Everyone seems to be enjoying the Christmas Special posts, so I thought I’d try to make it a daily thing until the big day. Here’s David Bowie and Bing Crosby dueting on Little Drummer Boy. It’s a surprisingly good mix, I think.
Proscriptus
Perhaps the foulest recording of all time. These men should have been kept on opposite sides of the Atlantic.
Kate
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.
VitaminCM
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.
Edward
I had always thought this was an electronic remix like the Sinatra duets.
Janet
Thank You for posting this!
I loved it. Enjoyed it. And forwarded it to a million people.
Evilbeagle
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.
Justin
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.
garbonzo
That is one of my favorite Christmas moments. Past meets present (or is it future since it is Bowie?). And it works so well!!!
artbot
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.
jimmy
What was unfortunately cut was their annual political arguments. A christmas tradition!
Paul
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
Rick
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.
Dan0
little drummer boy is the stupidest christmas carol. good version though. everyone loves bing.
Bret Hammond
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.
whitbyboy
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!
Skully
I always hated that song until they did it. That’s the only good version of that song.
Rocky Rook
I hear this song on the local Christmas radio station all the time. But seeing the video is pretty cool.
Mike M
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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