Our Second Annual National Caroling Party
Weekend All Things Considered asked musicians from all over the country to send in their home recordings of the Christmas carol "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town." Then we merged all the submissions — from the professional and the amateur — into one big, joyful chorus.
But there were some selections we just had to single out. Take a moment to enjoy these versions, and thanks to everyone who sang, played, hummed or honked!
Ken Moore And His Wii Theremin
Ken Moore And His Wii Theremin
It's not Christmas without a theremin — or at least, maybe not for Ken Moore, who sent us his version of the song using a homemade replica of the eerie, electronic instrument (watch him play the song on his blog).
The Flying Mangos
The Flying Mangos
The Flying Mangos describe themselves as the "greatest latin-ska fusion band ever to play Pam Graboyes' basement."
The Millennium Singers
Nose Humming From The Millennium Singers
Nose humming. We'll let these students from Leonardo da Vinci Elementary School in Sacramento, Calif., take it from there.
Patsy Monteleone
Patsy Monteleone Accompanies Himself On Ukulele
Here's a nice version of voice and ukulele from Patsy Monteleone.
Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary School
Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary School
The 570 children of Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary School spent a week recording this version — class by class. Music teacher John Webber took on the heroic job of rehearsing, recording and mixing.