Thursday, December 25, 2008

(Here's to You) Raise a Glass to Everyone

"Santa Baby" is my favorite Christmas song of all time. No, that's not true. "Do They Know It's Christmas" is my favorite Christmas song EVER. I have very good memories of listening to it on my Walkman wearing brand new zebra-striped Guess jeans compliments of one very shoulder-padded Santa with a perm. But George Michael, Sting, Bono and Spandea Ballet did not die today, Eartha Kitt did. So this Christmas, I give it up for the chanteuse of "Santa Baby" and her oh-so poetic passing:



And in honor of zebra striped jeans with zippers up each ankle, I give you Band-Aid:


Mistletoe kisses and figgy pudding dreams,
Susannah

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow!!! You put a video of Eartha Kitt on your site today of all days. Kind of eerie. She really was great.
Merry Christmas.

Megan said...

Weird Susannah! I posted "Santa Baby" on my blog at 1am Christmas morning in a fit of epic insomnia just because it's such a great tune. I was so shocked to come home after spending the day at my parents, with a house full of people, to find that Eartha Kitt had passed away. How very odd. She was such a fantastic woman, to me she embodied Catwoman, even though I know she inherited the role from Julie Newmar. She really had that throaty purr dialed, and made it ultra sexy and menacing at the same time. They just don't make them like that anymore. Angelina Jolie wishes she could be all that Kitt was.

Anonymous said...

Agreed on Eartha Kitt. But "Do They Know It's Christmas Time" is the absolute worst! First of all, why should they know? So many of the people in Africa don't even celebrate Christmas. Secondly, that line "there won't be snow in Africa this Christmas..." Uh, yeah. Duh. It's Africa! Unless you live on top of Mount Kilamanjaro, there isn't supposed to be. The song is more of a pity party than helpful.
As you can tell, this song annoys the bejesus out of me. Grrrr! Just a little friendly banter.
Hope your Christmas was amazing!

Robin said...

Madonna covering Santa Baby could never even hope to come across as beguiling a Eartha Kitt. There's nothing like the original.

SLynnRo said...

I think I may be the only person alive who hates that song! It's everyone's favorite!

Unknown said...

Eartha Kitt. C'est si bon.

And if a bunch of pudgy rock stars in 1984 want to put together the charity, Band Aid, that raises millions of dollars to feed hungry people whatever their beliefs, then sing and feel good about it, I find it hard to understand a shrill objection. Besides, I like the beat. I can dance to it. I give it a 10. And I gotta say, Good on ya Vanessa, let'r rip.

dee said...

So sad she passed. You know, on Christmas Eve we were playing Scattergories and I used Eartha Kitt for my "E" famous person. And then the next day I saw she died. Kinda strange, right? I hadn't known she was invited to the White House for a luncheon--one of 50 women-- and spoke her mind when, back then, women were expected to just smile and look pretty. Makes her even more awesome.

Anywho, I share your love of "Do they know it's Christmas." Hands down, my fave song ever, year-round. Also love "So this is Christmas" by John Lennon.

xx Petunia!!

Julia said...

two of my all time favs too! Here's to you eartha kitt!

Anonymous said...

I love Do They Know It's Christmas!
My absolute favorite.
Class of '83

Erin said...

My sister and I have an annual tradition of calling each other whenever one of us hears Do They Know It's Christmas on the radio, and then turning up the radio and blasting each others ears out with the sounds of excellent (albeit cheesy) holiday magic. It just doesn't feel like Christmas until that happens at least once. Thanks for giving me one more chance to hear it this year!

And may Eartha RIP.