It's Gotta Be... A Big and Red Guy

Ash: Who very soon will come our way?

Misty: Santa very soon will come our way

Ash: Eight little Stantler pull his sleigh

Brock: Santa's little Stantler pull his sleigh

All: Stantler sleigh – come our way

Ho-ho-ho – cherry nose

Cap on head – suit that's red

Special night – beard that's white

Must be Santa, must be Santa

Must be Santa, Santa Claus...

...Ho!

-- "Must Be Santa", from Pokémon Christmas Bash

It's the day before Christmas, and somewhere over yonder, a big red guy is preparing to make tomorrow's festivities, well... festive. Like mistletoe from last year (see below), it is also perpetuated through tradition and music. Likewise, it was something that just had to be for Pokémon Christmas Bash, and the album makes use of the ditty that I've quoted above, which for the purpose of the album was covered by Ash (Veronica Taylor), Brock (Eric Stuart), and Misty (Rachael Lillis), by their classic voice actors.

Now, the song itself is, just like The Christmas Song (also see below, two years ago), a bit of a classic, but a more modern one. Hal Moore and Bill Fredericks wrote the song, and the first recording of it was from 1960. It is a simple song for anyone - particularly children - to sing, because it takes a call-and-response form, evident in the character exchange above, as well as as a cumulative form, with the list of features just after, then followed by the chorus. By the above, one could be able to determine the preceding remaining lyrics.

Also like with The Christmas Song, the song (at least, in its original form) lacks Pokémon flavor and for most intents and purposes may be construed to have little to do with it. The solution is the same as the previous song - make it so related, by changing "reindeer" to Stantler. That happens in the last "cycle" of the song, and so it is that I've quoted above. It might have been purely for this reason that the song was put in the album, which seems kind of cheap even though it sells with Pokémon in the mix.

Those in the know about contemporary music might recognize that there is a popular cover of this song by Bob Dylan, which is a frenetic polka version. That cover, though, came out a few years later after this particular cover, and while I've listened to it and find it entertaining, I prefer to think of this cover as my "definitive" version. Of course, a remix of the Pokémon Christmas Bash version in the style of Bob Dylan's version can't hurt, and I'd appreciate it as much as the originals of concern.

Regardless, the presence of the "big red guy" - however one believes about the figure in question - is something to behold at this time of year. Ash, Brock, and Misty singing about the case may be considered to make that even more so, complementing those beliefs; they also suit the whimsical approach of the song. And now, shortly, that "big red guy" will make things festive; by this song, it shouldn't be hard to tell that it's that figure. Whatever Pokémon things the figure might have in store... that might be fully dependent on other certainties.

One year ago: The Mistletoe Dangled Over...

Two years ago: Christmas Song, Really

Three years ago: Let's Go Play with Buddies

Four years ago: Keeping Homes in Hearts

Five years ago: Cool Wintry Song