Local radio station 95.5 The Fish has been playing this song by Cleveland based Christian vocal group Praise-Apella called
Carol of the Browns which can be heard here on YouTube (naturally):

Below are two YouTubes available of the 12 Days of Cleveland Browns Christmas. The first is one of several YouTubes of the 1980 version:

… the second is an updated one that was posted Saturday:

And for further inspiration here is that old chestnut Bernie, Bernie

Headline from today's paper.
[Note: Post your lyrics as a reply here, or ship your songs -- lyrics, MP3 or YouTube link -- to mabram@thebeaconjournal.com]

Ok, Northeast Ohio football fans, the Browns big Sunday win over the Buffalo Bills makes it official.
So, let's join metaphorical hands and say it loud and proud in the spirit of love and harmony that playoff caliber football engenders in the hearts and minds of fans.

THE BROWNS DON'T SUCK!

Not only does there 9-5 record mean they have finally clawed their way out of the NFL's basement, it means that for the first time since 2002, Browns fans won't spend the last week of the regular season crying in their beers about yet another lost season.

So with nothing to cry about, it seems to us at The Akron Beacon Journal that it's time for Browns Backers to sing!

It's 2007, so there is no chance that Art Modell (feel free to pause and curse his name) will be giving fans "Brian Sipe-a-passing" or a "Rutigliano Super Bowl team," for The Twelve Days of a Cleveland Brown Christmas.'
And, with Bernie, Bernie no longer throwing touchdown passes it's time to add a new song to the Browns discography.

Who's going to write and/or record this 21st Century ode to the playoff bound Browns?

You are.

We want you to come up with the next song for your beloved Brownies and it can either be an actual recording or it can simply be lyrics "as sung to the tune of" (i.e. the way Bernie, Bernie appropriates Louie, Louie ).

So, do you think you can come up with words that rhyme with "Braylon" or "Kellen?"

Perhaps you can dig into your thesaurus for ways to make "screw Pittsburgh" sound lyrical, or insert "Cribbs," "Romeo," or "finally not an embarrassment" into the hook of a great new song about these new Cleveland Browns.

Send your lyrics, links or MP3s to Malcolm X Abram at mabram@thebeaconjournal.com or post them directly to his Sound Check blog at http://www.ohio.com. He can also be reached at 330-996-3758.

Welll, hip hop may not be able to get an artist on the Billboard big sellers list but check out the most popular ringtones of the year as cobbled together by Thumbplay (www.thumbplay.com)

Party Like A Rock Star - Shop Boyz

Crank That (Soulja Boy) - Soulja Boy Tell 'Em

Bed - J. Holiday

Make Me Better (Ne-Yo Chorus) - Fabolous

This Is Why I'm Hot (Chorus) - Mims

Stronger - Kanye West

Go Getta (R. Kelly Chorus) - Young Jeezy

AYO Technology- 50 Cent ft. Justin Timberlake

The Way I Are - Timbaland ft. Keri Hilson, D.O.E.

Shut Up and Drive - Rihanna

Eight of the top 10 ringtones of '07 are hip hop songs. Well, there is plenty of money to be made in ringtones, but again, I still don't think you can build an actual music bizness career off the back of sucessful ringtones.

NEW YORK (AP) _ He may not have won "American Idol," but Chris Daughtry is the king of the album charts this year, according to Billboard.

The "Idol" finalist's band, Daughtry, sold 3.2 million copies of their self-titled debut, making it the most popular album of the year, according to the trade magazine. The group was followed by Akon, whose "Konvicted" sold 2.7 million; Fergie's "The Dutchess," which sold 2.4 million; the "Hannah Montana" soundtrack with 2.5 million copies sold; and 2005's "American Idol" champ Carrie Underwood, whose "Some Hearts" sold 2.3 million copies.

Beyonce's "Irreplaceable" was the No. 1 single of the year, followed by Rihanna's "Umbrella." Both have been nominated for a Grammy for record of the year. Rounding out the top five was Gwen Stefani at No. 3 with "The Sweet Escape," Fergie's "Big Girls Don't Cry" at No. 4, and T-Pain's "Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin')" at No. 5.

The Police's reunion tour was named the top tour of the year, grossing at least $212 million.

————————————————————-
Ok, so the top albums of the year are by an A.I. launched "active rock" band, an R&B singer, whatever the hell Fergie is (annoying?) a kiddie pop star and another A.I. contestant/winner.

Not one hip hop artist made it to the top 5. Hmmm, perhaps people are tiring of odes to strippers, the acquisition of overpriced stuff, gangsta poses and "dance of the month" tunes.
Making songs with only the potential ringtone sales in mind is no way to make a record or sustain a career, people.

Say how much do you think the members of the Police each will reap from that #1 selling $212 million tour?
The stage production was minimalist (just a few spotlights, no big screens, lasers,smoke or elaborate rigs), unlike Genesis whose Tony Banks said they'd likely break even on their reunion tour because their legendary light show cost a bunch of dough, as does the staff to make it all look good.

