MetaChat - Happy Christmas from The Beatles to You!

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17 December 2006

Happy Christmas from The Beatles to You! And from me too. Every Christmas message The Beatles recorded from 1963 through 1969, plus every song they recorded either as a group or solo that had to do with Christmas. Mouse over and look at the bottom of your browser to see the name of the song, or just download them all. Enjoy.→[More:]

My favorite is this bit from the 1966 Christmas message:

Podgy the bear and Jasper were huddled around the unlit fire in the centre of the room.

"There are no more matches left, Podgy," said Jasper.

"Then buy some, Jasper, old friend," said Podgy. "Make a list and afterwards we'll go to the shop and buy matches and buy candles and buns."

"There's no more paper to write on, Podgy."

"No need to worry, Jasper. You keep saying to yourself 'matches' and I'll keep saying 'candles' until we reach the shop. Then we won't need to write it down, we'll remember."

"Who'll remember the buns, Podgy?"

"We both will, Jasper."

"Matches."

"Candles."

"Matches."

"Candles."

"Matches."

"Candles."

"Matches."

"Candles."

"Matches."

"Candles."

post by: iconomy at: 13:03 | 11 comments

Thanks, iconomy. I always wanted to do a MeFi FPP on the Christmas messages, but thought maybe it wouldn't be welcome in the blue.

posted by Lipstick Thespian 17 December | 13:09

Really? I think it would be very welcome, LT! I don't know how long I can host these files, so grab them while you can. Right click to save.

posted by iconomy 17 December | 13:13

Whoops -- that was actually me. Maybe I'll find time to put together a decent FPP. Maybe not this year...

The messages used to confuse me greatly. They're such an odd blend of comedy, improvisation, music, and old-time radio oddness. I was greatly enlightened about the inspiration for them when I learned about the 1950s BBC radio show The Goon Show, which was a hugely popular piece of British pop culture that all the Beatles (and not incidentally, the Pythons) grew up with. The Goon Show really helped to develop the idea of what Americans typically think of as 'British humor.'

Yeah, there's an FPP here....one day in a calmer life...

posted by Miko 17 December | 13:19

See I didn't know any of that...very enlightening, actually! I would so enjoy a post about them, as I've been listening to them and enjoying them for years but never really knew the backstory. I noticed the Pythonesqueness (sure, it's a word) of the messages too. Huh.

I thought it odd that LT would be contemplating a MetaFilter post when he isn't even a member... ;)

That I know of, that is.

posted by iconomy 17 December | 13:24

I still can't imagine what many of the fanclub members thought when they received these records back in the day. As a kid these seemed so damn weird to me, but real intriguing. I'd count these records along with Monty Python, Steve Martin, and Mad magazine as early influences on my sense of humor and love of non-sequiturs. It was a happy day when I finally got these on CD a few years ago.

posted by Slack-a-gogo 17 December | 13:32

Actually, that was Miko, not me. I know nuthin' bout Blue, Green, and Grey ethics.

posted by Lipstick Thespian 17 December | 14:20

Hey thanks iconomy, I used to have these on a long lost four track cartridge from my days in radio. In the seventies other bands used to send out similar Christmas bits to radio stations to say hi to their fans. I know Slade was one of them. Sadly I've lost those too.

Also to take the load of your server I upped them to senduit. here and here.

posted by arse_hat 17 December | 14:48

Wow. Thank you iconomy.

posted by JanetLand 17 December | 17:28

Oh this is so cool... thanks, iconomy!

posted by BoringPostcards 17 December | 18:52

That's so cool, iconomy - if I didn't hate Christmas, I would probably enjoy those a lot.

bah fucking humbug.

posted by dg 17 December | 19:18

I had a few of these, but it's awesome to have the whole set, and Iconomy is awesome for posting it. Yay!

posted by theora55 18 December | 08:50

← Okay, so I just read Understanding Comics, by Scott McCloud, and.... || This just in: Osama Bin Laden the elephant has been killed. →

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