23 days until Christmas! (“Do You Hear What I Hear?” Song Battle)

[00:00:02] This is a Bramble Jam Podcast

[00:00:11] It's the Christmas Morning Podcast, everyone join if you can, Christmas greatest fans, Scott and Bram, here for you and me

[00:00:25] Well, hello everybody, happy December to you, can you believe that?

[00:00:32] I'm Bran, and I am here with my friend Scott. Scott, Merry Christmas, happy December!

[00:00:38] Hello, December Bran.

[00:00:40] Oh, it feels good to say it, and honestly, it also feels kind of shocking to say it, but December is here.

[00:00:46] It really is. It snuck up on us pretty quickly, though.

[00:00:49] I don't know how that's possible, considering what we do, but it still somehow does.

[00:00:55] I know, it doesn't make any sense at all. It's flying by, and here we are trying to slow it down for everybody else.

[00:01:03] I hope everybody else is feeling like the season is coming at a nice good pace, because it sure ain't for us.

[00:01:07] I know, and I gotta tell you, Scotty, it was tough to leave Greenville this morning, because it's actually legit cold outside, Scotty.

[00:01:17] I heard that, and I was surprised and kind of excited for you.

[00:01:22] Scotty, I woke up, and it was in the 20s, the low 20s, Scotty.

[00:01:27] Yeah, I have a feeling that's like when it's in the negatives in Denver for us.

[00:01:32] It's the equivalent.

[00:01:34] The equivalent, yeah.

[00:01:34] People are freaking out. They're like, I guess we should just quit living at this point, just like no one work.

[00:01:40] Do you have people walk around wearing two snowsuits at once?

[00:01:44] Everybody's, yes, it is like it's the end of the world.

[00:01:46] People go out, and they start their cars an hour early. It's serious stuff. No snow, though. No snow.

[00:01:53] It gets to 30 here. We're like, oh, put the sprinklers out. It's balmy.

[00:01:58] Is it spring already?

[00:02:00] Hey, Scotty, that mailbag looks big. Can we open it up?

[00:02:04] Yeah, let's do that.

[00:02:04] Letters. We get letters. We get stacks and stacks of letters.

[00:02:11] Bran, sometimes I can curate this mailbag like Mozart writing for a violin. I am just so good at it sometimes.

[00:02:19] You said it, buddy.

[00:02:21] Yeah, that's right. I'm full of myself in December.

[00:02:23] We have two music-related emails today. The first is from Lance Garman.

[00:02:28] Lance says, if any of you podcast listeners are like me, you're in the mood for some extra synth-pop Christmas music in your day.

[00:02:36] You might be speaking on your own there, Lance, but he says, there are lots of playlists out there, but I thought I would share a couple that I have been enjoying this week.

[00:02:44] I can't promise that every song on each playlist is great or even that every one of them is synth-pop, but there are enough bangers on these two playlists to keep me happy.

[00:02:52] And yes, there are a few instrumental-only ones included for those who like that sort of thing, like me.

[00:02:58] Both are on Spotify, and it's hard to share Link's brand for Spotify, so I'm going to tell you the exact words to search.

[00:03:07] Okay. All right. Here we go.

[00:03:09] One is synth-pop for Christmas, and synth-pop is one word, and the other, this one's tougher, pull your car over, get the notepad out.

[00:03:18] It's 80-ish alternative Christmas, and it's 8-0 parentheses 1-S-H end parentheses.

[00:03:25] I know that's tough, but I can't share links on Instagram, so how else would I get this to the people?

[00:03:30] I tried both of these, and they come right up when you search that way.

[00:03:34] Lance says, for what it's worth, I only found these playlists because of this show.

[00:03:38] While researching possible songs for the weekly band camp battles, my Google machine will also suggest playlists like this throughout the year.

[00:03:45] I have saved them until now to listen, and I'm sure glad I did.

[00:03:49] I'd be interested to know if anyone else has a playlist they would recommend for us, or something similar like Jimmy Fallon Yacht Rock Christmas Stream on Sirius.

[00:03:58] And Lance, I want you to know I listened to this while I was putting the notes together last night, and it was a lot of fun.

[00:04:04] Thank you very much. I really appreciate it.

[00:04:06] It pulled it right up. I'm going to be listening to this later today.

[00:04:09] I can't wait for it.

