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Welcome to the 1st Armadillo Streaming Christmas!
Hello Family & Friends!
We are reigniting a 25 year Dan Jackson institution by reanimating the recently iced Armadillo Christmas album tradition with the 2025 version coming directly to you from The House of Mickey here in Central FL! More importantly we are leap frogging from the CD burning dark ages to online playlists in order to enhance distribution efficiency!!! If you happen to make it through this entire unnecessarily lengthy Christmas “War & Peace” communiqué please let me know by bragging about your suffering readership diligence!
Armadillo Christmas History
For those of you who are new to the Armadillo Christmas tradition my older brother (much older) Dan Jackson grew up in Texas and has an affinity for Armadillos in all shapes, sizes, and packaging configurations (statues, mugs, prints, shirts, hats, wine openers, toilet paper, bumper stickers, Xmas ornaments, etc). Dan started the Armadillo Christmas (MP3 ripping - CD burning - cover printing) tradition in 1999 and over the next 22 years he burned 100s (probably 1000s) of CDs w over 700 songs cumulative amongst all of the versions. The portfolio of Armadillo Christmas CDs included 280+ unique Christmas songs by 250+ different artists and Dan spread cheer by handing them out to friends, family, and the occasional stranger. Dan not only ripped and burned individual CDs, he printed CD covers w the songlists which usually included a quick anecdote about that year's CD, and often a wintry photo on the cover he had taken somewhere along the way. Every CD opened w Rudolph by a different artist. We did the same thing this year pulling previously untapped Rudolph artist Merle Haggard out of the bullpen. But I don’t want to launch a spoiler 2 paragraphs early, read on!
Btw, when you finish this ridiculously endless novel about a simple Christmas songlist you are going to definitely think, “This project took them a LONG TIME!” Rest assured, even given that your DJ Curating Masters of Ceremonies labored tirelessly choosing songs, ordering playlists, creating artwork, creating a website, and writing a seemingly never ending dispatch, it probably took us about 10% (or less) the amount of time it took Dan to navigate all that choosing/ripping/copying/burning/printing donkey work drudgery he went through annually for over 2 decades!
Your 2025 DJs and Curators
LJ w his new long hair & shaggy beard along with lovely Minou (aka Minnie) & Margarita (aka Margs, Rita, Margaret, Margenheimer, Heimer, Bubbins, Bubbs, etc - it’s hard for me to keep up w her nicknames) are all music aficionados, Christmas lovers, and embracers of difficult unpaid tasks. We have accepted the very heavy responsibility of doing justice to Armadillo Christmas 2025 and since we have been talking about this musical resurrection for a coupla months it came to pass that during Thanksgiving week we jumped all over the project with a relentless fervor! We feel the responsibility of Armadillo Christmas Future. So we all chose 6-8 songs to include in AC25 (see what I did there?) and leaned into Dan’s historical country music affinity along with a solid smattering of Christmas songs by gospel groups. We didn’t dive into the archives to see if we had repeated any songs previously published on Armadillo Christmases Past, I’m sure there are a coupla crossovers, but I’m guessing 3 or less (which I can’t imagine anyone but Dan actually remembering - if even he can remember)
our Christmas Pictures
We are Disney fans with annual passes including the Disney Photo Pass which means any time we are at any Disney park & stop to get a pic w an official Disney photographer HiRes versions drop right into our photo gallery on the Disney app. Look around in this content and you will undoubtedly spy a nice collage of the AC25 Committee at a Disney Park or 2 (maybe even right below this paragraph). Up at the top you will see the artwork for the CD cover (in case Dan wants to print it and put it in an empty CD cover in order to feel comfortable w all this newness) which includes the 3 separate artists rendition of a Christmas Armadillo. Hours of painstaking work was put into the Armadillo art including colors, shading, & 3D renderings so look closely and learn from these Armadillo masters. The best Armadillo is incredibly obvious, no reason to even take a poll.
Our year's Rudolph song!
