Thanks for going the extra mile and filling out the form! Please be aware that after you hit “submit,” you have to scroll back up to the top to see the thank-you message confirming that your information went through. Otherwise, it’s just a big, gray rectangle. These forms. So touchy.
Little Drummer Boy Challenge 
Heard it yesterday, Thanksgiving, on my brother’s car radio around 11am………
Good news, then, Alan—when you heard it, the game hadn’t started yet. You’re still in it!
I know! I had a friend report to me that she was out already and I was able to reassure her that the game had not started for 2019. The thrill of this game is that one is completely powerless to do anything. You get attacked by the song and there is nothing you can do but hope to live another year to beat those bastards!
See Sharon’s reply, below. One of my favorite parts of reading these thoughts is the number of times the phrase “the bastards” (as in “let ’em try to call me during their pledge drives, the bastards”) appears.
I was listening to the Bullseye podcast at 7pm PST on the 29th featuring the guitar player from Bad Religion. Who was plugging their album. Of traditional Christmas songs. Fuck you, Bad Religion.
Condolences, Twergi—if you want to make the Eternal Wall, record your tale of woe on the form, please. We’ll make sure your sacrifice is remembered and shall not be in vain.
One of my Facebook friends posted that “Hendrix should totally record a Christmas album.” Of course, I had to find out if he’d recorded anything joyeux noelly, and the instant I saw he’d done “Silent Night,” I clicked on it. Turned out it was a medley.
Very disappointing first attempt
Sorry, Mike. Fill out the form, though, and we’ll make sure your’ enshrined on the Memorial Wall.
I’m still in. But my True Love, Patrick, bought the farm before I even knew he had accepted the challenge. On the classical / pops station on Sirius XM, in his new Volt, driving home from work. By the exquisite classical soprano, Kiri Te Kanawa, Tragic on all levels. (You of a certain age will remember Kiri. She sang “Let the Bright Seraphim” at Prince Charles’ and Lady Diana Spencer’s 1981 wedding. Kiri, how COULD you…) At least he died on the wings of an angel. Still, makes me less sorry that an Oakland crack addict ripped out my 1996 Corolla’s sound system years ago. I’m safe in my beat-up old buggy. (Patrick doesn’t use Facebook or any other social media. I’ll bug him to fill out a Death Certificate soon).
Thanks, Sylvia—for the report AND for the bugging. We need our data to help everyone improve their game.
It’s 12 degrees outside, windows open, and I’m sitting in my car smoking a cigarette waiting for my brother to come out of the theater. For some odd reason I didn’t have my own music playing and was listening to the christmas songs played over the mall speakers. I hadn’t thought about the LDBC and then it hit me, what is playing and what am I humming along too??? Yarp, I’m out this year.
See? Not thinking about it is of no use. You’re playing even when you don’t know it. Condolences, EK. You shall not be forgotten.
I was Pearl Harbored on December 7th by the LDB in a Korean Restaurant!!!
And this is a loss that shall live in infamy. Condolences, Randy.
I died tonight in the gym, women’s locker room at the Olympic Athletic Club in Seartle, WA. It was terrible.
Sorry, Jessie, and thanks for noting that here. Your death shall be recorded, at least.
I played with fire for four hours by listening to Music Choice while unpacking and decorating a new apt. Sadly, I was just about to turn it off and leave the house. Yup, I cried out, “NOOOOOOO!” Damn Seger…he mocked me again two hours later on the radio with one of his regular tunes. This rookie will be back next year. Time of death, 4:06 p.m. Dec. 10.
Four hours? Not a bad run, Tara. Sorry for your loss again, though, and we look forward to your return next year. (Heck, please stick around this year to alternately comfort and mock others.)
Made it 7 days only to be knocked out by THE worst version of the song ever. Peace on Earth, Can it Be? oversung obscuring the LDB in the background.
TOD: 7:28 EST 12/13/13.
Sorry to hear it, Sarah. Truth be told, though, I actually LIKE that version. Then again, I’m a very odd man.
So close and yet so far. My friend and I were chatting with the restaurant owners on our way out of today’s snowy brunch, and I got puh-rum-pum-pum-pummed. At least it was the classic Time-Life collection choral version.
Condolences, Megan, but I guess this can be a lesson to you: Being friendly never adds up to anything good, which is why I’m a grumpy jerk. But you made it well into December, which is no small thing.
I’m out. My neighbor is Sparky Grizwald of our street and blares Christmas music through outdoor speakers mounted in the trees. Came home from shopping to hear Burl Ives parum-pa-pumming.
Home is where the horror is, as they say, Deborah. Or maybe that’s just me. Either way, it applies here. Condolences for your loss, but not a bad run. You got more than halfway, certainly.
I was out on December 7th, a day that will live in infamy. I was visiting my sister in Massachusetts without thinking of the importance of LDBC. She starts to play Christmas music just after Arbor Day so I don’t really even notice it when I enter her house. Sure enough, at approximately 7:25pm, Bing Crosby and David Bowie plunged their LDB dagger into my back, bringing me to my knees and ultimately to my final demise as I collapsed to the floor. Oh the horror! Oh the horror!
