From Pool A we saw Chris De Burgh and Johnny Mathis through to the Knock-Out Stages.
Pool B features five fine entries, but only the top two will progress through to the last-16.
Pool B
The Waitresses - "Christmas Wrapping"
Tom Jones & Cerys Matthews - "Baby, Its Cold Outside"
Eartha Kitt - "Santa Baby"
Mel & Kim - "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree"
Jona Lewis - "Stop The Cavalry"
(L-R, Waitresses, Cerys & Tom, Eartha, Mel & Kim, Jona).
A pool with high quality throughout the ranks, featuring possibly the chirpiest Christmas song ever, "Christmas Wrapping" by the Waitresses. A quick Google has just revealed to me that they're not the all girl band I assumed them to be, they're not actually waitresses either. Despite being mislead, this is a core staple of every Christmas album, and rightfully so.
Another uplifting jovial number is "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" by Mel & Kim, no, not Mel & Kim Appleby of 'Mel & Kim' fame, but Mel Smith of 'Smith & Jones' fame and Kim Wilde of "Kids in America" fame. Simple, right? Glad that's sorted. Anyway, the purists out there may be asking where Brenda Lee's version is, well, Mel & Kim's is better. It has talking in the song, talking in songs is usually best avoided, but not here...
"(Kim): I do love a nice sax break
(Mel) :Yeah me too Kim, but let's wait till the record's over"
...classic comedy right there.
(L-R: (L-R) Mel & Kim, (L-R) Mel & Kim and (R-L) Mel & Sue) Note, Mel & Sue have nothing to do with this post, in fact, they don't even celebrate Christmas (possibly).
Another classic Christmas song, also a duet, is "Baby, It's Cold Outside". For those doubters, yes, it is a Christmas song, and yes, should only be played at Christmas; not let anyone let you think otherwise. There are numerous recordings of this song, a think my personal favourite is James Taylor with Natalie Cole, yet they got their entry form in late for this Xmas Pop Song Knock-Out; and Tom Jones and Cerys Matthews were early to training, so they get the nod. Wales represent, etc. etc.
(James Taylor (in case you couldn't guess!))
It captures what Christmas is really about perfectly, basically staying in and drinking horrific amounts.
"Well Maybe just a half a drink more - Put some music on while I pour"
However, the insistence of some heathens playing this song at any point in time, other than Christmas, means that this doesn't make it into the knock-out rounds, a shame really.
Bringing us onto our next qualification hopeful, "Santa Baby" by Eartha Kitt.
(Yes, "Santa Baby", very literal)
Another song which has been covered many many times, but in this case, the original remains the best. Eartha Kitt's 1953 recording still stands the test of time, better than the Pussycat Dolls, Kylie Minogue and all other imposters!
(L-R: LeAnn Rimes, Sugababes and Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal, remember her?!, all covered 'Santa Baby')
The last entry in this strong group is Jona Lewie with "Stop The Cavalry". Now this is another 'Christmas' song that apparently wasn't intended as a Christmas song. Balls, I say, here's why...
(1.) Sleigh Bells - To be a good christmas song, you need sleigh bells, not necessarily throughout the whole song, but you'll need sleigh bells in there somewhere. Jona's "Stop The Cavalry" has sleigh bells.
(2.) "Wish I Was At Home For Christmas" - you cannot have that line, sung over sleigh bells, and people not consider it a Christmas song. Yes Jona, an anti-war protest song perhaps, but it's a Christmas anti-war protest song, and a bloody good one at that!
(The Cavalry, Stop Them)
It's also a fun and easy song to sing along to, you just sing like you're marching. Plus the chorus is a literary work of genius "dum dum, dum dum dum, dum dum, dum dum dum".
In fact, this song is blimmin' great, therefore it goes through as the group winner. Tom & Cerys have not made the cut, so the final qualification spot is between Mel & Kim, Eartha and the Waitresses.
As good as the Eartha song is, the other two are just so cheerful. So it's down to "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" and "Christmas Wrapping" for the last qualification spot from Pool B. It's very close, but "Christmas Wrapping" scrapes through on goal difference, thanks to the word play in the song's title.
Qualification from Pool B: Jona Lewis "Stop The Cavalry" (Pool Winner) and The Waitresses "Christmas Wrapping (Runner-Up).
(Christmas Rapping)
Forthcoming Fixtures: Qualification Pool C...
Dean Martin - "Let It Snow"
Andy Williams - "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year"
Nat King Cole - "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)"
Bing Crosby - "White Christmas"
Frank Sinatra - "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"
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