Each of us (Larry, Minnie, and Bubbins) drew an armadillo for armadillo christmas
Important links
Cutting to the Chase - The Playlists
I know MOST of you will read EVERY word in this windy wordy verbose diatribe as I recount Armadillo Christmas history, introduce the research team, and describe why each and every song choice was made. But in the meantime I’m sure you will want to start blasting 1 of the actual streaming songlists (play it LOUD). We have created playlists on the big 3 streaming services in hopes of giving everyone who lays eyes on this missive a way to play Armadillo Christmas 2025 online.
THE SET LIST ROSTER
Rudolph - Merle Haggard - 1982
DJ Margarita
Margarita is a HUGE Merle fan and when she pulled this version of Rudolph out and the multi-year Armadillo Christmas AI cross referencing deep dbase search subroutine popped out the answer “Merle’s Rudolph is historically unused in the AC-verse” we celebrated uproariously and had our first entry on AC25!!
Winter Wonderland/Sleigh Ride - Dolly Parton - 1997
DJ Margs
Margs is an even bigger Dolly fan than she is a Merle fan so it was unfathomable to not follow M w D to open AC25. We also went to Dollywood this fall and it was fantastic. At DW you are immersed in countrified hillbilly hayseed redneck traditions, music, food, drink & crafts at every turn. The park is so big that it’s impossible to see the whole thing in just 1 day so I rode 8 very adult rollercoasters over the 2 days we were in Pigeon Forge, TN, the home of Dollywood. More than a couple of the coasters didn’t feel all that safe which adds a great haphazard “caution to the wind” dimension to the sense of adventure at DW when you are used to the Disney and Universal paranoid safety perfection. I may have slightly sharted myself on one particularly shocking and surprising coaster death drop.
Let It Be Christmas - Alan Jackson - 2002
DJ Rita
I didn’t even ask Rita why she chose this song, but I’m pretty sure it’s because his name is Jackson!!!
Santa Claus is Comin to Town - Reba McEntire - 2016
DJ Bubbins
Bubbins is a gigantic Reba fan (right behind Dolly & Merle), her 2 sitcoms (Reba 2001-2007 & Happy’s Place 2024+) are often playing in the background in the kitchen while Min is slaving over a hot stove and we are slavering as we await the next fine dining experience. No surprise a Reba song made the cut.
Jingle Bell Rock - Randy Travis - 1992
DJ Margenheimer
“So Margenheimer, why did you pick a song by Randy Travis?” “Because he is Iconic!”
The Old Man's Back in Town - Garth Brooks - 1992
DJ Heimer
(not on the Apple or Spotify playlists, apparently Garth only likes Amazon) “Hey Heimer , why did you pick this song by Garth?” “Because he’s Legendary!! And it’s a fav of my grandmother.”
Christmas Cookies - Oak Ridge Boys - 2005
DJ Bubbs
“Riddle me this Bubbs, why an Oak Ridge Boys song? They are pretty old …” Her contemplative & detailed explanation: “I like their voices!!!”
Christmas in Dixie - Alabama - 1985
DJ Margarita
“It’s my favorite Christmas song, the vibe is really good, it puts me in a very nostalgic mood.”
You Make It Feel Like Christmas - Gwen & Blake - 2017
Hand Picked by Minnie
“It’s spunky, it makes me happy! It’s very cute, shakes things up compared to traditional Christmas songs.”
Santa Looked a Lot Like Daddy - Buck Owens - 1965
Hand Picked by Minnie
“It’s not an over played Christmas standard that has been covered a thousand times so it feels unique every Christmas when I hear it for the first time.”
Country Christmas - Loretta Lynn - 1966
Hand Picked by Minnie
“Loretta is a family favorite and this is my favorite Christmas song of hers. AND it fits the Country spirit of Dan’s Armadillo Christmas tradition.”
On The Housetop - George Strait - 2008
Hand Picked by Minnie
“George Strait is my mom’s favorite singer so ever since we started discussing AC25 his spot in the AC25 rotation has been written in stone.”
