Now even the cast-offs from American Idol are making Christmas music— in May!

Antonella Barba on her own MySpace has sought to completely bury her bad girl image, adding the completely off season “Christmas Song” to her play list.  People out and about have been offering up positive comparisons to Amanda, but personally it sounds like Antonella is at least singing without digital pitch correction as her guide, even though she needs it.  Still, when you’re resorting to Christmas songs at this stage of your career, it’s not exactly a sign that things are going well.

So what’s the difference between Antonella Barba warbling The Christmas Song and Twisted Sister belting out Oh Come All Ye Faithful?

I’ll tell you what the difference is: Christmas spirit.

In the world of music, it is what made Herb Alpert’s Christmas album a classic. It is what makes Gary Hoey a cult favorite year after year. It is what makes Michael Caine performing with the Muppets plausible.

At this point in her career, Antonella Barba has two options: sign on as the new host of Girls Gone Wild or sell Christmas music in the dog days of late spring.

Christmas music deserves better than that. It is, after all, mostly sacred stuff. (And the rest is designed for kids). They should license people before they start crooning about roasting chestnuts. It is serious business.

There ought to be a law.