeri & Corey for the request!
This week we discuss an anonymous request and a beautiful baffling miracle which both feature NPR personalities performing songs about being dominated by robots at Christmastime. “Chiron Beta Prime” by Jonathan Coulton and “Toymageddon” by Yo La Tengo, Ira Glass, and Eugene Mirman spin two captivating Christmas tales/post-apocalyptic visions. Alternate episode title: Wait Wait Don’t Kill Me With Robots
It’s another week of Hanukkah tunes on HARK! As Yom Kippur approaches, we’re listening to some more somber Hanukkah music – “Light One Candle” by Peter, Paul and Mary and “Feast of Lights” by They Might Be Giants – two songs which couldn’t be more different, but both offer complexity in a simple package.