To add to the festive spirit, listen to this lively rollicking version of 'Must be Santa'.
Would you ever have guessed that it was a Bob Dylan song if the singer's name hadn't been displayed on the screen ? Or if you hadn't read about it in some paper/mag/website earlier ?
The first time I caught this version of the song on vh1 I loved it – it has an infectious liveliness to it that makes you want to get up and dance immediately, there's the polka tune, the video shows a rambunctious Christmas party going on, there’s Santa bobbing about somewhere and it’s everything you’d think a jolly Christmas song should be. Except that it’s been sung by Bob Dylan – which was so unexpected that I gaped at the TV screen in shock as the credits rolled.
The first thing I thought of was the movie ‘Love Actually’ and the ageing rockstar singing a mushy Christmas song. But then my faith in Dylan (and his cynicism) made me check the lyrics online, hoping that he had changed the lyrics in some manner. But apparently he has not; however, all of Dylan’s royalties from the album benefit Feeding America and other international charities. So I guess that explains the upbeat all-is-well-with-the-world song.
Anyway, since it is the end of the year, and the time to celebrate, go check out the video on youtube, buy the album, and if you discover a twist in the lyrics, let me know. - Zen
p.s. Links for reviews of the song :
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/11/16/premiere-bob-dylans-must-be-santa-video-from-christmas-lp/
http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2009/11/18/bob-dylans-must-be-santa-video-the-hairs-fake-but-the-dancings-real/
http://outtheother.typepad.com/blog/2009/12/xmas-radio-bob-dylan-must-be-santa.html
