Twelve Days of Christmas

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Bob and Doug McKenzie hilariously butcher the classic Christmas carol with uniquely Canadian gifts like beer, back bacon, and turtlenecks in this intentionally off-time masterpiece.
Christmas
Canadian
Album Parody
Great White North
Musical Comedy
Musical
Bob and Doug McKenzie
1980s
Beer
Parody

"And a beer" "There should be more there, eh?" "Where?"
"Five..." (sung completely out of sync)
"Twelve!" "Good day, and welcome to day twelve."
"There's lots of ideas here, so LISTEN, and don't get stuck!"
"Next Christmas, get me a chainsaw." "Take off!"

Bob and Doug McKenzie (Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas) perform their unforgettable rendition of "The 12 Days of Christmas" from their comedy album "Great White North." The sketch features the duo's trademark Canadian humor as they replace the traditional gifts with items like beer in a tree, turtlenecks, French toast, back bacon, and cases of beer (two-fours). The brothers' intentionally terrible timing and deadpan delivery, complete with awkward pauses and confused exchanges, have made this a beloved holiday classic. The song famously only makes it to Day 8 before the duo decides it has run long enough. The sketch perfectly encapsulates the McKenzie brothers' unique brand of hoser humor that made them icons of Canadian comedy.

Released on the album "The Great White North" by Anthem Records (Canada) and Mercury Records (U.S.) in 1981. The album sold over 1 million copies in North America with 350,000 in Canada alone, earning triple-platinum certification. The album reached #1 on the RPM Canadian album charts and peaked at #8 on the Billboard 200. This track appears on various Christmas compilation albums including "A Rock 'n' Roll Christmas II" and "Dr. Demento Presents: The Greatest Christmas Novelty CD of All Time". The song has become a Christmas radio staple in Canada. In the song, a "two-four" refers to a 24-pack of beer. Empties (empty beer bottles) were worth a nickel in Ontario at the time, making beer "the gift that keeps on giving".

PersonRole
Rick MoranisRick MoranisWriter
Dave ThomasDave ThomasWriter
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