Tinsel Tunes - The Christmas Music Podcast Tinsel Tunes

This month, Jay and Scott take a deep dive into the song "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen".

Songs played on this episode:


Bach Choir
Rondo Arrangement for Fortepiano
The Choir Singers (from 1917)
Nat King Cole
Bing Crosby
Ella Fitzgerald
Perry Como
Barenaked Ladies with Sarah McLachlan
Metal: August Burns Red
Irish Folk: The Irish Rovers
Chiptune: Scunison
Punk: The Myrrdurers
Acapella: Pentatonix
Parody: The Restroom Door Said Gentlemen by Bob Rivers
Country: The Petersens
Rock: First to Eleven
Ska: Fayetteville Ska Alliance
Dubstep/Trap: Skullee
Reggae: The Reggae All-stars



Here's the episode of The Sopranos that Jay mentioned.

For half-Christmas, we have a special guest, Duane Bailey, on to discuss the 2002 album "Boogie Woogie Christmas" by the Brian Setzer Orchestra.

Songs from this episode:




Jingle Bells

Boogie Woogie Santa Claus

Winter Wonderland

Blue Christmas

Santa Claus is Back in Town

Baby It’s Cold Outside

The Nutcracker Suite

The Man with the Bag

Sleigh Ride

So They Say It’s Christmas

O Holy Night

The Amens

Let it Snow

Run Rudolph Run

What Are You Doin’ New Year’s Eve

Cactus Christmas

Santa Drives a Hot Rod

Christmas Island

In this episode, Jay and Scott discuss the history of "The Little Drummer Boy" and also go deep into the Bing Crosby/David Bowie duet. They even dig up obscure versions of the song by Ringo Starr, Jimi Hendrix, and more.


Check out the hilarious Saturday Night Live spoof of the Crosby/Bowie duet
with Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly.


Versions of the song played in this episode:



Julie Andrews Patapan (1975)
Trapp Family Singers (1951)
Jack Holloran Singers (1957)
Harry Simone Chorale (1958)
Bing Crosby and David Bowie (1977)
Perry Como (1968)
Jimi Hendrix (1969)
Ray Charles (1985)
Ringo Starr (1999)
The Kings Singers (2013)
Leslie Odom Jr. feat. Mzansi Youth Choir (2020)
Hip-hop version by Lauryn Hill (1999)
Jazz version by Dave Koz (2001)
Country version by Toby Keith (2007)
Jamaican Drummer Boy (Reggae version) by Shaggy (2011)
Punk version by Sean Quigley (2011)
Ska version by Reel Big Fish (2014)
Acoustic version by Justin Gambino (2015)
Chiptune version by Sara Lopez (2018)
Metal version by Ben Dixon (2019)
African Tribal Style by Alex Boye ft. Genesis Choir 2015

In this month's episode, we discuss the origins and history of the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas". 

Check out this Snopes article that fact checks the theory that there is are secret, coded Christian references in the song.

Versions played in this episode:


Portland Choir and Orchestra
Perry Como
Roger Whittaker
John Denver and the Muppets
Ray Conniff Singers
Straight No Chaser
Pentatonix
Jacob Miller (reggae style) 
Mob Vibe (trap style)
Relient K (pop/punk style)
Sara Evans (country style)
Goldfinger (ska/punk style)

Parody versions played:


Twisted Sister
Bob and Doug McKenzie
Allan Sherman
Bob Rivers (The Twelve Pains of Christmas)
Jeff Foxworthy (The Twelve Redneck Days of Christmas)

This month, Scott and Jay discuss the history of "Carol of the Bells".

Versions of the Song Featured in this Episode:


The Tabernacle Choir
The Crimean Chamber Choir (Shchedryk)
Corey Lennox (Major Key)
Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians
Roger Wagner Chorale
Phil Spitalny's Hour of Charm
Robert Shaw Chorale
Southern Raised (Country)
Dylan Johnson (Reggae)
August Burns Red (Metal)
Aubrey Logan (Scat Jazz)
Skatune Network (Ska-Core)
The Regulars Band (Kittystyle)
PocketsUke (Kazookalele)
Bethel University Department of Music (Handbell)
Capital Kings (Dubstep)
Nate Maelz & StickyBeats (Trap)
Rush Coil (Chiptune)
Lindsey Sterling (Violin)
The Piano Guys
John Williams (from Home Alone)
Kenny Rogers
Andra Day
Straight No Chaser (Acapella)
Trans-Siberian Orchestra

This month, Jay and Scott dive deep into the history of "Jingle Bells".

Songs Featured in this Episode:


Tom Rouch
The Edison Male Quartet
Benny Goodman Orchestra
Glenn Miller Orchestra
Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters
Les Paul
Don Charles (Dogs Barking Jingle Bells)
Gemini 6 Broadcast from Space
Dean Martin
Frank Sinatra
Ella Fitzgerald
Michael Bublé
Don Carlos and Glenice Spencer
Sex Pistols
The Ventures
The Brian Setzer Orchestra
Gwen Stefani
Barbra Streisand
Smokey Robinson and The Miracles
Dolly Parton
Johnny Cash
Straight No Chaser