THIS WAS AWESOME!| FIRST TIME HEARING The Kinks - Father Christmas REACTION

[@lann2bme7516]

The Kinks are AMAZING!! They have a ton of incredible songs!!🙌🌞♥️

[@461vageta]

The have ??????????? Grammar baby Grammar is AMAZING TOO!!!!!!!

[@lann2bme7516]

@@461vageta ooops teacher, the y key didn't get pushed hard enough!! Wow.... Season's Greetings!🕯️

[@chuckhutton5087]

@@461vageta Relax, Dude! Have some eggnog, and a very Merry Christmas !!

[@lann2bme7516]

@@chuckhutton5087 yes, please pass the eggnog over here also!!🕯️🙌🎄 Cheers!!

[@deanreedy4991]

The Tractors band. Santa Clause Boogie or Grandma got ran over by a Reindeer. They have entire Christmas album new and fun band reg music good to you'll love them

[@richarddefortuna2252]

They're not bad kids! They're poor kids! They asked for a job for their Dad, so they can't be real bad; they're just too worldly, sadly. And The Kinks were, and always will be, a band of the People and for the People: the poor, forgotten, and displaced. The true spirit of this song - and The Kinks - is in the bridge, where he admonishes all those that have to remember those that have not. A true Christmas song.

[@pirateradio808]

I think to understand this song as an American you have to first understand a great difference in British and American culture, which is that we Americans think we are all latent millionaires waiting for our big break (a recurrent theme of great American television and film -- like Ozark and Scarface -- is that if you are willing to kill enough people you will 'make it' into the big time), the Brits identify more with the class they are born into. And the Kinks identify with their working class roots, part of which is being bitter towards the rich kids. "David Watts" is the perfect example of this ("I wish I could have all he has got / hey!"). It's all sardonic because you know that in fact Ray Davies has more money than the real life David Watts could ever dream of, but Ray can never escape his working class identity, regardless of the balance in his bank account. Ray is definitely one of the hoodlum kids in this song, not the bourgeois Santa, after all.

[@Videomaster89]

@@pirateradio808 Very true and the view anyone can be president and they no Royal Family, but the USA has greater inequality than the UK they may not be a 'class system' as such in USA but their is great deal of people living near the poverty line and working classes in USA do often feel forgotten as Bernie Sanders points out.

[@forestfrost9676]

I'm glad Rob liked this song and Amber even seemed to come around eventually. I love "Father Christmas" because, besides being a real rocker, does have a social message. At Christmas some people don't need a 'toy', they need food or a roof. I think that is the ultimate message of this song. I'm still pushing for Dan Fogelbergs "Another Ol' Lang Syne". I think you both will like it

[@joeday4293]

Man, it ain't Christmas until I hear that one.

[@robertrorrer5736]

A year later… I want to echo both of the above messages, I’ve loved this song ever since I first heard it (and realized what they were saying) and finally got around to learning how to play it last year, at 57 years old. Oh, to be able to play guitar and glockenspiel at the same time! As for Fogelberg’s “Ol’ Lang Syne”, that’s more of a NYE/NY song, imo… but I love it as well.

[@barblessable]

Ray and Dave came from a large working class family so they know what they are talking about .Lots of humour and social comments in Kinks songs ,check out Well Respected Man , Deadend St, or Ape man .

[@paulwalker9421]

The original bad boys of rock, the Kinks! Thanks ya.ll Merry Christmas

[@NoggintheNog37]

Waterloo Sunset is one of the most beautiful melodies ever written. The Links have an amazing catalogue of music.

[@NavvyMom]

They reacted to that one a couple of months back.

[@tomflorio7363]

@@NavvyMom You sure? I just searched and can't find it. Can you post a link to it? Thanks!

[@NavvyMom]

@@tomflorio7363 I'm pretty sure I wasn't replying to Nogginthenog. Someone mentioned a song they did react to under Noggin's comment. I was replying to that post. But that person seems to have deleted it. So it appears I can't post a link because they never reacted to Waterloo Sunset! LOL And I looked too just to make sure I wasn't missing anything but can't find a reaction to Waterloo Sunset. So now I guess I should delete the reply to the comment that is no longer there. . . . 🤔

[@tomflorio7363]

@@NavvyMom gotcha, thanks!

