Jingle Bells Silent Night Holy Cow

In 1996, Philippine rock band Parokya Ni Edgar (Parish of Edgar) released a Christmas album, Jingle Balls, Silent Night, Holy Cow. As implied by the album name, the group includes comedy in their approach in addition to performing earnest music.

The music that comprises Jingle Balls, Silent Night, Holy Cow is actually quite good, better than one might expect. In fact, the band could have used the songs — with different lyrics — in a standard album release. The opening, "Namamasko Po" (Christmas Carol, Sir), utilizes a fast, punkish backbeat and contains a strong melody.

There are a number of acoustic offerings on the album, as heard on the slow, pretty "Gising Na!" (Wake Up), and the singing is tender and sincere. Other acoustic-styled songs include "Hosanna Ngayong Pasko" (Hosanna This Christmas), "My Shattered Belief," "Maybe Someday," "Parol Ni Edgar" (Lantern of Edgar), and "Pagbati" (Greetings). "Maybe Someday" is an outstanding song and also includes a stirring electric guitar solo. As expected, the band includes some jokes on the album, especially in the snippets that connect most songs. In one snippet, the band sings the name Noel Trinidad to the melody of Jose Feliciano's "Feliz Navidad."

In keeping with the true meaning of Christmas, many songs contain serious lyrics. The poignant "Maybe Someday," for example, tells of a person's bittersweet knowledge that Christmas cheer is not spread equally: "I've been told since I was small/That Christmas comes with peace for all/I wonder if they'll ever see the children begging on the streets...."