By Fausto Fernós on December 5, 2007 | Share & Save | Link | Print |
Ask not for whom the bells jingle, they jingle for thee.
What is up with Christmas themed music and that annoying, repetitive jingle you hear in almost every song out there? You know what I’m talking about, that jing-a-ling that makes even my ting-a-ling mind go batty with holiday-themed anxiety.
On today’s Marc Felion and me, Fausto Fernós talk about the historical significance of bells during the holiday season and why they seem to be everywhere during the winter months. What is it with those sleigh bells ring ding dingaling-ing? How did they come to be synonymous with the holidays?
Any song can be turned into a Christmas song just by adding some jingling bells into the beat! Grab a tambourine and try it on ANY song as long as it’s in 4/4 or 2/2. (Waltzes and polkas don’t work.)
One Christmas themed music CD that definitively rocks is Darlene Love’s “It’s Christmas, Of Course.” You might remember her as the sassy diva singing “Christmastime for the Jews” on Saturday Night Live or right now on Broadway playing the role of Motor-mouth Maybellene in Hairspray the Musical.
We’re just smitten with these cute, adorable kitty cat wigs! Kittywigs.com sells wigs specially made for your cat (or small dog) to wear. Now you can now start dressing your tabby up as Cher, Tina or Madonna have have your very own purrfect cat drag shows, as it should be.
Be sure to check out their own flickr photo group of other pet owners dressing up their pets in fabulous wigs.
Lost your glove? A performance artist living in Pitsburgh has started her own website to help match lost gloves with their owners, in a good will effort to save people some bucks and keep their hands warm this winter season.
Listen as we talk about Sesame Street releasing their classic shows on DVD but choosing to label them and promote them “for adults only,” Jeff Scheidemantel the crystal meth-making High School Chemistry teacher and our past guest, Russian gay rights activist Nikolai Alexeyev getting arrested for voting, we presume.
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RcktMan says:
December 5, 2007 at 05:56I love Christmas music as much as any other God-fearing Catholic who renounced the fear and proclaimed he wanted to believe in whatever he wanted and told the Catholic church to stuff in in the meantime. (Was that a soapbox moment? Anyway…)
But what makes me want to heave are the syrupy, treacly songs that call themselves Christmas songs just because they have a Christmas theme. “The Christmas Shoes,” anyone? I mean come on. A poor little girl raises enough money to buy a pair of shoes for her dying mother because “Then she can dance with Jesus.” Pukesville. I’m a sap– I cry at TV commercials for pete’s sake… but when I heard that song the first time I wanted to vomit. It’s so FORCED. And not to mention with the OBVIOUS Christian reference. Blech. Spare me. Give me Luther Vandross’s “Dance With My Father” any day. Equally as treacly and sappy– but at least with a genuine sentiment. “Shoes” is just a Hallmark Movie waiting to happen. Yuck yuck yuck.
Amanda is so right about Feliz Navidad… I’d love to hear her version, but it sounds strangely similar to Bob Rivers’ “Police Stopped My Car,” which is about as offensive as you can get, but still funny.
DCRyan says:
December 5, 2007 at 11:05Kittywigs.com was amazing, totally cheered me up on a bad day
Boston Bill says:
December 5, 2007 at 11:09i WILL HAVE TO CHECK OUT KITTYWIGS.COM… I KNOW MY PUSSY WILL HATE ME FOREVER IF GET ONE.. lol
Christian83 says:
December 5, 2007 at 11:16Nice show with some interesting news !
Christmas is one of best times during the year and I love those christmas songs. I prefere the english Christmas songs, they are more energetic.
Those wigs for the cats are so cute. If my cat, Bobby, still had been alive I would have bought him one. He was the same race like the one with the blue wig.
groggy says:
December 5, 2007 at 12:15I read in some news article, that the gay activists in Moscow that were arrested were released after 3 hours without explanation.
So I think Nicolas Alexeyev is not behind the bars right now (but I’m not sure).
BrewCityCrooner says:
December 5, 2007 at 12:49What a fascinating turn of events through this show, did someone gargle with bong water this morning?