The Killer Bs strike again. And again. And again. Sorry to see you go, Paul—Christmas should be bloodless, but alas, that’s just not the way it is.
I’m out. 12/16. American Horror Story – Murder House.
I avoided stores, shops, malls, and television. I thought I was safe.
3rd year player, first year loser.
You won your first two years in? Impressive, Heather—no shame there, certainly. Sorry to see you go.
December 18th 6:47 EST Owen Sound Ontario Canada it happened. My boy’s dance studio had a bit of a pre-Christmas show. Only a half hour long showing off all the routines they had been practicing for competition in the New Year. Not Christmas stuff. But there was. A tap version of the theme song from Christmas Vacation was a nice seasonal treat. Then that old chestnut “Up on the Roof Top” to a kind of jazz dancing. Then the hip hop dance troupe came out and I heard it. Justin Beiber’s, oh the humanity, version of that dreaded song. It is a kind of relief actually. Sorry but I am out!
We hate to see you down, David, but thanks for playing (and for commenting). Glad you joined us, and Happy Holidays!
Watching First Season of The West Wing on Netflix. 12/16, Christmas Episode features a choir singing . . .
The TV President claims another (as he does every year). Sorry, Keith. Our sympathies.
I’m trying to fill out the form (got knocked out by Jars of Clay’s Drummer Boy version tonight.
) and the form is showing up blank. Is there another link or anything I can do to get it to work?
Are you on a mobile device, or a desktop? It used to work on mobile, but this year, it disappeared. (I’ll have to rebuild it next year.) In the meantime, other people have had better luck on a desktop or, if that’s what you’re on already, on another browser. Sorry for the hassle.
Can’t tell if my form went through or not. I’m dead by virtue of King of the Hill. Thought I was safe watching it, but Hank did me in. He only sang one line, but that was enough.
It did indeed go through, Tricia. Thanks for making sure, and condolences. Some of us will carry on; we always do. And then there’s next year. And the one after. And the one after …
Knocked out today by Philadelphia Sports Talk Radio Station playing it in the background. Survived the mall, Target, carollers at the grocery store only to be eliminated by a little Eagles talk!
A little is all it takes. Sorry for your loss, Lisa.
Self -inflicted loss yesterday. Debbie, my spouse, said the other day, “We haven’t heard much Christmas music this season — why don’t you put some CDs in the car?” So I grabbed a handful without inspecting for the presence of LDB. Realized my mistake withing the first couple of bars. Never made it to the rump-pa-pa-pums.
A little late with the sympathy, but sorry, Steve. (Just saw this now.) Not a bad run, though—you made it pretty far!
Yesssssss! Two years in a row! I would like to to that online shopping, without whom I’m sure this would not be possible.
Indeed. I owe Amazon Prime and a vicious media allergy for my own victory. Congrats, Tina!
Nice!
Winner winner Christmas dinner! My family will be so grateful to leave the bunker.
Hoo-hah! Congrats, Essie!
I do see the form on Chrome on an iMac, but did not see the Thank You when I submitted. I see “submit another response”, but that may have been there earlier. Did it go through?
It did indeed, Karen. And I tried to fix the response so that it shows up for others. Thanks for playing, submitting, and following up!
DOH! Posted that I lost- then got a message that I didn’t cause a. it ended sooner than I realized and b. even if it had been going still, the fact that my nieces and nephew’s lured me upstairs to hear it (though it did come on to the radio naturally) meant it didn’t count as a lose…Count one loss as a win
Got it, Kat—flipped the “L” to a “W,” and happily so. Thanks for the clarification, and congrats!
Can’t see the form on PC Chrome. I usually do well with this challenge, but I need to report I lost on Dec. 6 at a party. Apparently, they played LDB twice – I heard a couple talking about the song being played earlier & I was thankful I had missed it, but then an hour later, wham! they played it & I went down. Otherwise, it was a great party …
Waaaaaaaaaa I was pah rumpah pum pummed at work. As I realized what I was hearing come over the speakers at work, everyone heard my plaintive “oh sh*t” Out early but at least I don’t have to dread going to the mall this weekend… fight on LDBCrs.
Death by friendly fire at the office. Bummer. So much for carefully choosing my playlists- I can’t choose those of others…
We only have so much power, alas. Unlike the brutal Boy, who is well nigh omnipotent this time of year. (Yes, I talk like Thor from Black Friday to Christmas Eve.) Condolences, Laurie.
I got a report form emailed from a donotreply address. Can’t tell if you’ve gotten my obituary once, twice, or not at all. I’m confuuuused. (Must have been that drumstick through the head. 12/7/14, NYC, double-murdered with daughter while walking past a store with evil speakers.)