Not a bad haul, for the relatively pressure-free joy of reliving your salad days, eh?

News release from the Rock Hall this morning:

… The performer inductees are:

Leonard Cohen
The Dave Clark Five (Dave Clark, Lenny Davidson, Rick Huxley, Denny Payton and Mike Smith)
Madonna
John Mellencamp
The Ventures (Bob Bogle, Nokie Edwards, Gerry McGee, Mel Taylor, Don Wilson)

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame also announced the induction of Little Walter in its sideman category, and the newly named "Ahmet Ertegun Award" (formerly the non-performer category) will be presented to legendary producers, Gamble & Huff.

The 2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame performer inductees were chosen by the 600 voters of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. Artists are eligible for inclusion in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twenty-five years after their first recording is released.

… Presenters and performers at the induction will be announced at a later date. The induction ceremony will again air live on VH1 Classic on March 10, 2008.

The AP reports:

Death of Quiet Riot singer Kevin Dubrow ruled cocaine overdose by county coroner

LAS VEGAS (AP) _ The death last month of Kevin Dubrow, lead singer for the 1980s heavy metal band Quiet Riot, has been ruled an accidental cocaine overdose.

Clark County coroner spokeswoman Samantha Charles confirmed the cause Monday after toxicology results were received Monday.

Dubrow was found dead Nov. 25 at his Las Vegas home. He was 52.

That's a shame.
A rock n' roll cliche to the end.

That's right folks, the Grammy noms are out and here are some of the nominations for the big awards (the kind that usually cause a bump in sales)

KANYE WEST leads all nominees with 8 while the talented train wreck that is AMY WINEHOUSE (as opposed to he talentless trainwreck that is Britney Spears) garnered six noms for her second album Back In Black.

Album Of The Year:
Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace — Foo Fighters
These Days — Vince Gill
River: The Joni Letters — Herbie Hancock
Graduation — Kanye West
Back To Black — Amy Winehouse

Surprised to see Herbie Hancock's Joni Mitchell tribute album here?
Me too.
I'll bet he's a bit shocked also.
I've haven't heard the album in its entirety, but it's basically Hancock and his kickass band featuring Lionel Loueke (guitar), Wayne Shorter (soprano and tenor saxophones), Dave Holland (bass), Vinnie Colaiuta (drums) with a few guest vocalists taking on the music of Mitchell and some of the folks who inspired her (inlcuding Shorter's Nefertiti).
Perhaps the biggest and most pleasant surprise on the album is Tina Turner sultry reading of Edith & The Kingpin.
It's been a while since she "retired" and we've heard her on record. But she sounds wonderful and most listeners aren't used to hearing her in such a sophisticated musical setting.
Norah Jones does that sexy molasses phrasing on a lovely Court And Spark and Leonard Cohen applies his vocal gravitas to hushed poetic reading of The Jungle Line.

Sorry, I got distracted. Onward!

Record Of The Year:
"Irreplaceable" — Beyoncé
"The Pretender" — Foo Fighters
"Umbrella" — Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z
"What Goes Around…Comes Around" — Justin Timberlake
"Rehab" — Amy Winehouse

"…ella…ella..ella..ella"

Song Of The Year nominees:
"Before He Cheats" — John Kear & Chris Tompkins, songwriters (Carrie Underwood)
"Hey There Delilah" — Tom Higgenson, songwriter (Plain White T's)
"Like A Star" — Corinne Bailey Rae, songwriter (Corinne Bailey Rae)
"Rehab" — Amy Winehouse, songwriter (Amy Winehouse)
"Umbrella" — Shawn Carter, Kuk Harrell, Terius "Dream" Nash & Christopher Stewart, songwriters (Rihanna Featuring Jay-Z)

Best New Artist nominees:
Feist
Ledisi
Paramore
Taylor Swift
Amy Winehouse

Ok, my first beef is that Ledisi (Best New Artist) is on her third record as her debut was released in 2001. Yeah, Soulsinger and Feeling Orange Sometimes Blue are usually out of print and sort of hard to acquire ($67 and $73 respectively on Amazon.com or a much more reasonable $15 each at giantpeach.com). But, they exist and as such, it seems to me she ain't "new".
Likewise, Feist is also on her third album and her previous record Let it Die is still available at your local BestBuyMart.
In fact, I think I have it in sitting in a box of unloved CDs somewhere

(anybody want it?)

Amy Winehouse is on record number two but at least the first Frank only recently became available on this side of the pond.
Perhaps I don't understand the category.
Hey! Wait a minute! Paramore also released their second album this year!
I obviously don't understand the criteria for BEST NEW ARTIST.
Does it not count if it wasn't on a major label?
Actually, now that I look at the criteria the previous statement is nearly true.

