Sloppy Scales – “Sweet Baby Jesus”
Americana Highways is hosting this irreverent holiday spoof song “Sweet Baby Jesus” by Sloppy Scales from his forthcoming album This Machine Mocks Facists, which is due to be released on December 20. The album was produced by Guilherme Shakespeare, and mixed and mastered by Spencer Willis.
“Sweet Baby Jesus” is Mr. Maph on lead vocals; Natalye Woodson on backing vocals; Guilherme Shakespeare on guitar; Cleidinilson “Chocolate” Costa on bass; and Rafael Pereira on drums and percussion.
Sloppy Scales creates satire that refers to significant and important issues and consequences wrapped in humor (he’s wearing a clown suit) and commentary. “Sweet Baby Jesus, I’m gonna need your forgiveness when you’re grown.” It’s seriously catchy though, with horns and a little bit of a Latin groove bass line.
Of this song, Sloppy says: ““Sweet Baby Jesus” addresses the universal struggle between sticking to our principles and giving in to temptation, the inevitable moments we slip up, and the shared longing for mercy and forgiveness. As a clown, I wanted to explore this dilemma with humor and a fresh twist. The song highlights the tension between human desires and moral ideals. I hope addressing this tension with a Latin beat and an appeal to the infant son of God, who eventually grows up to die for our sins, will generate a few laughs and that the melody will stay with you for a week or two.”
He continues, “I wanted the song to have a fun, bouncy rhythm and a catchy melody to balance out the serious stuff. The goal was to keep it light and playful, so it feels a little more fun while still communicating a deeper message. It’s about blending humor with the heavier side of things, making the serious parts feel not so heavy. Basically, I wanted to be a smart-&$$ who could still make a point, even an absurd one. The line, “I lie, steal, cheat and covet every neighbor’s wife, but… I read in the scripture that I’m promised everlasting life,” stands out because it mixes an earnest self-awareness with rank absurdity. The idea of coveting every wife in the neighborhood is an exaggeration that highlights the ridiculousness of thinking we can get away with anything just because we believe we have divine forgiveness on our side. We’re always seeking a loophole when it comes to our deficiencies, even if we have to seek it from a baby deity.
According to Sloppy, “Mr. Maph has a powerful voice that blends gospel intensity with raw energy. I wanted him to sing it like his own personal confession. Natalye [Woodson] also has gospel roots and adds depth to the track, which I hope conveys a sense of authenticity and a unique contrast to the humorous message.”
Find more details and the music on his Bandcamp page here: https://sloppyscales.bandcamp.com/album/this-machine-mocks-fascists-the-sloppy-scales-songbook
