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Christmas videos, Bing, Bowie and Lennon

By Howard B. Owens

Bing Crosby, White Christmas

Bing and David Bowie, Little Drummer Boy

John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Happy Christmas (War is Over)

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, many happy days for one and all.

Nic Pelton

Hmmm. Not sure what surprises me more--David Bowie and Bing Crosby singing the Little Drummer Boy together, or that I actually thought it sounded pretty good.

Good find Howard.

Dec 26, 2009, 4:48pm Permalink
Amy Davis

I actually saw that on TV when they did it...putting a date on myself I guess, but it was terrific!

A memory David Bowie will never forget, for sure.

Dec 27, 2009, 8:55pm Permalink
Doug Yeomans

Amy, I thought you'd like this information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_on_Earth/Little_Drummer_Boy

The track was originally recorded on 11 September 1977 for Crosby's 1977 television special, Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas. The pair exchanged dialogue about what they do for Christmas before singing the traditional song, "Little Drummer Boy", with a new counterpoint with original lyrics written for the special, "Peace on Earth". Bowie's appearance has been described as a "surreal" event, undertaken at a time that he was "actively trying to normalise his career".[2] He has since recalled that he only appeared on the show because "I just knew my mother liked him."[3] Crosby died just over a month after recording the special, which aired on 30 November 1977.

According to co-writer Ian Fraser, Bowie balked at singing "Little Drummer Boy". "I hate this song. Is there something else I could sing?" Fraser recalls Bowie telling him. Fraser, along with songwriter Larry Grossman and the special's scriptwriter, Buz Kohan, then wrote "Peace on Earth" as a counterpoint to "Little Drummer Boy". Crosby performed "Little Drummer Boy", while Bowie sang the new tune "Peace on Earth".[1]

Dec 29, 2009, 10:55am Permalink

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