The 1970s started with the upbeat rhythm of The Jackson 5 and a 12-year-old Michael Jackson belting the 1934 song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," in the bouncy Motown sound that one suspects is still popular. Still, the 1966 Supremes version climbed higher on the charts.
But this song really didn't set the overall tone for a decade in which Christmas songs were often darker and more political.
In 1972, John Lennon and Yoko Ono made "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)," a song that wishes everyone a Happy Christmas, with a traditional sound but an embedded political message.
"Eat, drink and be merry" was the theme of Elton John's Christmas 1973 tune "Step Into Christmas." There was no rebellion in Elton's song, but it hasn't endured.
Greg Lake's sullen 1975 tune, "I believe in Father Christmas," bemoaned the lack of peace in the world and ended with: "The Christmas we get we deserve."
In 1973, we heard the optimistic "Merry Xmas Everybody" from glam rockers Slade. The song focused on the fun of Christmas and urged that we "Look to the future now; It's only just begun." It's upbeat with a 70s rock sound.
From 1976, Jethro Tull's somewhat traditional sounding "Ring Out Solstice Bells" includes Ian Anderson's flute. But the song is really about the winter solstice, with lyrics like "Seven druids dance in seven time."
Still, classic Christmas tunes still endure through the years, set to new voices and rhythms for each decade.
