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My Gen X Playlist: Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy – Bing Crosby and David Bowie

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When I was a kid, we used to watch all the Road To movies starring Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. I knew Hope to be a comedian and Crosby to be a singer. Crosby officially became cool when I saw him sing with David Bowie on the Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy. What a cool duet. The harmonies still give me chills to this day, they are so good. Little did I know this was a late minute arrangement.

Bowie was scripted to sing the 1940s carol The Little Drummer Boy, but the musician complained that the melody didn’t suit his voice. Composers Ian Fraser and Larry Grossman leapt into action with scriptwriter Buz Kohan and quickly came up with a counterpoint melody, entitled Peace On Earth.

RadioX

Sadly, this was Crosby’s last recording. Looks like I’m not the only fan of this collaboration. RIP, guys. Thanks for leaving this gem behind.

Whoever came up with the idea to pair these two singers together was an absolute genius.

YouTube comment by EriksAngel15

Two classic voices from different eras. Rest in peace David and Bing

YouTube comment by Terry-e1b

These two legends may no longer be with us on Earth, but they’ll be with us every Christmas through this beautiful song.

YouTube comment by mayavenuemisfit814

Merry Christmas everyone!

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Come they told me pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
A new-born king to see pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum

Come they told me pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
A new-born king to see pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
To lay before the king pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum

So to honour him pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
When we come

Peace on Earth, can it be
Years from now, perhaps we'll see
See the day of glory
See the day, when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again

Peace on Earth, can it be

Every child must be made aware
Every child must be made to care
Care enough for his fellow man
To give all the love that he can

Little baby pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
I stood beside him there pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
I played my drum for him pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
I played my best for him pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum

And he smiled at me pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Me and my drum

I pray my wish will come true
For my child and your child too
He'll see the day of glory
See the day when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again

Peace on Earth, can it be

Can it be

It's pretty thing, isn't it?

22 thoughts on “My Gen X Playlist: Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy – Bing Crosby and David Bowie”

  1. Merry Christmas! 🎅
    I recall reading a few articles about this collab, and if I recall correctly, it was a bit of a struggle because of Bowie complaining about the song choice, and the fact that Bing wasn’t doing too well and was a bit forgetful by this point in time,
    Regardless, they pulled it off and it came out great.

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  3. Merry Christmas! I’m a rabid, lifelong Bowie fan, but this song makes me cringe. I agree it was brilliant in that the last-minute tweaks and compromises gave life to the duet, but….anyway, I don’t want to come off as being the Grinch, so I’ll stop there. 🙂 Again, Merry Christmas and Happy and Healthy New Year! xo

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  7. I don’t think I’ve ever seen or heard this before which is weird because it’s right up my alley. Thanks for sharing! I like the mash-up much better than Drummer Boy alone. (As a funny person once said, not one woman, including The Virgin Mary, is up for listening to some kid’s drum solo immediately after giving birth, lol.)

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