[00:04:12] And my big takeaway from just a quick scan here is that synth pop bands have fun band names.

[00:04:19] They do.

[00:04:20] And to Lance's point, it's really fun to find stuff you haven't heard or you don't hear much.

[00:04:26] That's the real gold.

[00:04:27] Even if you don't love the song, it's new.

[00:04:29] Yeah.

[00:04:30] And that's ultimately the goal of the Christmas music battle that we do every day.

[00:04:34] True.

[00:04:35] Is to try to find new, fresh versions of songs that we hear a thousand times during the holiday season.

[00:04:42] You could listen to Wonderful Christmas Time by Paul McCartney as many times as you want to,

[00:04:47] but what if we heard it from somebody else's POV?

[00:04:50] And I think that's fun.

[00:04:51] Exactly.

[00:04:51] The other email is from Liam Tompley.

[00:04:54] Liam says,

[00:04:55] Hello, Scott and Brian and the Christmas morning people.

[00:04:57] I have a music suggestion for listeners for this November and December.

[00:05:01] My favorite artist, Tyler the Creator, made an EP in 2018 called,

[00:05:06] and this is another long one in case you want to search for it.

[00:05:09] It's called Music Inspired by Illumination and Dr. Seuss' The Grinch.

[00:05:14] Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue there, Tyler.

[00:05:17] It's only six songs, but it's full with awesome Christmas instrumentals and new songs written by him.

[00:05:22] My favorite songs from it are Whoville, Lights On, and Hot Chocolate.

[00:05:27] He's kind of a rapper, but there's only one rap song on there,

[00:05:30] so if you don't like rap, you could skip the fourth track.

[00:05:33] I'm pumped for December when I can actually play this out loud with my friends and family

[00:05:36] and not get the it's-too-early-for-Christmas-music conversation.

[00:05:41] Yeah, I feel you there, Liam.

[00:05:42] Anyway, love the podcast.

[00:05:43] Keep it up, and Merry Christmas.

[00:05:45] So thanks, Liam.

[00:05:46] Appreciate that.

[00:05:47] We've got some really good music recommendations today, Brian.

[00:05:50] We do.

[00:05:50] When we leave the North Pole, I know what I'm going to do while I'm sitting down to do my crummy day job.

[00:05:56] Oh, you said it, buddy.

[00:05:57] Actually, wait a minute.

[00:05:58] I've got co-workers that listen now.

[00:06:00] My wonderful day job.

[00:06:01] As long as it's not your boss, I think it's fair.

[00:06:03] Liam, I knew of a couple of the tracks because Tyler, the creator's version of You're a Mean

[00:06:10] One, Mr. Grinch, is the one that is featured in the 2018 animated movie that they put out.

[00:06:15] Oh, neat.

[00:06:15] And so I was aware of that, and I thought that that version was fun, but it's good to know that there's more out there,

[00:06:20] and so I will definitely give that a listen.

[00:06:22] Thanks, Liam.

[00:06:22] Yeah, thank you.

[00:06:23] You got a joke for us, Scotty?

[00:06:24] I do.

[00:06:25] I have a joke that was submitted to us by a listener.

[00:06:28] Oh, boy.

[00:06:29] Okay.

[00:06:29] Yeah.

[00:06:30] This was submitted by the wonderful Laura Goldsmith.

[00:06:32] What do you get when you cross a Christmas tree with an iPad?

[00:06:38] Tree pad?

[00:06:39] I don't know.

[00:06:39] Tell me.

[00:06:40] Pineapple.

[00:06:41] Waka, waka.

[00:06:43] I think I would have gotten there, I think, had I had all the time in the world,

[00:06:47] but we're trying to do a enjoyable podcast.

[00:06:51] Yeah, yeah, exactly.

[00:06:52] So short and quick.

[00:06:53] I like that joke.

[00:06:54] That's good.

[00:06:54] Well done.

[00:06:55] Well done.

[00:06:56] Pineapple.

[00:06:57] Let's do the countdown.

[00:07:04] 23 days until Christmas.

[00:07:10] 23 days?

[00:07:11] Are you kidding me right now?

[00:07:13] Oh, that actually gives me some pause because I don't have presents bought.

[00:07:19] I don't have all the stuff.

[00:07:20] I don't even have lights on my house yet.

