Aaah, Christmas Eve... All over my homeland, children go door to door singing Christmas carols in exchange for the traditional holiday cookies (melomakarona or kourabiedes). Some prefer cash with which they can buy toys or alcohol or cigarettes (since in Greece adherance to age restrictions is a bit loose - as a matter of fact that applies to every other rule, too). But the worst kind of kids are adults like Die Roten Rosen-German punks with an adolescent's sense of humor. Open your door to them on a Christmas Eve and they will shower you with rude "sex and drugs" versions of your beloved holiday songs, sing in annoying voices or play punk-fied carols in breakneck speed. Die Roten Rosen (The Red Roses) is, by the way, the alter ego of Die Toten Hosen (The Dead Pants) which they use for "thematic" cover albums. The CD opens with an instrumental "Ave Maria" which leads to a fast-and-funny German version of Silent Night. "Ihr Kinderlein kommet" (O come, little children) is a melodic hardcore song, apparently inviting kids to take drugs. Holiday hits by 70's rock heroes like Lennon, Slade and Wizard are played almost straight while others like "The Little Drummer Boy" and "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" are given the sped-up Ramones treatment. Medieval "Auld Lang Syne" is played in folk-punk mode with a drunken pub chorus and "White Christmas" starts with a slow mock-crooner voice and gradually speeds up to ska and finally punk rock. "Weihnachtsmann vom Dach" (Santa Claus from the roof) is a pleasant alternative rock song with a catchy chorus which was the album's lead single while "We Wish You..." and "Jingle Bells" are reggae with rude lyrics."Still, still, still" is sung in a silly voice and so is the holiday classic "Oh Tannenbaum" (Oh Christmas tree). Now obviously you won't want to listen to it any other day of the year, but for today make an exception and press "play" on the youtube video below. If you don't like it, drink a few shots/beers and try again. I promise it'll sound better.
*** for Ihr Kinderlein kommet, Stille Nacht Heilige Nacht,Merry X-Mas Everybody, Weihnachtsmann vom Dach, Auld Lang Syne, Alle Jahre wieder, Frohes Fest, The Little Drummer Boy, White Christmas, Weihnachten bei den Brandts, Hark! The Herald Angels Singe, Wish You a Merry Christmas, I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day
** for Ave Maria, Leise rieselt der Schnee, In Dulci Jubilo, Happy Xmas (War Is Over), Jingle Bells
* for Oh Tannenbaum, Still, still, still
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