Repeat the Sounding Joy - Triumphant Quartet - 2016
Hand Picked by Minnie
This was the last song to make it’s way into the AC25 setlist and I will quote Minnie, “For my last pick we need something uplifting and joyful that celebrates Jesus birth.” After a deep search on the “Light Web” this fit the bill.
Baby It's Cold Outside - Dean Martin - 1959
Hand Picked by Minnie
“I have always loved this song and refuse to acknowledge the controversy that cropped up a few years ago so I chose to include it here free of any historically negative connotations or baggage!” For musical history buffs the original was recorded w singer/actress Marilyn Maxwell. On a sidenote (for the drinkers) Dean Martin’s stage persona often leaned into comedy based around his drinking but he actually drank very rarely on stage choosing to stay sharp, hit his cues, & maintain his comedic timing. He opted for apple juice or iced tea in his highball glass onstage rather than the assumed whiskey. Kid Rock does the same thing onstage, his Jack Daniels bottle has apple cider in it.
Mistletoe & Holly - Frank Sinatra - 1957
Hand picked by Minou
“It’s not Really Christmas time until I hear the first Sinatra Christmas song of the season! It’s very chip (yes, it’s a word) & jubilant & Frankie is very special to me as he was to my grandparents.”
The Christmas Song - Aaron Neville - 1993
Hand Picked by Minnie
“My father would play this song in the car around Christmas time and it always brings me right back to being a little kid in his car. We grew up near New Orleans and for many years the family ran a convenience store that was frequented by many of the Neville Brothers so this song is near and dear to my heart.”
Christmas Time's a-Comin - Gold City - 1997
Curated by LJ
This little ditty has always sounded like a traveling tune to me, play it in the car (or sleigh) and hit the gas (or reins). I listened to quite a few versions including the Oak Ridge Boys & Johnny Cash (w the Carter Family), but one of Mom’s favorite Gospel Quartets, Gold City, took the “Christmas Time’s a-Comin” prize.
Hallelujah - Canadian Tenors - 2009
Curated by LJ
This has always been a favorite version of a favorite song of mine. The thing I appreciate about these guys is that they have to hit some incredibly rafter scratching high notes yet it feels effortless for them, the notes just fall out of them no sweat without resorting to falsetto even for the highest of highs. And every one of these tenors can sing any of these parts and they switch up the harmony parts during each chorus. Incredibly versatile. There is also a great Youtube video of the 4 Canadian Tenors singing Hallelujah live and Celine Dion surprises them on stage mid-song, their reactions are subtly hilarious.
Mr Heat Miser - Ernie Haase & The Signature Sound Quartet - 2009
Curated by LJ
Another one of Mom’s favorite Gospel Quartets. Ernie & Signature Sound even own Loudmouth sportcoats that they have been known to dust off and break out in concert! The image below was actually taken by niece Brandi when they toured through Denver about 2 months after Mom personally delivered the sportcoats to them at a tour stop in Sacramento.
Little Drummer Boy - Johnny Cash - 1972 - curated by LJ
Curated by LJ
No Christmas collection is complete without Johnny and of course it’s important to feature his classic baritone, thus Little Drummer Boy.
Mr. Grinch - Kingdom Heirs - 2004
Curated by LJ
Since we are on a roll w Mom’s favorite Gospel Quartets, imagine my surprise this fall when we visited Dollywood and a Mom Fav The Kingdom Heirs was the resident musical group in the Main Street Theater! As with many historical groups that have a long performing history (rock, country, gospel groups, etc) there have been many iterations of KH as members “retire” (expire). On this day the Quartet had members that had been w them anywhere from 3 to 20 years and the ensemble as a whole has averaged 4 shows a day 5 days a week for 40 years at Dollywood!!! As an anecdotal episodic narrative aside, Dan never included Mr Grinch on any previous ACs and I still don’t know why!