[@LaughingStock_]

The B-side was better: "Two Sisters", simply staggering story-telling in 2 minutes.

[@michaelg2282]

Prescient for 1977, huh? That was the original year of punk, which inspired their playing here.

[@lancevaughn432]

The Kinks, “Father Christmas”, came out in 1977, I was 19 now i’m 64 and it’s still my favorite Christmas song, “Have yourself a merry merry Christmas, have yourself a good time, but remember the kids who have nothing, while you’re drinking down your wine”.

[@richardcampbell2261]

I remember hearing that in 1977 on the radio and LOVED IT! I had completely forgotten about it up until now. Thank you guys for recommending it to this Jay and Amber.

[@ZavaXavier]

​@@richardcampbell2261 I remember listening to it in 1977 on the radio when I was 3 love the song then and now.

[@Jessica_Roth]

*THANK YOU, JORDAN.* My favorite Christmas song, because it covers the truly important part of the season; that we can't just use "holiday cheer" to ignore the problems out there (poverty, despair, classism) and we should use all this "brotherhood of mankind" spirit to try and make the world a better place. Also funny as heck and truly rocks. The Kinks had been finishing up what I called their Third Period, doing theatrical concept shows in the US to diminishing returns, but here Ray Davies and co returned to top form, doing one of the best punk rock songs of any Hall of Fame-level band. (In contrast, The Who felt so bypassed by Punk that Pete Townshend wrote songs such as "Who Are You" about feeling out of date.) And then, Ray turned right around and took his satiric knife to Punk, with their next single, "Prince of the Punks". Which is also a must, but not seasonally-based. I've never heard of Billy Idol's Xmas song, but I'm excited to hear it now. You've got to push the limits, after all. Happy Winter! And thanks again.

[@DJHolte]

Exactly. And this is a song that can easily be misunderstood, and just feels like angry anti-establishment punk rock, until you get into the deeper meaning. Kids who live in the projects or the slums, whose families can barely afford to put food on the table and clothes on their backs, don't need "silly toys" - and their anger and aggressiveness is born out of total desperation. They and their families are often at the end of their rope. The line to "give my daddy a job, 'cuz he needs one" is heartbreaking. I've always seen this song as social commentary disguised as a killer rock-n-roll tune.

[@johnkayak5488]

HAPPY SUMMER 30*C from Tweed Heads Australia.

[@Johnny_Socko]

I still think he has no business hating on "Christmas Wrapping" for being "unconventional", but then he's all over this one. 🤪

[@joanmayfield4791]

This one would be fun dancing with the kids! Foo Fighters Run Run Rudolph!

[@Alewifes_Husband]

This was recorded during a tough economic time (1976-77) in the UK and reflects Ray Davies' blue-collar sympathies and shows the dry wit that the Kinks always have had. Love it!

[@ryanawilson8549]

The look of absolute astonishment on Amber's face 🤣🤣🤣

[@allenlocke1935]

"Low Budget" by the Kinks! Monster riff and just as relevant now, as back in the late seventies when I was junior high.

[@carolmead4997]

just what i would expect from the KINKS,different,have a great Crissy and super new year to you and your family.

[@chrissimon9879]

Springsteen’s Santa Claus is coming to town” is a classic

[@David_Theisen]

Definitely!! So is Bob River’s I Am Santa Claus in the style of Ironman

[@teresajarrell452]

YES!! 👍😃❣️😃👍

[@yoseffeigenbaum9639]

Christmas songs definitely involve getting mugged if you're The Kinks!

[@joannetyndall3625]

Greg Lakes I believe in Father Christmas is a must xx

[@SoOutrageous]

My absolute favorite. The Kinks need more attention here.

[@robertmills8640]

The Kinks have a great sense of humor mixed with some social comment😁🎄

[@xzonia1]

So glad you enjoyed it! Merry Christmas to you and anyone else reading this! 🎄☃❄🛷❤💚

[@lann2bme7516]

Yes! Joy, Love & Merry Christmas!!🎄🕯️♥️🌞🙌🙏 Don't forget to " Come Dancing!! " 🌌🫶🎶🎵🕊️💗💕

[@pam1574]

Wishing a Blessed Christmas to all! ✨🎄🦌

[@kevindowdell8394]

Merry Christmas!

