Christmas is this Sunday. Christmas carols are a cool part of the holidays. About a month ago, my oldest son’s music class was asked what Christmas carol they should perform for the school’s concert. He recommended “Christmas in Hollis” by Run DMC because he really likes it, and the music video is awesome. The class listened to it and, get this, voted on “Christmas in Hollis” as the song to perform, but their teacher picked “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” because “it was an easier song to sing” according to the previously mentioned oldest son of mine. Let’s evaluate these two iconic Christmas carols and see which one makes the most sense for kids to sing at future concerts.

Iconic Christmas Carol Summary

“Christmas in Hollis”

Teaches us about giving (food, money, sweet rhymes)
It has a super catchy tune
The Oldest Boys loves the “macaroni and cheese” line
Fresh outfits
The guys return Santa’s wallet, which represents “being nice” and “being good”
“I’m chillin’ and coolin’ just like a snowman” is an

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”

This song normalizes – if not elevates – bullying as an acceptable practice
It has a super catchy tune that is easy for kids to understand
It confuses utility with value (we have intrinsic value
Santa’s behaviour acknowledges how Rudolph’s historical performance is a matter of convenience (e.g. it was foggy), as opposed to an approach that reflects a commitment to diversity and inclusion

Lyrics from “Christmas in Hollis” by Run DMC

It was December 24th on Hollis Ave in the dark

When I see a man chilling with his dog in the park

I approached very slowly with my heart full of fear

Looked at his dog, oh my God, an ill reindeer

But then I was illin’ because the man had a beard

And a bag full of goodies, 12 o’clock had neared

So I turned my head a second and the man had gone

But he left his driver’s wallet smack dead on the lawn

I picket the wallet up, and then I took a pause

Took out the license and it cold said “Santa Claus”

A million dollars in it, cold hundreds of G’s

Enough to buy a boat and matching car with ease

But I’d never steal from Santa, ’cause that ain’t right

So I was going home to mail it back to him that night

But when I got home I bugged, ’cause under the tree

Was a letter from Santa and the dough was for me

It’s Christmastime in Hollis Queens

Mom’s cooking chicken and collard greens

Rice and stuffing, macaroni and cheese

And Santa put gifts under Christmas trees

Decorate the house with lights at night

Snow’s on the ground, snow-white so bright

In the fireplace is the yule log

Beneath the mistletoe as we drink egg nog

The rhymes that you hear are the rhymes of Darryl’s

But each and every year we bust Christmas carols, Christmas carols

Rhymes so loud, I’m proud you hear it

It’s Christmastime and we got the spirit

Jack Frost chillin’, the hawk is out

And that’s what Christmas is all about

The time is now, the place is here

And the whole wide world is filled with cheer

My name’s D.M.C. with the mic in my hand

And I’m chilling and coolin’ just like a snowman

So open your eyes, lend us an ear

We wanna say Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Lyrics from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen

Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen

But do you recall

The most famous reindeer of all?

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer

Had a very shiny nose

And if you ever saw it

You would even say it glows

All of the other reindeer

Used to laugh and call him names

They never let poor Rudolph

Join in any reindeer games

Then one foggy Christmas Eve

Santa came to say

“Rudolph, with your nose so bright

Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?”

Then how the reindeer loved him

As they shouted out with glee

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

You’ll go down in history”

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer