Soundcheck Smackdown: Holiday Movie Music Edition

The co-hosts of The Takeaway's Movie Date podcast debate big versus small screen holiday movie music.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Heat Miser from the 1974 TV special "The Year Without a Santa Claus." (YouTube)

Blockbuster movies have given us a lot of great holiday songs like "White Christmas" and "Silver Bells." But on the other hand, the small screen has produced some beloved tunes too, like the music from the TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas and Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. Tonight, it's a big screen versus small screen holiday music smackdown, with Kristen Meinzer and Rafer Guzman of The Takeaway’s Movie Date podcast.

Smackdown

When it comes to music, arguments can get passionate -- and even heated. Join us every Tuesday to share your opinions on Soundcheck Smackdown, our weekly debate series. Guests square off on new releases, controversial artists, or polarizing trends – then we take your calls and comments.
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The Big Screen Contenders:

"Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," from Meet Me In St. Louis

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"White Christmas," from the Holiday Inn

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"Baby, It's Cold Outside," from Neptune's Daughter

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The Small Screen Contenders:

Vince Guaraldi's score for A Charlie Brown Christmas

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"Holly Jolly Christmas" from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

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"Heat Miser" from The Year Without a Santa Claus

The Takeaway's Movie Date Podcast

Guests:

Rafer Guzman and Kristen Meinzer

Comments [7]

KJ from Brooklyn, NY

"You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" is my favorite song from a Christmas TV special. I always sing along with the lines about the seasick crocodile.

Dec. 18 2012 03:18 PM

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Vic from .

Just a bit of trivia about the song, "White Christmas", sung by Bing Crosby...
In Saigon, during the war in Vietnam, this song, I heard, was the military's "need to know" signal in radio broadcast to ~> Get out of town while you still can! The party is over. The shit has hit the fan!

Dec. 18 2012 01:07 AM

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Wes from NJ

...even though they are both old timers now, the combination of Bing Crosby and David Bowie rendition of "Little Drummer Boy / Peace on Earth" on Crosby's '77 Christmas Special combined the old and new in a timeless quality on the small screen.

Dec. 17 2012 11:55 PM

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laura

best ever christmas soundtrack - only to be watched on Christmas eve - Schrooge (1970) staring Albert Finney

Dec. 17 2012 09:30 PM

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Betsy from Westchester

What about Mr. Magoo's A Christmas Carol? Do you know who wrote the music to that? Jule Styne, the legendary Broadway composer (Peter Pan, etc.)

Dec. 17 2012 09:27 PM

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Chrissy from Merrick, NY

Heat Mizer is George Irving, Snow Mizer is Dick Shawn (not Gregory).

Dec. 17 2012 09:23 PM

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Lisa Ramaci from East Village, NY

I cast my vote for a Christmas classic from a 1951 movie that almost no one has heard of, The Lemon Drop Kid. Starring Bob Hope as a racetrack tout who runs afoul of a local mobster, this holiday-themed classic (also starring William Frawley, aka Fred Mertz of I Love Lucy fame)spawned "Silver Bells", one of the best non-traditional holiday songs I know.

Dec. 17 2012 09:20 PM

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