[00:07:22] Scotty.

[00:07:23] I know.

[00:07:24] I know.

[00:07:25] Where is the time gone?

[00:07:26] You think you don't have lights on your house.

[00:07:30] It's December 2nd.

[00:07:31] You think you're going to put them up?

[00:07:32] You think you're going to get them up?

[00:07:33] I am going to get them up.

[00:07:35] And to be fair, my house was being painted the last week of November.

[00:07:39] And they said, no lights up while we paint.

[00:07:41] Well, they didn't say that because they don't have to because I'm not an idiot.

[00:07:47] Yeah, you said it, buddy.

[00:07:48] Yeah, that's right.

[00:07:49] There's somebody out there that just heard that and ran back home to take off their lights.

[00:07:53] Oh, no.

[00:07:54] Oh, no.

[00:07:54] I didn't think about that.

[00:07:56] Yeah, that's good.

[00:07:57] I got some news if you want it.

[00:07:58] Please.

[00:08:03] So that is December 2nd, 2024.

[00:08:07] And here is the news.

[00:08:10] Whoa.

[00:08:11] Who is that?

[00:08:11] Is that Larry?

[00:08:12] I think it's Larry.

[00:08:13] I think Larry's just kind of he's got his December voice.

[00:08:17] You wearing a bow tie, Larry?

[00:08:18] Yes.

[00:08:19] That was good.

[00:08:20] Excellent.

[00:08:21] Excellent.

[00:08:21] Here's some news for you.

[00:08:23] For all the Kentucky Fried Chicken lovers out there.

[00:08:27] I was waiting for a response from all the KFC fans.

[00:08:31] And I think that response.

[00:08:32] Yeah.

[00:08:33] Oh, OK.

[00:08:33] I was going to say that was a pretty probably a pretty accurate response.

[00:08:38] Kentucky Fried Chicken has announced.

[00:08:42] We've got some real KFC stands.

[00:08:45] That really goes on and on, doesn't it?

[00:08:47] It's such a long applause.

[00:08:48] The fast food chain has announced the launch of its first ever lickable wrapping paper.

[00:08:57] This is what our country needs right now.

[00:08:59] It is, they say, perfect for the gifting season.

[00:09:04] Listen, so you wrap your stuff in there and you can lick it and it's got a refreshing hit of cranberry sauce and an aromatic pinch of sage.

[00:09:17] Hmm.

[00:09:18] So that's interesting.

[00:09:21] There's also one paper that just tastes like the KFC's original recipe chicken.

[00:09:27] What do you think about this?

[00:09:29] Somebody got paid for this idea and that bothers me.

[00:09:31] This is like, I just heard about the Jimmy John's guy that sold the company for $8 billion.

[00:09:36] And I said, I hate hearing stories about people getting rich that aren't me.

[00:09:39] This is very similar.

[00:09:40] Like somebody got a pat on the back and said, great job, Hank, for making lickable Christmas wrapping paper.

[00:09:48] And here's the thing, Brian.

[00:09:49] I like KFC.

[00:09:51] Do you like KFC?

[00:09:52] Yeah.

[00:09:52] It's fine.

[00:09:53] It's fine.

[00:09:53] But have you ever gone back to the bag the next day and said, oh, that smells so good?

[00:10:00] The answer is no.

[00:10:01] Nobody does that.

[00:10:02] You're like, oh, yeah.

[00:10:03] What did I eat yesterday?

[00:10:05] It's all about shame at that point.

[00:10:07] Yes.

[00:10:07] Now, this might be the first wrapping paper to ever come with fine print.

[00:10:12] The fine print reads not intended for human consumption.

[00:10:16] So while you can lick it, you should not eat it.

[00:10:19] Yes.

[00:10:20] Most things in the kitchen, if you can put it in your mouth, you can swallow it.

[00:10:25] I don't think I like stuff like this with fine print.

[00:10:29] OK.

[00:10:29] Now, my big question, Scotty, and I don't know if maybe someone can tell me here in the States.

[00:10:35] This is apparently was released from the brand manager at KFC UK and Ireland.

[00:10:42] So I don't know if this is exclusive to Across the Pond or if it is available here in the States as well.

[00:10:48] But the festive promotional photos that they have posted does make me concerned.

[00:10:54] They are all licking the paper and I don't really know what to do.

