Ohbijou should have plenty of accomplishments to boast of in their family Christmas newsletters this year: the Toronto indie-folk band was signed to the Last Gang imprint in 2009 (home to Metric, Chromeo), toured Europe twice and released their second album, Beacons – about which the BBC quipped this spring, “bet you a tenner they’re famous by autumn.” But instead of bragging, the band’s unofficial Christmas card to fans was a cover of Wham!’s “Last Christmas” that’s currently available as a free download on their official website.
Much easier on the ears than George Michael’s original thanks to the band’s dulcet rearrangement, Ohbijou’s ringleader Casey Mecija says via email that the band “chose ‘Last Christmas’ because the lyrical content is so unusual for the holiday season. Instead of spreading holiday cheer the song is self-deprecating and melancholic, and to us this was so intriguing.”
“We love the combination of such a joyous arrangement with the sullenness of the lyrics,” Mecija continues. “Hopefully George Michael is having better luck this time around.”
The band’s got a long tradition with the song, having performed it for the first time two last Christmases ago, at Andy Kim’s annual Toronto Children’s Aid benefit concert in 2007. But there are other holiday tunes that have struck a chord with the six-piece. The band’s Anissa Hart (cello) and Ryan Carley (keyboards) share five of their favourites.
5. “O Holy Night,” John Denver
Anissa Hart: One of the most beautiful melodies of all time, this version is arranged really tastefully. We once recorded a very much less tasteful version at a friend's farm spontaneously in the middle of the summer. The melody just inspires group-sing-alongs!
4. “Jingle Bell Rock,” Neil Diamond
Anissa Hart: Such a catchy tune, you can never get it out of your head after hearing it once. Also, the “Jingle Bell Rock”' is a Christmas song that most dancing Santas sing.
3. “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy,” David Bowie and Bing Crosy
Ryan Carley: This David Bowie and Bing Crosby collaboration not only melded two generations in song, but also melded two songs! A little ways into the song, Bowie breaks off and croons the melody from “Peace On Earth,” and the two delight in an original holiday mashup. If you're visiting your grandmother this Christmas, put your laptop next to the fireplace and watch this one with her on YouTube.
2. “Carol of the Bells”
Ryan Carley: Who didn't see Home Alone three times on Christmas break, 1990? This is one of the most elemental pieces of Christmas music out there. Everyone has covered this one, from the Muppets to the Trans Siberian Orchestra, and every version is awesome!
1. “Sleigh Ride”
Ryan Carley: My high school band played this one back in the day and I was lucky enough to play the "whip" part. No one was injured. The concert band version of the whip is just two long, flat pieces of wood that are whacked together to produce a similar effect to the Indiana Jones appendage. [Ed: We hope Carley is referring to Indy’s whip.]
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