Julian Casablancas Gifts Fans "SNL" Christmas Song on MySpace

We're more than a month away from Christmas, but Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas is feeling charitable this week. First, he released his solo album Phrazes for the Young, then he posted his upcoming Xmas single a month and 20 days early on his MySpace Music page. "Everyone seems to do a Christmas song at some point, so I always said to myself I'd do that song," Casablancas told the NME. "I now checked that off the list of things to do."

Casablancas bypassed the usual "Jingle Bells" and Christmas in the Heart fare by choosing to cover "I Wish It Was Christmas Today," a little Devo-infused slice of holiday glee originally performed by Horatio Sans, Chris Kattan, Jimmy Fallon and Tracy Morgan on Saturday Night Live (Watch the original up top.) An odd choice — who knew Julian was such an SNL fan? — but Casablancas makes it work by adding a little Strokes flavor and doubling the original version's runtime. Speaking of the Strokes, the last time Casablancas spoke about his band, he reported they were divided over the progress of their fourth album.

A 7'' inch limited-edition vinyl of "I Wish It Was Christmas Today" will be released December 21st, with a digital download also promised.

• 
  MUSIC The Top 25 Teen Idol Breakout Moments
• 
  MOVIES & TV 'Game of Thrones': The Show Vs. the Books
• 
  POLITICS Matt Taibbi: Facebook IPO vs. Shareholders
• 
  VIDEOS Exclusive: Garbage Rip Through 'I Think I'm Paranoid'

Song Stories

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nirvana | 1991

"Smells Like Teen Spirit," named after a brand of deodorant marketed to girls, was Kurt Cobain's attempt to "write the ultimate pop song," he said, using the soft-loud dynamic of his favorite band, the Pixies. Cobain "had that dichotomy of punk rage and alienation," the song’s producer, Butch Vig, told Rolling Stone, "but also this vulnerable pop sensibility. In 'Teen Spirit,' a lot of that vulnerability is in the tone of his voice." Sadly, by the time of Nirvana's last U.S. tour, in late '93, Cobain was tortured by the obligation to play "Teen Spirit" every night. "There are many other songs that I have written that are as good, if not better," he claimed.

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter