Thanks to everyone who left a comment. Loved hearing from all of you, and now I have some more songs for future installments of Sexy Song Saturday! The winners of the books are: Marlena Fein and RaonaidLuckwell. I’ll contact you both to get you your prizes! Also, please head over to R@R to see if you’re a winner there!
******************************************************************************************************************************
The Hot Holiday Hop starts today in honor of J. Kenner’s Release Me and Random House is giving away some great prizes! Julie’s book is getting some really super reviews which I am very psyched about (18+ only, if you’re considering it!).
But before we get to that, I also must mention that it is Sexy Song Saturday (“SSS”)! I started my SSS feature earlier this year, and this is only its third installment (you can read the first and second ones, if you’re interested). Because it’s the holiday season, I’m going to deconstruct a holiday song—the famous Santa Baby.
Have a listen (sung by the inestimable Eartha Kitt), and check out the lyrics:
Santa Baby
Written by J. Javits and P. Springer
Santa Baby, slip a sable under the tree, For me.
been an awful good girl, Santa baby,
so hurry down the chimney tonight.
Santa baby, a 54 convertible too,
Light blue.
I’ll wait up for you dear,
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight.
Think of all the fun I’ve missed,
Think of all the fellas that I haven’t kissed,
Next year I could be just as good,
If you’ll check off my Christmas list,
Santa baby, I wanna yacht,
And really that’s not a lot,
Been an angel all year,
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight.
Santa honey, there’s one thing I really do need,
The deed
To a platinum mine,
Santa honey, so hurry down the chimney tonight.
Santa cutie, and fill my stocking with a duplex,
And checks.
Sign your ‘X’ on the line,
Santa cutie, and hurry down the chimney tonight.
Come and trim my Christmas tree,
With some decorations bought at Tiffany’s,
I really do believe in you,
Let’s see if you believe in me,
Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing,
A ring.
I don’t mean on the phone,
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight,
Hurry down the chimney tonight,
Hurry, tonight.
The song was written in 1953, is noteable for being one of the few hit Christmas songs written by someone with two x-chromosomes (go, Joan Javits!), and has been described as a tongue-in-cheek look at the Christmas list of a woman who wants extravagant gifts.
On first blush, and without hearing the song, you could certainly read it that way, but when you listen to the song, with all its “boo doo be doos,” in the background and its pregnant pauses between lines, a different picture emerges.
First of all, the song is written as if she’s talking to Santa…but is she really? I’m not so sure. Now, this might be sacrilegious, but what if Santa = sugar daddy? Sure, it can be in a holiday style, but I’m envisioning a man dressed up as Santa Claus (like in the old movies) sneaking around the house trying not to get caught by the kids. Santa’s a “baby,” a “honey,” and a “cutie,” and there are all those “other fellas that [she hasn’t] kissed,” which leads me to think that Santa really isn’t Santa. This is especially true because of the lyrics of last two stanzas in general, and these two lines in particular:
Come and trim my Christmas tree,
With some decorations bought at Tiffany’s
and
Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing,
A ring.
I don’t mean on the phone
I won’t get into the obvious double entendre of trimming one’s tree (especially with the pause between that and the next line, leaving just enough space for the listener to wonder), but I will certainly discuss the “ring.” I’m interpreting this as an engagement ring. It’s the good-girl (but not really) as gold-digger ploy, I think. Plus, the breathless, “hurry, tonight,” really nails it home.
So part of my reading of this song is Eartha Kitt’s sex-kitten voice and part of it is that I’m convinced these are seriously suggestive lyrics. What do you think? Have I just completely spoiled an innocent holiday classic, or am I right on the money?
And now, what you’ve all been waiting for: the prizes! The Hot Holiday Hop runs from 12/1-12/10, and Random House is generously giving away:
- Grand Prize $25 Gift Certificate to a retailer of your choice!
- 10 print copy winners of RELEASE ME, must be 18 or older!
- 15 Net Galley Preview copies of RELEASE ME, must be 18 or older!
The Rafflecopter link to enter is here.
And hop on over to these other sites for more chances to win!
I’ve been on a giveaway spree myself, so while the giving’s hot (put intended), I’m going to give away an autographed copy each of Deep Autumn Heat and Blaze of Winter. All you have to do is to leave a comment either (a) letting me know whether you agree/disagree with my reading of Santa Baby; or (b) giving me a song suggestion for another Sexy Song Saturday. U.S. only, please, and the contest ends at 9pm PDT on 12/10.
I think you are right that it is a sexy demented song! The voice and the suggestive lyrics are more than obvious to me and my boyfriend. He is an innocent lover of Christmas and hates this song! LOL And to your other option, I can honestly make any song sound demented. My boyfriend laughs at my football commentary!
Thanks so much for the amazing giveaway and for being a part of the hop.
Happy Holidays,
Marlena
charmedpoms(at)yahoo(dot)com
LOL!
You are so right about the ability to make most anything “wrong”
I consider a good ability though, because it can be so funny
I’ve always thought Santa, baby was a pretty suggestive song, so no I don’t think you are off the mark at all.
My DH has always joked that its the sort of song you imagine being sung by someone prancing around in Santa lingerie.
Exactly!!! Oh, he is right on the money!
Always thought any song that Bon Jovi sings is pretty sexy. LOL. I always loved him singing Please Come Home for Christmas, Blue Christmas, and I wish everyday was Christmas.
But Santa Baby especially the way she sings it makes it sexy
Raonaid at gmail dot com
Ooh – Bon Jovi. Food for thought!
loved the song! it was great!
I agree it could be read that way.
I always thought Eartha gave a very sexy rendition of this song – her purrrr certainly added to that feeling.
This song always makes me think of Marilyn Monroe! Pure sex insinuated by that sex kitten! I’m pretty sure she would get everything on your list if she sang that to the right guy!
Now *this* is interesting. When I was writing this blog post, Mr. B wasn’t buying my “Santa Baby” argument, and I used the example of Marilyn Monroe singing “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” to demonstrate that the meaning of the song transcended the lyrics. Then I sang it to him! 🙂
Love the song thanks
I first heard the newer version by Madonna. It really brought to mind Betty Boop doing a not so innocent sex kitten. I thought everyone knew that she was talking to her sugar daddy. Whoops. Guess I know where my mind is, lol.
When I think sexy song, 1 immediately comes to mind. Wicked Game by Chris Issak.
Thanks for the giveaway and blog stop.
Wicked Game is the PERFECT song for a future installment of SSS. Thanks, judyree!