Episode 274: Dragon Mysteries

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Dragon Tuesday. And to celebrate, we listen to two draconic Christmas songs! First is “Darcy the Dragon” by Roger Whittaker, which leaves some questions unanswered regarding both Darcy himself and the events of his Christmas errands. Then “Fly On Christmas Dragon” by Robby Grant splits open our brains – not because its lyrics pose any deep or complex quandaries, but for reasons we can’t quite put our fingers on.

The ranking music this week is the Peace Keepers homeworld theme from Spyro the Dragon.

Episode 273: All the Lights, Some of the Laughs

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As Diwali approaches, we listen two winter holiday songs by Desi artists. Our first song, “All of the Lights” by Vivek Shraya, is a blend of elements lovingly arranged into a beautiful whole. Then we say as much as we can say about “Desi Jingle Bells” by Lilly Singh.

Shraya’s essay about her Diwali/Christmas EP All of the Lights can be found here!

The ranking music in this episode is “New Jingle Horse” by Geeta Brothers Duet Group.

Episode 272: Sandy Claws Conquers the Fishmen

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It’s time for our annual Halloween-Christmas crossover episode, in which we listen to two spooooky winter holiday songs! This year, in recognition of the 5-year anniversary of our first Halloween episode, we’re revisiting the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society’s musical offerings with “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Fishmen,” and then dipping into the Nightmare Before Christmas well again with “Kidnap the Sandy Claws” as performed by Korn.

This week’s ranking music is “It’s Halloween (A Christmas Song)” by Randy Brooks!

Episode 271: The Challenging Music Video Awards

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We’re back after a short autumn recess, and we’ve got a lot to say, apparently. You know what else is back after a brief delay? The CMT Music Awards. In celebration(?), we’re listening to Christmas songs by some of this year’s nominees: “What Time Is It?” by LoCash (or maybe LOCASH), and “You Make It Feel Like Christmas” by Gwen Stefani featuring Blake Shelton.

This week’s ranking music is “Heaven Let Your Eent Shine Down“.

Episode 270: Hanukkah for Hipsters

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In honor of the High Holy Days, we’re covering two Hanukkah songs this week! Both of our selections come from the album Hanukkah+ – a fresh, hip compilation from 2019 featuring some of our long-time favorite bands and artists. Or, well… one of our long-time favorite bands (Yo La Tengo with “Eight Candles”) and also an artist that we definitely don’t not like but who even can tell (Adam Green with “Dreidels of Fire”).

Our ranking music this week is “Jessica” by Adam Green.

Episode 269: The Duality of Butts

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This week, for reasons, we’re listening to some songs about sex and butts: “All I Want for XXXmas” by Slayyyter feat. Ayesha Erotica and “Christmas Butt” by Puss n Boots. FYI, we really earn that explicit tag on this one! And also, for an episode that’s mostly about sexual Christmas music, there’s a weird bummer section in the middle? Hey, thanks for listening.

This week’s ranking music is, in fact, “WAP” by Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion.

Episode 268: What a Difference a Decade Makes

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This week on HARK: two requests from 19X7, possibly requested in 20X7! We are digging into some old, old requests and wind up listening to two songs that feel very representative of their respective decades. “It Must Have Been Love (Christmas for the Broken Hearted)” by Roxette feels so 80s for a song that didn’t reach its peak until the 80s were (arguably) over, while “Christmas” by Blues Traveller is the kind of song you probably couldn’t get away with writing after 1997 unless you’re Phish (also, Phish did kind of write this song).

Our ranking music this week is “Hook” by Blues Traveller.

Thank you to Mindy and paulsebert for these requests!

Episode 267: WWJS?

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It’s World Elephant Day, and for unrelated reasons, we’re covering some listener requests! We’re transported to the 00’s by “Christmas for Two” by Sixpence None the Richer, while it takes a moment for us to find our footing in “O Holy Night” as performed by Charlie Rich.

Our ranking music this week is “There She Goes” by Sixpence None the Richer.

Thank you to Matt and Maya for these requests!

Episode 266: Oh No Saferide

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For this week’s HARK, we return to a request that we split up earlier in the year. Listener Tim requested Yogi Yorgesson and paired it with “Reindeer” by Swedish band The Knife, for a tenuous Sweden theme. This week, we’re honoring the spirit of that request by pairing “Reindeer” with a song by another Swedish artist: “Correspondence: Silent Night” by Annika Norlin.

This week’s ranking music is “iPod X-Mas” by one of Norlin’s other projects, Hello Saferide.

Thanks again to Tim for the request!

Episode 265: I Would Submit That This Is What Is Called Christmas

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It’s that time of year again! Time for BIRTHDAY BOY’S CHOICE! As per tradition, Ian is given license to choose whatever songs he wants to listen to this week, and also as per tradition, he chooses some weird bullshit. Revisit some earworms from his youth with us: “Tennessee Christmas” as performed by Lee Greenwood and “Our Love Is Like a Holiday” by Michael Bolton.

Our ranking music this episode is “Christmas in L.A. (Yippee Ki Yay)” by Marian Call.