[@timlundergan3360]

The Kinks had amazing range, from "Waterloo Sunset" to "Apeman" or "(Wish I Could Fly Like) Superman." For another unconventional Christmas song (definitely not a hymn), check out "Fairytale of New York" by The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl. Wikipedia says it's the UK's most popular Christmas song of the 21st Century.

[@queenbeedat8726]

APEMAN.......Love it

[@Nel80s]

Fairytale of New York is amazing

[@richardmather1906]

Yes to amazing range. In the first Rolling Stone encyclopedia of Rock they called Ray Davies a "genuine neurotic in a universe of sham psychotics" and said the Kinks could put on makeup and do a Kiss show well, but Kiss could never pull off a Kinks' show. Over the course of their career they have done just about everything. As to our reactors here, they ought to listen to the live version of "Muswell Hillbilly" wherein Ray introduces himself as "Johnny Cash" and does their take on country. Or maybe the live "Alcohol" from the same album, with a boozy music hall vibe. The Kinks can do anything.

[@ruelsmith]

Ray Davies is the greatest lyricist in rock history, period. What a great band and a HUGE influence on so many bands that came behind them. Let's not forget Dave Davies on the guitar... You should really check out Superman and Low Budget from the One More From The Road live album. Incredible...

[@MickBokulich-gg1ro]

I totally agree. Have you heard his demo tape from the 80 days musical?

[@elizabethfranco1284]

Kinks one of the great British Invasion bands ❤

[@carollittle1059]

My teen years

[@bertal.rahmey457]

❤❤😢🙏

[@michellehaff5613]

I was Blessed to see The Kinks four times in concert. To see Rob's head banging like a true punk from my generation made my NEW years day!!! Bless you and your family in the new year!!!

[@Beaver1224]

I think you've missed the point of this song. Despite the light-hearted upbeat sound, the whole message is that the rich kids can get toys, but the poor kids can't eat a doll or an action figure. They need money to pay for food, shelter, etc. One line that goes by quietly: "But give my daddy a job 'cause he needs one. He's got lots of mouths to feed."

[@suzieredfoxfur6982]

The Kinks… Really got me… coolest rock song ever … prove me wrong

[@RayfordRaySiegel]

I grew up hearing the Van Halen version. It's a very cool song.

[@peterfields4801]

No surprise really,these guys were brilliant!

[@jackcade68]

Greatest Christmas song ever. The musical equivalent to the movie "Bad Santa".

[@davidschecter5247]

Simply the greatest Christmas song of all time! No arguments! And wonderful structure to this piece of madness, too!

[@julesj7837]

Love The Kinks and how this fun, twisted spin on a Christmas song sneaks up on you.

[@christophercattie]

I always say "Between the Beatles and the Stones - I'll take the Kinks"

[@20th_Century_Man]

Amen, brother!

[@glennplesnarski3730]

I've seen the Kinks several times, one of my all-time favorite live bands. One of my most memorable concerts, forget the year, but it was the Kinks at Madison Square Garden on December 23rd, and they closed with Father Christmas.

[@Starriddin]

Do "I believe in Father Christmas" by Gregg Lake of Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. A real Christmas song with a deep message!

[@johnmaynardable]

Yes, a great song.

[@DJHolte]

Yeah, absolutely -- and they should definitely do the original Greg Lake solo version rather than the ELP version.

[@chrisclark7170]

@@DJHolte or the live version with Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull

[@alantidwell7889]

I concur...Greg Lake is amazing on this song!

[@rachaelgosser5659]

Yes. "I believe in Father Christmas" is a must.

[@tommymash9020]

Definitely gotta do the Billy Squier Christmas one. It’s fun and rockin. And way more of a happy Christmas song

[@centuryrox]

Yes! Officially titled "Christmas is the Time to Say I Love You"

[@AttackChefDennis]

Just another awesome Kink's song in their repertoire. FATHER CHRISTMAS GIVE US SOME $$$!...... Awesome

[@iluvbacnotan7977]

“Christmas is the time to say I love you” by Billy Squier. I love that song.

