The Penguin Rocks logo
The Penguin Rocks Menu


Makin Waves Song of the Week: "If Santa Claus Were President" by The New Bardots


By Bob Makin

originally published: 11/19/2020

Makin Waves Song of the Week: "If Santa Claus Were President" by The New BardotsThree-fifths of Central Jersey-based The New Bardots have been playing together since the 1970s in such bands as Rockids, Oliver’s Twist, and Oliver Wylde, so it’s no surprise that they wrote and recorded their satirical new holiday song, “If Santa Claus Was President,” within days of the recent election. The band’s maiden voyage on the Italian indie I Couchie Records, the funny, heartfelt tune is the Makin Waves Song of the Week, and its video premieres here.

As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “If Santa Claus Were President" also can be heard at 5 and 11 a.m., 5 p.m. and midnight at ThePenguinRocks.com and 6:45 p.m. on Friday and Monday on its “Radio Jersey” show. The all-star group features Wayne Olivieri on lead vocals, Rockids and Oliver Wylde bandmate Gar Francis on guitar, and Oliver’s Twist bassist Dan Skye. They are joined by drummer Johnnie Rago and keyboardist John Croot Jr.

I Couchie must be a great label because once upon a time both Wayne and Gar owned their own, respectively Oneway and Bongo Boy records.  

“They are based in Milan,” Wayne said. “We wanted to put out a Christmas song so Gar brought down this music two weeks ago. We started arranging it and knew we didn’t have much time. Most radio stations pick their holiday playlist in early-to-mid-November. Because of the election and what was going on, I came up with ‘If Santa Claus Were President.’ We went into the studio last Monday and recorded the song. Dan Skye mixed it the following two days. 

“Due to time restraints, I decided to do a word video so we could get it out hopefully before this election was finalized,” he continued. “I directed the editing and came up with the concept. I called my friend Nick at Invisualpost and worked on the video together via Zoom, phone, and texting. He finished doing the actual editing late Monday night.”



 
Advertise with The Penguin Rocks for $50-$100 per month, click here for info



While not at as frenetic a pace as “Santa,” the band constantly are writing and rehearsing and plan to return to the studio in late December or early January to record a new LP or EP, Wayne said. It depends on how many songs make the cut, he said.  

The band also will shoot a third video to promote the “Already Been Chewed (A Return to Bubblegum)” EP, a tribute to the classic pop style released in the spring, Wayne said. The clip will be for the bubblegum-inspired original tune “Wake Up and Smell the Coffee,” he said. 

Once travel restrictions are lifted, the band plans to tour Europe, Wayne said.

“Until then, we plan on continuing our writing and recording with a live show in early spring if allowed),” he said. “Once the new EP/LP is complete, we will start production on a video for the first single.”

 The new holiday track is The New Bardots’ second Makin Waves Song of the Week this year following their cover of the pop classic “Yummy Yummy Yummy” from “Already Been Chewed.” Here’s the video for that and a couple of others by The New Bardots:

 

Makin Waves Song of the Week: "If Santa Claus Were President" by The New Bardots



 
Advertise with The Penguin Rocks for $50-$100 per month, click here for info



 

Bob Makin is a reporter for USA TODAY NETWORK and the former managing editor of The Aquarian Weekly, which launched this column in 1988. Contact him via email and like Makin Waves on Facebook.



New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.

 

COLUMNS


Makin Waves Song of the Week: "Honeydew" by Via Crowe

The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "Honeydew" by Jersey Shore singer-songwriter Via Crowe.




Rock On! This Week's Sound Bites...7/10/25




This Week in Music: Previews for Concerts from July 8-14, 2025




The Newton Theatre presents Dirty Deeds - The AC/DC Experience






 

MORE NEWS

(TUCKERTON, NJ) -- Lizzie Rose Music Room presents Griffin House on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at 7:30pm. Griffin is an American singer-songwriter and storyteller. Touring and making records for over 20 years, House has a discography that includes over 13 albums.


A Chat with Jasper Smith of Straight No Chaser Which Brings its "Summer: The '90s Part 2" Tour to STNJ on July 16




Centenary Stage Company presents Yacht Rock Gold Experience




WXPN Takes Us Back to Live Aid this Sunday to Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of The Legendary Concert




Tickets for Bruce Springsteen Archives' Born to Run 50th Anniversary Celebration to Go On Sale July 16th






 

UPCOMING SHOWS


Sounds of a Summer Night: Music, Nature, and Community in Concert at Reeves-Reed Arboretum

(SUMMIT, NJ) -- Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and picnic baskets to Reeves-Reed Arboretum and celebrate summer with their 2025 concert series, Sounds of a Summer Night! All performances will be held on select Wednesday evenings on the grounds of this non-profit public garden located in Summit.


2025 Horizon Sounds of the City at NJPAC




South Orange Summer Nights to Offer Free Concerts Every Wednesday Night In July




Middlesex County's Free Concert Series Returns for 2025






Advertise with The Penguin Rocks for $50-$100 per month, click here for info


The Penguin Rocks

© 2025 by Wine Time Media, LLC
PO Box 811, Belmar, NJ 07719
info@newjerseystage.com

Presented by New Jersey Stage

Images used on this site have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and PR firms. If there is a problem with the rights to any image, please contact us and we will look into the matter.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and our NJ Stage accounts on Instagram, and Threads


News | Features | Radio Shows | Penguin's Hall of Fame | Song of the Week | BlowUpRadio column

Contact Us | About Us | Submit Music | Ad Rates