David Lee Roth has released a new Christmas song that is unlike anything he has done before. The song, titled "Talking Christmas Blues", features Roth speaking the lyrics over a simple harmonica and acoustic guitar accompaniment, in a style that is very reminiscent of Bob Dylan's early "talkin'" songs.
The song tells a bizarre story of Roth's encounter with Santa Claus, who visits him in his "tiki bunker" and invites him to join him on his sleigh. Along the way, they meet various celebrities, such as Elvis Presley, Oprah Winfrey, and the Kardashians, as well as a family of vampires and a menorah. The song is full of Roth's trademark humor and references to his own career and personal life.
Roth uploaded the song to his YouTube channel on December 10th, with the message of "Happy Holidays from Diamond Dave's Tiki Bunker". The video also shows some animated images of Roth, Santa, and other characters from the song. The song is Roth's first original release since his 2014 EP Somewhere Over the Rainbow Bar and Grill, which also featured some acoustic tracks.
Roth's song is a tribute to one of his musical influences, Bob Dylan, who popularized the "talkin'" blues genre in the 1960s. Some of Dylan's most famous songs in this style are "Talkin' John Birch Paranoid Blues," "Talkin’ World War III Blues," "Talkin’ Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre Blues" and "Talkin' New York." Roth has previously expressed his admiration for Dylan, saying that he is "the greatest living poet."
[Source: Classic Hits Today]