Wrap Me Up - Meghan Trainor & Jimmy Fallon - 2023
Curated by LJ
In late 2023 Jimmy Fallon called up Meghan Trainor and said: “You are coming on the show next week and I have an idea for a Christmas song we should write this week and perform next week, it’s called ‘Wrap It Up’ ” “Jimmy, that’s dumb. But if we call it ‘Wrap ME Up’ then I think we’ve got something!” They wrote it in a coupla days and performed it live on the show the next week and it was immediately so popular that they rushed into the studio to record it and hammered out a video the next week.
The Chanukah Song part 1 - Adam Sandler - 1994 (Yep, it starts w a “C”)
Curated by LJ
Speaking of songs that Dan never included on any ACs of Christmas Past, here is the long, winding, sordid road of The Chanukah Song on its sojourn to it’s first Armadillo Christmas appearance in this Year of Our Lord 2025 - we’re being inclusive!
2001 after the release of the first two versions of Armadillo Christmas:
LJ: “Hey Dan, you should include The Chanukah Song on AC2001! It’s a hilarious song!!” Dan: “No, it’s not a Christmas song” LJ: “Rude ..” 2004 after the release of The Chanukah Song part 2: “Dan! Newsflash!! The Chanukah Song part 2 has hit the streets and it is even funnier than part 1!” “No, it’s still not a Christmas song, just the names of the Jews have changed.” “Grinch …” 2015: “Dan, you’re not going to believe this but we blinked (for a decade) and The Chanukah Song part 3 AND part 4 have been released since you last Shaquille rejected the idea!” “No” “Bah Humbug …”
So now that I have total creative control of the process flow The Chanukah Song part 1 is IN! I let Adam Sandler know and his response was as follows: “After 25 years of being artistically ignored by the Armadillo Christmas Committee (of 1) all I can say is What A RELIEF!!!”
Honorable mention (it didn’t make the cut, see below)
ull of Cheer - Home Free - 2014
Curated by LJ
This original by Home Free circa 2014 is probably the funniest Christmas song I have ever heard, I laugh every time I listen to it so I dropped it into the beta version of the AC25. As we gave it the first listen through Min exclaimed:
“THAT is a Break Up song! We are NOT including a BREAK UP song on AC25!!”
“But, but but .. It’s funny …”
“I Don’t CARE! There will be NO Break Up songs on AC25 and that is Final!!!”
Chanukah Song part 1 lyrics
(It’s fun to listen to The Chanukah Song a few times in an attempt to catch all the names and the liberally stretched rhyming schemes but if you want to cheat the Cliff Notes lyrics, here you go)
Put on your yarmulke Here comes Chanukah So much fun-ukah To celebrate Chanukah
Chanukah is the festival of lights Instead of one day of presents, we have eight crazy nights When you feel like the only kid in town without a Christmas tree Here's a list of people who are Jewish just like you and me
David Lee Roth lights the menorah So do James Caan, Kirk Douglas, and the late Dinah Shore-ah Guess who eats together at the Carnegie Deli Bowzer from Sha Na Na and Arthur Fonzarelli
Paul Newman's half Jewish, Goldie Hawn's half too Put them together, what a fine lookin' Jew You don't need "Deck The Halls" or "Jingle Bell Rock" 'Cause you can spin a dreidel with Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock, both Jewish
Put on your yarmulke It's time for Chanukah The owner of the Seattle Supersonic-ahs Celebrates Chanukah
O.J. Simpson, not a Jew But guess who is? Hall of Famer Rod Carew, he converted We got Ann Landers and her sister Dear Abby Harrison Ford's a quarter Jewish, not too shabby
Some people think that Ebenezer Scrooge is Well he's not, but guess who is, all Three Stooges So many Jews are in showbiz Tom Cruise isn't, but I heard his agent is
Tell your friend Veronica It's time to celebrate Chanukah I hope I get a harmonica On this lovely, lovely Chanukah
So drink your gin and tonic-ah And smoke your marijuana-kah If you really, really wanna-kah Have a happy, happy, happy, happy Chanukah Happy Chanukah!