defrog | DEF XMAS PLAYLIST 2009: BATTERIES INCLUDED

bedsitter23 has a good take on the concept of the Christmas single – a tradition and a fairly big deal in the UK, but not so much in the US. In the UK, who has the #1 song on Christmas day is as big a deal as who wins on America’s Got Talent.

The term “Christmas single” is a bit misleading, as the song doesn’t have to be about Christmas. But being seasonal doesn’t hurt. So it’s not unusual for singers to come up with something specifically aimed at the Christmas market.

But few will create a separate alter ego specifically for the purpose of doing Christmas songs. Which brings us to UK punk pioneers The Boys. Or, as they were known round the holidays, The Yobs.

"TMNT - Count on Us" (Watch on YouTube)

The screen capture should give you an idea of what their True Love got them for Christmas.

They never topped the charts at Christmas, no. But there’s still a chance. Now that downloads count on the Brit singles charts, it’s possible to make, say, Rage Against The Machine’s “Killing In The Name” the #1 Christmas single.

Which is exactly what happened this year. And all because enough people were sick of X Factor winners getting it every year. God bless teh Facebooks.

Top of the pops,

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