That Guy on TV - John Graham's Blog, Resume, and Hootenanny
That Guy on TV - John Graham's Blog, Resume, and Hootenanny

21 Days Until Christmas

My favorite labored rhyme in a Christmas song? “Chimney” and “Bimini.” I’m posting a holiday song every day from now until December 25, and today, it’s that most loved Christmas crooner … Billy Squier … and 1981’s “Christmas Is the Time to Say ‘I Love You.’”

The video for the song was an on-air Christmas card from MTV. The veejays and crew and office staff got together on bleachers and Billy lip-synched in a magnificent sweater of the era. Here’s the clip, introduced by the 1990 Martha Quinn, reminiscing about nine years earlier. Jump to 1:28 if you don’t wanna hear Miss Quinn.

Lyrically, “Christmas Is the Time to Say ‘I Love You’” is pretty standard and kinda lovely – sharing the holiday spirit around the globe and hoping it just keeps going – which is why I’m surprised it hasn’t been covered by more contemporary singers. Katharine McPhee had done it, and Darlene Love, whom I’ll write about more as we close in on December 25. The cover that best captures Billy Squier’s enthusiasm is pop punkers SR-71 on the 2001 Special Olympics benefit album, “A Very Special Christmas 5.”

1980s, Music, TV
December 4, 2020 | 9:50 am

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About John

John Graham is That Guy on TV – an Emmy-winning producer/writer/host and owner of Mosquito County Productions, based in Orlando, FL.

Over the years, John has produced YouTube videos with millions of views, worked with Muppets and Princesses, won two regional Emmys for travel reporting, interviewed celebs from Ariana Grande to Hillbilly Jim, and done thousands of live news broadcasts. (You know it’s me writing this, right?)

Get ahold of me at John@thatguyontv.com

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