[@jimbrentar]

one of the greatest christmas songs ever

[@joesmith8725]

The Kinks! Fun new wave punk band back in the days.

[@Jabberwok28]

This is truly a Kinks song as a Christmas song - it is lyrically exactly what you would expect from them, musically too. Love this. So cynical. In the same vein, check out “Is this Christmas” by The Wombats.

[@MrSimes5]

You should do Billy Squier - Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You. Make sure to do the live MTV version!

[@debracoleman2112]

I saw the Kinks in the 70s at the spectrum in Philadelphia.... awesome concert l was 19 😀❤️

[@AP-gb3eh]

First rock song to remember the poor kids, true in a hardcore fashion ☮️

[@CassieLopez]

The other day I was walking to the grocery store and I passed a man carrying a wine bottle with a festive ribbon on it, and I thought of you two and decided to make him smile. So I held out my hand and said enthusiastically, "Thank you!!" He cracked up. And as we passed each other, he turned around and said "Next time!" I said "Merry Christmas!" and we both walked away smiling.

[@zedxxx9]

Wow... I have loved the Kinks for years, but I'd never heard this one before. It's quite a blast!! A new Christmas favorite, thank you!

[@paulyoung6040]

Punk rock saying "Merry Christmas"

[@cvlcvl190]

Our eldest nephew introduced this song to his Grandma a few years back & she thought it was hysterical. But then her favorite Christmas song is "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" so it runs in the family for a quirky sense of humor.🦌🎅🎄

[@EricLovesthe80s]

Billy Squier - Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You

[@ENDTIMEsVideoLibrary]

I'm in LOVE now with this song!!!

[@chipdamutt108]

Absolutely love this song and sometimes find myself singing it in the summertime.

[@dolphinbear661]

Yeeeeessssssss! This means it's Christmas. Maybe the most "punk- rock" Christmas song ever. Finally, your taste is redeemed, Rob😆

[@robertgregor8755]

Try "Oi to the World" by the Vandals (later covered by No Doubt)

[@dolphinbear661]

@robertgregor8755 a good one, too, for sure. Father Christmas is "foundational", tho, imo. And ultra-violent🤷🤣

[@mikewingate284]

The perfect bookend to "Christmas Wrapping". This time J. is loving it, and Amber is looking shocked. 🎄

[@Dave_D.]

Without a doubt, the best Christmas song ever recorded. Not only does it rock hard, but in the end, it has a great message.

[@theoc.o.3420]

One of my favorite Christmas songs of all time is Billy Squier’s “Christmas Is A Time to Say I Love You” . Please check it out.

[@beachbumsailordude]

This is one of the classic Rock Christmas songs. It's a standard for anyone who loves Rock.

[@canonfodder2068]

The Kinks were a favorite of mine at a very young age but I didn't stick with them as I got older. I am glad to be reminded about them! Time to search out more old tunes of theirs.

[@ChandraLeigh]

Haha yesssss❤😂. It’s Rock n Roll, Amber. Laugh, it’ll be ok.

[@jeffreyflint6286]

A kickass band from my youth. Love em'

[@michaelakkerman407]

Old 97's - I don't know what Christmas is... From the Gaurdians of the Galaxy Christmas special. Song is fire 🔥. My new favorite Christmas song!!!

[@kimcutts6153]

Another new one for me. I loved it. The drums 🥁 in this song are brilliant. 👍🧑‍🎄🤶

[@howarddickson8856]

The kinks are better than the stones. God save the kinks! Go down the Kinks rabbit hole. Great reaction.

[@patrickandrews5166]

This song sends an amazing message that many overlook.

[@rantoppp]

Gary Hoey - You're a Mean One Mr.Grinch is a bad a$$ guitar instrumental! He has a whole Christmas album with 37 songs. Not all of them are heavy rock and it's a nice change of pace for some classic Christmas music!

[@jeffreycook2112]

That was a great reaction to a very cool song guys. I have a Christmas song that you guys are going to love. I Believe In Father Christmas by Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake and Palmer. It’s one of my favorite Christmas songs. Merry Christmas to you and your family. 🎅

[@michaelwells4693]

Cutting edge wit and sarcasm by the great Ray Davies. And his brother Dave really shreds it on guitar. Used to hear it all the time on Chicago rock stations during the season. Not so much anymore, I think maybe due to the machine gun reference. But back in '77 mass shootings were not common

[@420johnas]

This is absolutely a great Christmas song. I love this song since I first heard it back in the 70s. I was so excited to see you guys we’re gonna react to it. You need to listen to it a few times to realize some people don’t need toys, dad needs a job there are more things than toys. Give all the toys to the little rich boys. I love you guys keep up the great work!

[@pam1574]

Omg, the KINKS!!!! 💜

[@kevinm3428]

One of the best Christmas songs ever written. 1970’s England was wracked by rampant unemployment (which gave rise to the advent of punk rock) and the people were seriously suffering. IMO, It’s coming back, world-wide, with all the money-printing being done with no regard to inflation and unemployment. Remember the reason for Christmas, the savior was born to save our souls. Merry Christmas!

[@J_Dean35]

Here’s my top 3 Christmas must hear. 1. Fairytale of New York - The Pogues 2. The Little Drummer Boy - Bing Crosby, David Bowie 3. Merry Christmas (I don’t want to fight tonight) - The Ramones

[@simply_psi]

So glad you both liked this song, my suggestion for the next Christmas song is I Believe in Father Christmas by Greg Lake its a great song

[@sachaput]

Always loved this song. The Kinks were a great band with some unusual material.

[@Jp421JP]

You can’t go wrong with the Kinks! Merry Christmas all.

[@diannaw3034]

In the spirit of Billy Idol being mentioned.. I would love to see a reaction to The Ramones, Merry Christmas - I Don't Want To Fight Tonight! lol 🍁🌲🌟

[@selecttoursnyc7787]

This song is a product of its time. The 1980s were a difficult time for the working class in Britain. Check out Greg Lake’s I Believe in Father Christmas. So good.

[@stevenblock9712]

Part of the 1964 British Invasion wave with big hits that year, the Kinks are often called the "most underrated band". BTW, I LOVE "Christmas Wrapping"! :)

[@tunestopeacerecords]

So glad you enjoyed the Kinks. They have SO many interesting songs. Only the Kinks would do a Christmas song like this. Humor combined with rock music and observing the injustices in society.

[@alanjohnson2079]

Love you guys...Love the Kinks too. Got to see them several times. This song is sarcastic, except the line "think of all the kids who got nothing, while your drinkin down yer wine." That is what the song is about. Good pick JAY! Check out "Christmas must be tonight." The Band...I know you'll dig it

[@CPny65]

OK you want a Christmas song you wouldn't usually hear. Check out "Bob and Doug McKenzie 12 days of Christmas". They are characters from SCTV, Canadas version of Saturday Night Live. Many famous comedians came from there. Merry Christmas

[@joeday4293]

By the way, that's me on the organ 😄

[@CPny65]

@@joeday4293 🤣🤣

[@88wildcat]

@@joeday4293 Take off hoser.

[@Soulcatt]

I've loved the Kinks for decades, but this one has slipped by me until now. Once again, the Kinks DO NOT DISAPPOINT.

[@big106razor]

This is a Christmas classic and we didn't expect anything less from The Kinks.

[@paullevinsky5256]

The Kinks were right up there with the Beatles and the Stones in the British invasion. Very very important band in the formation of rock music. You must listen to 20th Century Man for a better picture of what they were all about. Phenomenal song!

[@lonbecker113]

Kinks lyrics tend to have multiple layers. On the surface it sounds like this is a song about some thugs stealing from a dress up Santa Claus. But this is really a song about poverty. The key line is "And give my dad a job because he needs one, he's got a lot of mouths to feed". What the kids are telling Santa is that they need money for food more than they need toys. (I know he also wants the machine gun to be big man in the neighborhood, but the emphasis is on money with the toys going to the people who already have enough to eat). The message of the song is " Have yourself a merry merry Christmas Have yourself a good time But remember the kids who got nothin' While you're drinkin' down your wine

[@rooftopvoodoo]

Ramones - Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)

[@jonathan492]

The Kinks are a very underrated band considering, even though they are in the RNR HOF. Check some songs out.

[@ericwilliams7437]

Fishbone “it’s a wonderful life “!!! You’ll absolutely love them!!!

[@tothra]

Not only are The Kinks one of my favorite bands, but "Father Christmas" is one of my most favorite Christmas songs! It has a great early punk rock vibe, and Dave Davies guitar is fire! This was written around 1976 when Britain was in economic turmoil. Rob and Amber, who're normally on top of music interpretation, appears to have missed the songs message. The kids didn't want presents; they want a job for their dad and food for the family to eat. Toys are useless compared to their empty bellies. This song is the definition of rock and roll! It takes the usual standards and turns them upside down, making something new out of an old trope! And, Rob, I'm sorry, dude. You're wrong about "Christmas Wrapping", also one of my favorites. It's a cool take on what life can be like for thousands of people at Christmas and does it with an almost sneeringly cute sound, which is very punk ☺

[@Priasbcbeist]

Billy Squire has a great one too plus Freddie Mercury both fabulous Christmas 🎄

[@gilbertwvbryan]

I love you guys! Speaking of the great Kinks, here's an excellent suggestion for you that's very appropriate: "Give the People What They Want" by The Kinks. Killer song.

[@michaelg2282]

The whole album! Jay will love “Destroyer”

[@johnvance3011]

Another great rock ‘n’ roll Christmas song is Billy Squier, Christmas is it time to say I love you, and another great Christmas song is Ray Parker Junior, Christmas Time is here, sounds like raydio

[@johncampbell756]

I love this song. It is now Christmas time. Bruce Springsteen "Santa Clause Is Coming to Town (original live version). Emerson Lake and Palmer "I Believe in Father Christmas."

[@SC1089]

It's a punk rock band, so they're singing a song for them. "But give my daddy a job cause he needs one, he's got lots of mouths to feed" of course they are children though, so "BUT IF YOU HAVE ONE, I'LL HAVE A MACHINE GUN, SO I CAN SCARE ALL THE KIDS ON THE STREET!". For younger folks, at this time period children wanting a machine gun for Christmas, was a very normal thing for a kid to want. The toy guns of these days were made to look as realistic as possible. Nowadays they are only used as "prop guns" in movies. If you saw a little kid walking down the street with what appeared to be a shotgun, you didn't worry, you just figured it was a toy gun

[@kenhayhurst374]

Chuck Berry did "Run, Run, Rudolph". And it's been covered by many.

[@RayDavies-zv5ic]

If you don't know already the Kinks were superstars in the 1960s. I suggest the following of their hits are worthy of listening to: Waterloo Sunset (described by some as one of the best pop songs ever written) Sunny Afternoon You Really Got Me Lola My Christmas gifts to you (which have nothing to do with Christmas but should make you smile) are If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody by Freddie and the Dreamers They're Coming to Take Me Away, Haha by Napoleon XIV

[@RayDavies-zv5ic]

Sorry ! I now see you have reacted to some of the Kinks songs I suggested already.

[@lesliesylvan]

Keep going down that KINKS Rabbit Hole with Ray & Dave Davies. Muswell Hillbillies LP is a hoot . . . Love you guys!

[@bulliboyz]

God bless The Kinks

[@RandoReport]

Billy Idol's cover of "White Christmas" is a good one, very stylish and sincere. Twisted Sister's "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" is also a lot of fun.

[@jco207]

Yes! Please react to both of these.

[@dhamblin65]

The kinks could have been huge here in America if they weren’t banned from the U.S. in the 60’s. They should be on the British Invasion Mount Rushmore - the Beatles, the Stones, the Who, the Kinks.

[@markg6671]

Did y'all know that Twisted Sister did a whole album of Christmas songs? Their version of "Silver Bells" rocks! 🤘🎄

[@David_Theisen]

Oh you can’t go without Heavy Metal Christmas!!!

[@victoriabarr255]

I just watched it. It’s hilarious

[@larrywalker5374]

Ray Davies is the greatest wordsmith of rock.

[@roseyoung8655]

My favorite Christmas song!

[@joshuasimons4036]

The Kinks. Well, they are The Kinks. Another Ray Davies brilliant composition!!!!