Here's the official definition for Best New Artist
"For a new artist who releases, during the Eligibility Year, the first recording which establishes the public identity of that artist."

That can be pretty loosely interpreted, eh?
Still, Feist's previous album garnered her plenty of public and media attention and "folks in the know" have been praising Ledisi's souful jazz inflected vocals for years.
Perhaps The Grammy folks are trying to avoid a Milli Vanilli debacle or are trying to avoid giving Grammys to folks such as Ashley Simpson who are hot for a second and then not.

Whatever.

Here are a few other categories.

Best Pop Vocal Album:
Lost Highway — Bon Jovi
The Reminder — Feist
It Won't Be Soon Before Long — Maroon 5
Memory Almost Full — Paul McCartney
Back To Black — Amy Winehouse

Doesn't it seem like anytime Paul McCartney puts out a record he gets a grammy nomination?
It is a pretty good record, I'm just saying.

Best Rock Album:
Daughtry — Daughtry
Revival — John Fogerty
Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace — Foo Fighters
Magic — Bruce Springsteen
Sky Blue Sky — Wilco

Is there any chance that Springsteen won't win this category?

Best Rock Song:
"Come On" — Lucinda Williams, songwriter (Lucinda Williams)
"Icky Thump" — Jack White, songwriter (The White Stripes)
"It's Not Over" — Chris Daughtry, Gregg Wattenberg, Mark Wilkerson & Brett Young, songwriters (Daughtry)
"The Pretender" — Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel & Chris Shiflett, songwriters (Foo Fighters)
"Radio Nowhere" — Bruce Springsteen, songwriters (Bruce Springsteen)

Broooooooooose!!!

Best Contemporary R&B album
Konvicted — Akon
Just Like You — Keyshia Cole
Fantasia — Fantasia
East Side Story — Emily King
Because Of You — Ne-Yo

Best Rap Song:
"Ayo Technology" — N. Hills, Curtis Jackson, Timothy Mosley & Justin Timberlake, songwriters (50 Cent Featuring Justin Timberlake & Timbaland)
"Big Things Poppin' (Do It)" — Clifford Harris & Byron Thomas, songwriters (T.I.)
"Can't Tell Me Nothing" — A. Davis & Kanye West, songwriters (Kanye West)
"Crank That (Soulja Boy)" — Soulja Boy Tell'Em, songwriter (Soulja Boy Tell'Em)
"Good Life" — A. Davis, F. Najm & K. West, songwriters (Kanye West Featuring T-Pain)

Helloooooo Kanye!

Best Rap Album:
Finding Forever — Common
Kingdom Come — Jay-Z
Hip Hop Is Dead — Nas
T.I. vs T.I.P. — T.I.
Graduation — Kanye West

Helllooooo Kanye again!

Best Country Song:
"Before He Cheats" — Josh Kear & Chris Tompkins, songwriters (Carrie Underwood)
"Give It Away" — Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon & Jamey Johnson, songwriters (George Strait)
"I Need You" — Tony Lane & David Lee, songwriters (Tim McGraw & Faith Hill)
"If You're Reading This" — Tim McGraw, Brad Warren & Brett Warren, songwriters (Tim McGraw)
"Long Trip Alone" — Brett Beavers, Dierks Bentley & Steve Bogard, songwriters (Dierks Bentley)

Best Country Album:
Long Trip Alone — Dierks Bentley
These Days — Vince Gill
Let It Go — Tim McGraw
5th Gear — Brad Paisley
It Just Comes Natural — George Strait

From a Rock Hall news release:

Beginning January 1, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum - an internationally known nonprofit organization dedicated to telling the story of rock's impact on our culture - will raise its admission prices for the first time since 2004, from $11 to $13 for youth (9-12), from $20 to $22 for adults (13- 64) and from $14 to $17 for seniors (65+).

Children ages 8 and under and Museum members are admitted free of charge. The pricing changes also include a price reduction for Northeast Ohio residents between the ages of 13 - 64. Effective January 1, 2008, the price for adults (13 - 64) living in ZIP Codes beginning with 440, 441, 442 and 443 will be reduced from the current rate of $20 to $18.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced today that the list of inductees for the class of 2008 will be announced on Thursday, December 13.

The nine nominees for 2008 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are: Afrika Bambaataa, Beastie Boys, Chic, Leonard Cohen, The Dave Clark Five, Madonna, John Mellencamp, Donna Summer and The Ventures.

Five will be inducted.

Wanna take guess?

I'm guessing not Leonard Cohen, Donna Summer or Chic. Now that hip hop has been welcomed with Grandmaste Flash and The Furious Five, Afrika Bambaataa may also have to wait.
That leaves Beasties, The DC5, Madonna (that's sure to cause much grumbling from the old and cranky rocker set), Mellencamp and The Ventures.

What do you think?

And let's save the "most of those people ain't rock" argument for another day.