[00:10:58] I feel like I shouldn't be looking at this.

[00:11:01] Yeah.

[00:11:01] We're going to hear a whole bunch of stories in January about people sick from the wrapping paper.

[00:11:05] We're going to say, thank God I didn't make it to our shores.

[00:11:08] I got a paper cut.

[00:11:10] Can you imagine?

[00:11:11] May tang.

[00:11:12] May tang.

[00:11:14] I don't know.

[00:11:15] OK, let's just call a spade a spade here.

[00:11:17] This is a dumb idea.

[00:11:18] It's a dumb idea, but I kind of want to try it more than anything in the entire world.

[00:11:22] Me too.

[00:11:23] Me too, really.

[00:11:23] So does that make it a good idea?

[00:11:25] I don't know.

[00:11:25] If anybody tries this, let us know how it is.

[00:11:28] And if anybody wants to send us some, we would gladly.

[00:11:32] Oh, no, no.

[00:11:33] You don't need to do that.

[00:11:34] It's all right.

[00:11:34] I thought you want to try it.

[00:11:36] I want to try it in theory.

[00:11:37] I don't want it to actually show up at my house.

[00:11:39] All right.

[00:11:39] You can send it to me.

[00:11:40] All right.

[00:11:41] Fine.

[00:11:41] That's right.

[00:11:42] Hey, let's take a quick break.

[00:11:43] We'll come back.

[00:11:44] We'll get to the TV specials, which are plentiful right now.

[00:11:47] Thank goodness.

[00:11:48] And the Christmas music battle of do you hear what I hear?

[00:11:52] You will hear all of that on the other side of the break here on Christmas morning.

[00:12:00] Welcome back, everybody.

[00:12:01] It is time for the Christmas TV specials of the day.

[00:12:06] TV Scotty is here, and it looks like we got a lot to get through.

[00:12:10] So without further ado, TV Scotty, let us know what we can expect to see on the TV.

[00:12:14] Here are your Christmas TV specials for the next two days, courtesy of MostlyChristmas.com.

[00:12:19] Monday, 915 AM on AMC, Pinocchio's Christmas.

[00:12:22] 1030 AM on Freeform, Arthur Christmas.

[00:12:25] 1235 PM on Freeform, Miracle on 34th Street, the 1994 version.

[00:12:30] 310 PM on Freeform, Home Alone.

[00:12:33] 4 PM on Hallmark Mysteries, A Reason for the Season.

[00:12:36] 5 PM on AMC, Elf.

[00:12:38] 540 PM on Freeform, Home Alone 2, Lost in New York.

[00:12:41] 6 PM on Hallmark, The Christmas Quest.

[00:12:43] 7 PM on AMC, The Polar Express.

[00:12:46] 8 PM on Hallmark, A 90s Christmas.

[00:12:49] 8 PM on MTV, Bad Santa.

[00:12:51] 820 PM on Freeform, Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas from 2000.

[00:12:56] 10 PM on MTV, Bad Santa 2.

[00:12:58] And 11 PM on AMC, Fred Claus.

[00:13:01] Thursday, 12 AM on Hallmark, Operation Nutcracker.

[00:13:04] 130 AM on AMC, A Christmas Story 2 from 2012.

[00:13:09] 530 AM on AMC, Twas the Night Before Christmas.

[00:13:13] 8 AM on Hallmark, Confessions of a Christmas Letter.

[00:13:16] 110 PM on Freeform, Richie Rich's Christmas Wish.

[00:13:19] 310 PM on Freeform, Disney's A Christmas Carol.

[00:13:22] 355 PM on Movies, A Christmas Memory.

[00:13:26] 6 PM on Hallmark, The Finish Line.

[00:13:28] 6 PM on Movies, 12 Days of Christmas Eve.

[00:13:32] 755 PM on Freeform, Dr. Seuss's The Grinch from 2018.

[00:13:36] 8 PM on ABC, CMA Country Christmas.

[00:13:39] 8 PM on AMC, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

[00:13:43] 8 PM on Hallmark, Three Wiser Men and a Boy.

[00:13:46] 8 PM on Movies, A Christmas Carol from 1951.

[00:13:50] 9 PM on ABC, Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

[00:13:53] And finally, 10 PM on Hallmark Mysteries, Five Gold Rings.

