The Crash Test Dummies is a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
… Read Full Bio ↴The Crash Test Dummies is a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The band is most identifiable through Brad Roberts (vocals, guitar) and his distinctive bass-baritone voice. The band members have fluctuated over the years, but its best known line-up consisted of Roberts, Ellen Reid (co-vocals, keyboards), Brad's brother Dan Roberts (bass guitar, backing vocals), Benjamin Darvill (harmonica, mandolin), and Mitch Dorge (drums, percussion). The band is best known internationally for their 1993 single "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" and best known in Canada for the 1991 single "Superman's Song".

After a multi-year hiatus, the band returned in 2015 with a tour and the new charity single "Promised Land" which was a collaboration with Marc Mysterio[1] following up his remix of "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm".

The origin of the Crash Test Dummies is tied to the history of two Winnipeg nightspots, the Spectrum Cabaret and the Blue Note Cafe, owned by Curtis Riddell.

In the mid-1980s, Riddell joined with Brad Roberts to form the decidedly less-than-serious bar band Bad Brad Roberts and the St. James Rhythm Pigs. Over time, the band evolved into the Crash Test Dummies, a name suggested by a friend of the band who was in medical school. The diagnostic mannequin, known colloquially as a crash test dummy, was known to the public already by this time. Ellen Reid and Benjamin Darvill became permanent additions. George West, the original bass player, quit and was replaced by Dan Roberts, Brad's brother. Riddell was replaced by Vince Lambert, who was fired and replaced by Mitch Dorge just before the release of The Ghosts That Haunt Me.

After signing with BMG Records in 1991, the band signed with manager Jeff Rogers (Swell).

In the summer of 2017, the full band, except Benjamin Darvill, reunited for a show in Winnipeg and Brad Roberts went on a tour of South Africa in early 2018.

In July 2018, a reunited photo of Brad Roberts, Ellen Reid, Dan Roberts, and Mitch Dorge was posted on the official Crash Test Dummies Facebook page, along with the announcement of Canadian Tour Dates for the fall.

Throughout their career, Crash Test Dummies have experimented with many different styles and genres of music. These styles include the acoustic folk rock of The Ghosts That Haunt Me, the electric alternative rock of A Worm's Life, the urban influences of Give Yourself a Hand, and the optigan-based compositions of Oooh La La!.

Crash Test Dummies recorded as a full five piece band from their debut album The Ghosts That Haunt Me until Give Yourself a Hand. At this time, the most notable instrumentation of the band's music included Brad Roberts' lead guitar, Ellen Reid's keyboards, and Benjamin Darvill's harmonica. Another notable element of Crash Test Dummies' music are the contrasting harmonies between Brad Roberts' deep lead vocals and Ellen Reid's backing vocals in the higher register.

Beginning with I Don't Care That You Don't Mind in 2001, the band's albums were recorded primarily by Brad Roberts, Ellen Reid, and a rotating roster of session musicians.

One of the biggest influences for Brad Roberts was the band XTC and Andy Partridge in particular. The band even went on to cover two of XTC's songs: "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" for the soundtrack to the film Dumb and Dumber, and "All You Pretty Girls" for the XTC tribute album A Testimonial Dinner.

Jingle Bells
Crash Test Dummies Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh, hey

Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride

In a one-horse open sleigh

A-dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh
Over the fields we go
Laughing all the way

Bells on bobtails ring
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight, hey

Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh, hey

Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way
Oh what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh

One-horse open sleigh
One-horse open sleigh

One-horse open, one-horse open
One-horse open sleigh

Overall Meaning

The song "Jingle Bells" is a Christmas classic that has been sung and loved for generations. The first verse talks about the joy of riding in a one-horse open sleigh with the jingling of bells that can be heard all the way. The second verse describes the experience of dashing through the snow in the sleigh, laughing and enjoying the ride together. The chorus repeats the fun of the ride and the jingling of the bells, followed by a final stanza that emphasizes the one-horse open sleigh.

While the song is widely popular and has been covered by numerous artists, the version by Crash Test Dummies has a unique twist. The band strips down the traditional melody and presents it with minimal instrumental accompaniment, allowing the harmonies and vocals to take center stage. The vocal performance of frontman Brad Roberts adds a haunting quality to the familiar lyrics, creating a bittersweet contrast between the joy of the holiday season and the darker emotions that may arise during this time.

Line by Line Meaning

Jingle bells, jingle bells
Let's make some noise with these bells!

Jingle all the way
Let's keep shaking the bells continuously!

Oh, what fun it is to ride
This ride is going to be absolutely enjoyable!

In a one-horse open sleigh, hey
We're riding in a wagon pulled by a single horse!

A-dashing through the snow
Let's ride fast through the snowy terrain!

In a one-horse open sleigh
We're continuing the ride with our single horse and open wagon!

Over the fields we go
We're taking the ride over the fields, not just the road!

Laughing all the way
We're having so much fun we can't help but laugh throughout the ride!

Bells on bobtails ring
The bells on the horse's tail are making wonderful noise!

Making spirits bright
The sounds of the bells are lifting our spirits!

What fun it is to ride and sing
We're not just riding, we're also singing together!