[O212] ‘Ghost of Christmas’

Released on: The Ghost of Christmas (self-released, December 1 2007)

Following the end of the Send Away the Tigers releases, the Manics discography takes two very unusual steps one after another. The first is the surprise release of a Christmas song via the band’s website. ‘The Ghost of Christmas’ was reportedly considered as a true single, but this plan was eventually nixed. Due to its release for free via the website, the song is non-chart eligible and has no cover art. Confusingly, the song’s title is listed variously as ‘The Ghost of Christmas’, ‘The Ghosts of Christmas’, or just ‘Ghost of Christmas’.

Whichever title you favour, the song is a true oddity. Doing something as outwardly kitsch as a Christmas song is very much a move out of left-field for the band, which may explain the decision to suddenly squeeze it out for free. The successful rock Christmas singles of the ’70s seem to have been the main inspiration for the song, which like them combines the rock setup with bells and saxophone – a very curious sound on a Manics record.

Christmas in the ’70s – when the band were children – is the focus of the lyrics, which are rife with very specific festive references to that era. Overall, the effect is both highly weird and surprisingly fun. ‘Ghost of Christmas’ is a remarkably non-embarrassing Christmas song, from a band seemingly least likely to make one.

Choice Lyric (Full Lyrics)
“thank god, the world has stopped”

References
Scalextric – a popular brand of “slot cars”, powered toy cars that run along slots in a track.

Xbox – videogames console launched by Microsoft as their entry into the home gaming market in 2001.

The Queen’s speech – traditional Christmas address to the nation by Queen Elizabeth II, broadcast at 3pm on Christmas Day.

Zulu’s on – refers to Zulu (1964), a British epic war film starring Stanley Baker and Michael Caine, about the Battle of Rorke’s Drift in the Anglo-Zulu war in 1879. For many years, broadcast on British TV at Christmas time, similarly to The Great Escape (1963).

Milk Tray – brand of chocolates launched by British confectioner Cadbury in 1915.

Hot Wheels – brand of toy cars launched by U.S. manufacturer Mattel in 1968.

Evel Knievel – Robert Craig Knievel Jr. (1938 – 2007), popular U.S. stunt performer known for ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps.

Morecambe and Wise – Eric Morecambe (1926 – 1984) and Ernie Wise (1925 – 1999), British comedy duo known in part for their immensely popular Christmas TV specials. Their 1977 special was watched by over 20 million British viewers.

Top of the Pops – British music TV show, launched in 1964 and broadcast weekly until 2006. A Christmas special is still shown. The Manics made a notorious appearance on the show performing [A59] ‘Faster’ in 1994, when Bradfield’s balaclava helped generated a record number of complaints.