"The Ten Christmas Songs of Steve Pulaski"
Song #7: Joe Pesci - "If It Doesn't Snow on Christmas" (1998)
Vincent LaGuardia Gambini Sings Just for You
"Now, they say he's got eight reindeer, for the sleigh he's driving here, but how the fuck's he go if it doesn't snow on Christmas this year?"
I still adore all the strange looks I get from people after all these years when I tell them that Joe Pesci - the same man responsible for playing pivotal roles in Martin Scorsese's mobster films like Casino and Goodfellas - also made two albums, his sophomore effort composed almost entirely of parody songs, novelty tunes, and cover songs. One of my favorite songs off of his second album, titled Vincent LaGuardia Gambini Sings Just for You after his character in My Cousin Vinny, is his Christmas song "If It Doesn't Snow on Christmas," where he vulgarly asks us Santa's alternate method to deliver his presents to all the girls and boys if it doesn't snow on Christmas? It's a reasonable question, even if you don't like the song.
Pesci sings in his nasally, purebread Italian voice, and is even backed up by a few singing children towards the end, whom he hilariously interacts with before the song ends. Pesci suggests alternate methods of transportation for Santa if the weather doesn't provide for snow, like a train or a bus, even remarking how he sent him a "nice long letter" to question his backup plan.
Not only is the song hilarious, repeatedly asking a question that does definitely deserve some sort of yuletide amendment to convention, but to hear such a goofy tune sung by one of the most hardened tough guys film has ever seen is also something to behold. Contrary to what could reasonably be assumed from my explanation, Pesci's Christmas song definitely gets me in the mood for the holidays for questioning a ritually-accepted convention in a way that provides for some festive humor.
Give "If It Doesn't Snow on Christmas" a listen, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hawOAtZcW9o
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