I did my voting on GayBloggies, keep it up Fausto.
moonsammy says:
December 5, 2007 at 13:11did someone say they should make dog wigs at the beginning of this show…
Maia says:
December 5, 2007 at 14:55Did you see the “Elvis” pompadour dog wig??? I am sitting on my hands so I can’t get to my credit card right now…
Maia says:
December 5, 2007 at 14:55Did you see the “Elvis” pompadour dog wig??? I am sitting on my hands so I can’t get to my credit card right now…
Maia says:
December 5, 2007 at 14:57(now I know what happens if you accidentally double-click the button… argh)
StevieB says:
December 5, 2007 at 15:09*****Gratuitous unsolicited Fausto moment.*****
Not that I want to trash talk. But, even If I didn’t know Fausto I would of voted for him on the Gay bloggies. It’s simply because his was the only one with depth on the latest challenge. Aren’t blogs suppose to have writing in them?
bowdownza says:
December 5, 2007 at 16:24marc if you come to pittsburgh I want a visit maybe I can take you out for coffee and get it through your head just how far beyond Simple Simon the chimps will have to progress before being any real serious threat.
I have to warn you right now though- no christmas carols okay?!!
Tyto Alba says:
December 5, 2007 at 16:33Awww I’m in Pittsburgh and I’m missing a glove! Unfortunately, though, I think it fell out of my truck when I was stuck in Wyoming because the interstate was closed.
RcktMan says:
December 5, 2007 at 17:05Loved the show. I laughed hysterically with you guys so many times my sides hurt. You must have either been super tired or super wired. In any case, you were silly and fun and I love that about you.
As for kitty wigs– my cats barely let me pick them up. They’d have those wigs thrown down a-la “Valley of the Dolls” in seconds. Which could be a good idea for a video… hmmm…
I’m off to sing Christmas songs with the chorus. Wheee.
Fausto Fernós says:
December 5, 2007 at 19:49I don’t really have anything against Libertarians, but I consider the party to be more a philosophical view than an actual political organization with any kind of relevance in this country. A lot of people SAY they are Libertarian, but seldom vote that way or help people get elected that identify under that party.
I never understand why these “parties” in this country dont run for any offices they can actually win. Do what these religious fundamentalists do- impact your local government at the grassroots level at grassroots posts.
A lot of people could create real and permanent change by running for school board or City Council, but opt instead to run for large posts like Governor or President of the Freakin U.S. of Aaaaay.
In my older years I’ll probably wind up doing something like this.
Steve says:
December 5, 2007 at 22:31I totally see your point.
But aren’t all political parties just a group of people who share the same philosophical views. Republicans believe society should be socially conservative and Democrats feel society should be more liberal. Libertarians want a world were no one tells you that you can’t do whatever you want with your body.
I am a libertarian, I vote that way whenever possible. But the party doesn’t put out a lot of candidates.
Most third parties don’t run because they don’t feel they can win. The attitude of most Americans is if you can’t win don’t try. The House of Representatives has that problem, it is common for a bill to die before it is even voted on because they feel it won’t pass so why even try.
I wish more parties did run, it would likely make for a much better government.
I would love to run for office, but at this time I can’t offer anything experience wise. I’m a terrible public speaker. I would also need to work at getting over that anxiety problem.
Yves says:
December 5, 2007 at 23:20So here I am today as always listening to my FoF episode on my way to work - I keep hearing about this gaybloggies and I keep telling to myself I have to go and vote for my Fausto when I get home later tonight (and of course it has been a week and I keep forgetting!) But not tonight!! So I went to the website and scroll down and see the photos of the hot guys that everybody has chosen. Then I see Marc in this super cute montage. And then WHAAAaaAAT I see my picture!!! My heart literally jumped. When I was listening to the podcast today, never in a million years I thought I would be one of the listeners featured!! I am so so so flattered - I am actually jumping on my couch a la Tom Cruise right now! And even though I am sure Fausto did not really mean to rank us in any fashion, I will take a second to enjoy the fact that I am right after Marc. Wooohooo!
Now all I need to do (and all of you as well) is go on gaybloggies.com and vote for Fausto and make him get his porn. Oh and the money too!
Bisous.
Benjamin says:
December 6, 2007 at 02:28One big thing to remember about these kitty wigs people is that 20% of their profits are donated to the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. I can’t remember if you guys mentioned that on the podcast, but I figured it should be stressed here. Hilarity, adorability, more-or-less uselessness, and social conciousness! Perfect present.
PurplePuddleNut says:
December 6, 2007 at 17:46you know its funny Falsto was saying “I know you lessys have cats” I have two…lol
lis says:
December 9, 2007 at 06:59I want to hear Amanda Steinstein’s version of Feliz Navidad! Please? Besides she hasn’t been on the show in a while, or Miss Ronnie, I miss them, I think we need a Christmas or New Year’s special with different parodies of Christmas songs, one of my favorites is (to the music of Winter wonderland): Later on we’ll perspire, as we glare at the fire, to face so afraid, the bills left unpaid, shopping in a winter wonderland.
Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Fausto Fernós created the Feast of Fools in 1998 as wacky artists variety show in Chicago, Illinois.
Along with his partner Marc Felion, he hosts the world's most downloaded talk show for gay people on the internet, Feast of Fools.
Fausto loves pomegranates, waterfalls and 70s retro funk music.
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Marc Felion | August 20, 2008
Joost, are you Dutch? If so, then yes, twitter suicide would not be interesting to you since assisted suicide is so common in the Netherlands.
joost | August 20, 2008
I’m not sure I understand …. was this (nick) some sort of phenomenon? If so, I totally missed it. Seems like much ado about nothing.
Marc Felion | August 20, 2008
That’s so funny. I’ve actually been thinking of asking her to come on and the show sometime. If we can talk to Shirley Phelps, we can talk to Anne Coulter....
Jaycub | August 20, 2008
Just thought I’d let you guys know, V-Mar shows up on the 4th page of google images whe nyou search “anne coulter”. ha! when i saw that i lol’d for...
RcktMan | August 19, 2008
Crocs are so evil!!! I think they’re the ugliest shoe-type things ever invented. I’m with ya. Great show… I’m so behind, I am trying to...
8 comments on FOF #819 - Mini Cows and Killer Crocs - 08.14.08
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Marc Felion | August 20, 2008
Joost, are you Dutch? If so, then yes, twitter suicide would not be interesting to you since assisted suicide is so common in the Netherlands.
joost | August 20, 2008
I’m not sure I understand …. was this (nick) some sort of phenomenon? If so, I totally missed it. Seems like much ado about nothing.
Marc Felion | August 20, 2008
That’s so funny. I’ve actually been thinking of asking her to come on and the show sometime. If we can talk to Shirley Phelps, we can talk to Anne Coulter....
Jaycub | August 20, 2008
Just thought I’d let you guys know, V-Mar shows up on the 4th page of google images whe nyou search “anne coulter”. ha! when i saw that i lol’d for...
RcktMan | August 19, 2008
Crocs are so evil!!! I think they’re the ugliest shoe-type things ever invented. I’m with ya. Great show… I’m so behind, I am trying to...
8 comments on FOF #819 - Mini Cows and Killer Crocs - 08.14.08
LATEST
Amanda Steinstein says:
December 5, 2007 at 04:53“Any song can be turned into a Christmas song just by adding some jingling bells into the beat! Grab a tambourine and try it on ANY song as long as it’s in 4/4 or 2/2. (Waltzes and polkas don’t work.)”
How much crack did you drink before you came up with this little gem of musical insight???
The song “Jingle Bells” IS a polka! So is “Must Be Santa” for that matter.” And you can completely Christmasize any waltz by adding jingles…just put them on the second and third beats of each triplet.
You should address the far more frightening fact of holiday music…the fact that you can sing the words to “Feliz Navidad” along with almost any other Christmas song.
Go ahead, try it. I’ll wait.
See what I mean?
If you’re extra nice, I’ll sing you my parody of Feliz Navidad called “Police Nabbed my Dad.”