[00:13:57] And those are your Christmas TV specials for the next two days, courtesy of MostlyChristmas.com.

[00:14:02] Thanks TV Scotty, that was wonderful.

[00:14:04] It is time for the Christmas Music Battle.

[00:14:06] It has been a good battle season so far, Scotty.

[00:14:10] It is at first glance quite close, but all of the polls are still open and they will remain

[00:14:17] open until New Year's Eve.

[00:14:19] So you can vote on all of them if you so choose.

[00:14:23] But today's battle is Do You Hear What I Hear?

[00:14:25] Do you like this song, Scotty?

[00:14:27] I think it's a fine song.

[00:14:29] I'm okay with it.

[00:14:30] Yeah, it's never one of those ones that I seek out.

[00:14:33] Brian, let's get in the car and let's jam out to Do You Hear What I Hear?

[00:14:37] Nobody says that.

[00:14:38] But when it happens, it is a song that I do sing along to very loudly.

[00:14:43] So, you know, I've only been in the car with you one time in my life and we did not sing

[00:14:47] along to Christmas songs.

[00:14:49] Although somebody, oh, Alonzo was with us.

[00:14:51] He would have been down with it.

[00:14:53] Next time.

[00:14:53] What a missed opportunity.

[00:14:54] Next time, we're doing it.

[00:14:55] We're doing it.

[00:14:55] Okay.

[00:14:56] Let's get to Do You Hear What I Hear.

[00:14:57] The first one is Do You Hear What I Hear by, what do you say?

[00:15:03] Monque?

[00:15:04] Monque?

[00:15:05] I thought it was Monique, but it looks like Monk.

[00:15:07] M-O-N-Q-U-E.

[00:15:09] I'm not really sure.

[00:15:10] Monque?

[00:15:11] Monque Nicole.

[00:16:13] That song followed the Whitney Houston playbook on that one, Brian.

[00:16:16] It was good, though.

[00:16:17] It was good, though.

[00:16:18] Good vocals.

[00:16:19] Clear.

[00:16:20] I like it.

[00:16:21] I like it.

[00:16:23] Sometimes that's all you want.

[00:16:24] You just want clear vocals.

[00:16:26] Yeah.

[00:16:27] That's kind of like getting a gift you don't like.

[00:16:29] Well, the rapping is exquisite.

[00:16:31] Sure.

[00:16:32] I can lick this paper.

[00:16:35] Up next, we have Do You Hear What I Hear slash Baba O'Reilly by Tom Brislin featuring

[00:16:42] Spiraling.

[00:17:49] Brian, you ever hear something and you think to yourself, I didn't know I needed that, but

[00:17:53] boy, did I.

[00:17:54] I don't know how Tom came up with this idea.

[00:17:58] I'm sure he was driving in his car listening to The Who.

[00:18:01] He licked too much wrapping paper and he was like, oh, I got an idea.

[00:18:05] Dude, that high is unlike any other.

[00:18:07] But you're listening to some of The Who and you're like, do you?

[00:18:10] And then you just do it.

[00:18:12] I don't know how this comes to be.

[00:18:13] I don't have the brain to think about putting these things together, but good job, Tom.

[00:18:17] It worked.

[00:18:18] It really did.

[00:18:19] It worked.

[00:18:19] It worked.

[00:18:20] You can vote right now.

[00:18:21] Link is in the description.

[00:18:22] Do you like a more normal version or do you want to hear?

[00:18:27] Do you hear what I hear and also think about The Who?

[00:18:30] Different strokes for different folks.

[00:18:31] And that's why we do this.

[00:18:32] You can vote right now.

[00:18:33] Link is in the description.

[00:18:34] Scotty, anything else for the people today?

[00:18:36] Nope.

[00:18:36] Just go out there and enjoy it.

[00:18:37] Go out there and enjoy it straight from your lips to God's ears.

[00:18:40] We'll be back tomorrow, everybody.

[00:18:42] Come on back December 3rd.

[00:18:44] Until then, Merry Christmas.

[00:18:46] Wow.

[00:18:59] Pay for our trip back and forth to the North Pole.

[00:19:01] Feel free to listen.

[00:19:02] Feel free to bail now.

[00:19:03] But either way, thanks for being here.

[00:19:06] Ho, ho, ho.

[00:19:07] Oh.

[00:19:07] Oh.