Bing Crosby and David Bowie Sing Little Drummer Boy

1. Proscriptus
   December 16th, 2008 at 9:41 am

   Perhaps the foulest recording of all time. These men should have been kept on opposite sides of the Atlantic.

2. Kate
   December 16th, 2008 at 9:45 am

   I played this for my daughter when she was three because her Grandpa was a huge Bing fan and had recently passed away. When Bowie started singing she said, "Mommy is that Jesus!?!" I said, "No honey, that's David Bowie."

   Since then it's become a running joke. David Bowie has now replaced JC as a curse of choice.

3. VitaminCM
   December 16th, 2008 at 9:47 am

   I saw this "live" when I was a little kid at my grandparent's house. I remember how my parents and grandparents seemed to both appreciate it.
   It's still one of my favorite Christmas songs.

4. Edward
   December 16th, 2008 at 10:03 am

   I had always thought this was an electronic remix like the Sinatra duets.

5. Janet
   December 16th, 2008 at 11:27 am

   Thank You for posting this!
   I loved it. Enjoyed it. And forwarded it to a million people.

6. Evilbeagle
   December 16th, 2008 at 11:37 am

   Though it's far from my favorite version, as a fan of both Bing and David, I have no choice but to like it, especially since they are doing the only tolerable Christmas song this atheist can handle.

7. Justin
   December 16th, 2008 at 11:47 am

   That was pretty good! For some reason or another the dialogue before was oddly engaging. Two guys having a discussion, but it didn't sound scripted at all I thought.

8. Polx
   December 16th, 2008 at 11:48 am

   @Evilbeagle

   Wot? not even Fairy Tale Of New York by The Pogues?

9. garbonzo
   December 16th, 2008 at 12:16 pm

   That is one of my favorite Christmas moments. Past meets present (or is it future since it is Bowie?). And it works so well!!!

10. artbot
    December 16th, 2008 at 12:28 pm

    The fact that this is actually watchable (and very listenable) says a lot when talking about forced xmas duets on tv specials.

    Now, for all you xmas curmudgeons, go out and get Aimee Mann's excellent Christmas album, One More Drifter in the Snow. She makes xmas sad again, but in a beautiful way.

11. VonSkippy
    December 16th, 2008 at 12:52 pm

    @artbot - I plan on getting that CD, but not Til Tuesday.

12. jimmy
    December 16th, 2008 at 1:15 pm

    What was unfortunately cut was their annual political arguments. A christmas tradition!

13. Paul
    December 16th, 2008 at 1:55 pm

    i sort of confused by all the positive comments, to me that was such a poor song, and that bit of dialogue before was awful, each to their own i suppose

14. Rick
    December 16th, 2008 at 3:58 pm

    I saw this when it originally aired, when I was a kid. If I remember right, Bing died after this was filmed, but before the special aired on TV. This is one of my favorite all time holiday recordings.

15. liphttam1
    December 16th, 2008 at 4:06 pm

    Whos bing cosby?

16. Dan0
    December 16th, 2008 at 5:54 pm

    little drummer boy is the stupidest christmas carol. good version though. everyone loves bing.

17. Bret Hammond
    December 16th, 2008 at 7:28 pm

    Fascinating article about this recording: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/19/AR2006 121901260.html

    Like others I'm old enough to remember when it was first on TV. At the time it just seemed very odd to me, but I grow to appreciate it more every year.

18. whitbyboy
    December 16th, 2008 at 9:54 pm

    too watched this when it first aired. I was 9 or 10, and thought it was beautiful and became my favourite xmas song. Still now, at nearly 36 it's makes me all warm and tingly. Good choice on this pick.

    - Evilbeagle, "only tolerable Christmas song this atheist can handle.". I had that very same thought the other day when I heard the song for the first time this season. Awesome!

19. Skully
    December 17th, 2008 at 1:18 am

    I always hated that song until they did it. That's the only good version of that song.

20. Rocky Rook
    December 17th, 2008 at 11:49 am

    I hear this song on the local Christmas radio station all the time. But seeing the video is pretty cool.

21. Mike M
    December 17th, 2008 at 6:48 pm

    Not a fan of Drummer Boy but they make it work. There's a nice remake out by Matt Dusk and Hawksley Workman. Very comparable.

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