Yup—you’re duly recorded, Nina. (And thanks for filling out the form.) I’m not sure where such an email would have come from. Perhaps my doppelgänger? (Full disclosure: I don’t really place any faith in that theory; I just like using umlauts whenever possible.)
And thanks for double-checking. Consideration and attention to detail won’t necessarily help you in this infuriating game of ours, but it’s always appreciated.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, ye rat bastard ye?
Pee Wee and Grace did me in on Facebook. I have no problem with that.
There are worse ways to go, certainly.
ARrgh! Was listening to an NPR interview with Kenny Rogers about his latest Christmas album, and at the very end, the fadeout music was a snippet of LDB. Oh no!
NPR’s a killer this time of year. Sorry to hear it, Mark.
Gah…. I went down like a diaper full of lead…. It hurts. So close…
Condolences, ma’am. Have you had a chance to fill out the form (http://bit.ly/ldbcform)?
Yes… I’m Laura S.R. daisyfae is my stage name and blog person….
I was watching the national news last night, and they ran a piece about a guy who (intentionally) sells ugly holiday sweaters in his store. Who could resist watching that?? His interview process requires applicants to send in videos of themselves. The news story showed 2 seconds of a candidate dancing to a soundtrack of a guy saying “pah rum pum pum pum” to a hip-hop beat. Drat! (And I have dutifully filled out your reporting form.)
Ouch. Sorry to hear it, Laura. You never know where you’ll run into the little jerk.
I filled out the reporting form using an iPad but I’m not sure the information got recorded because I saw neither a thank-you message or a gray square. I also may have misunderstood the finishing time because I thought it was 12:01 on 24 December , which has already passed here in the U.K., but now I see it seems to be 12:00 on 24 December, which is still long hours away. However, I am ensconced in a non-LDB household and do not plan to leave it (or turn on the TV) all day so I expect my victory claim, albeit premature, to stand.
Sorry for the confusion, Shardröl. That’s my fault for going back and forth between saying midnight on Dec. 23rd and 12:01 am on Dec. 24th. (Believe me, that’s just a small peek at my personal inconsistencies.) If you made it past midnight of the 23rd, your local time. Then you won. Congrats! (And I just checked the spreadsheet that the form feeds into, and you did indeed fill it out successfully.)
Pingback: Trick5 – The Little Drummer Boy Challenge is the ultimate test of your shitty Christmas music avoidance skills – Trick5 | Trick5 Simplify The Technology
Pingback: Off topic: Little Drummer Boy, drunk on tofu, '80s supercars, children's books
Goddamn Christmas lights special On TV
That doesn’t sound good, Frank. I gather you’re out, then? If so, please report in via the form (http://bit.ly/LDBCform), and we’ll include you in the game-end stats. And our condolences to you and yours.
I submitted the form and waited then scrolled up but didn’t see a Thank You message except the original one that was there before I submitted. I hope it went through.
I lost around 11:30am December 15, 2017. 😦
How did you want your name to appear? I can add you.
Victory! Unicorns! Angel tree toppers! Whew, so glad to have made it through this year. Good riddance, Boy.
Congrats!
Hey, I was wondering, I kinda got my midnights mixed up when I submitted my form. I thought it was midnight leading into the 23rd, not 24th. However, I did still manage to avoid The Boy for the whole period. Does my form still count or should I submit a different one?
You’re good!
I won last year, my first year of doing this. I don’t listen to the radio, I don’t watch TV, I work at home, and I rarely visit chain stores, so I’ve got a pretty good chance. However, I do listen to music on YouTube sometimes. I keep turning off the Auto Play feature but YouTube turns it back on. This year, around December 11, I’m sitting at my desk working, listening to music here and there, and YouTube queues up the Bing Crosby / David Bowie video and plays it. Sneakily, as if lying in wait. I had never seen/heard the video before so I didn’t know what it was. “What in Sam Hill IS this?” I’m saying to myself, and then I hear the first notes of that familiar melody… Rats!
I’d like to submit my loss, but every time I press submit on my iPad, I get taken into the comment thread.
I can add you, if you like. How do you want your name to appear?
Pingback: Behind the Christmas Music: 7 Origin Stories Of Hit Christmas Songs - Melanie at Home
Gah! Never ever take your best friend souvenir shopping in Florida during the holidays on her way to the airport. I’m out.
I said “no Christmas music” while we were decorating the tree, but our host did it anyway. It’s his favorite Christmas song!
Sorry for your loss, Mike. Be sure to report in via the form (http://bit.ly/LDBCform), then, and we’ll make sure you’re up on the Wall of the Fallen at the end of the game.
Alanis Morissette on the Tonight Show took me down tonight. 😞
Ouch. Condolences, Laurie. You’re in good company, though. Those two have tallied up a high body count.
Best version : WARNING – DO NOT PLAY BEFORE 12/25/2022 !!!
https://www.elsewhere.co.nz/fromthevaults/5423/jimi-hendrix-little-drummer-boy-silent-night-auld-lang-syne-1969/
Which took me down , oh so early this year..