[listen] Holiday Music Doesn’t Have to Suck
The streets are getting slicker and the sale ads are getting thicker. That can only mean one thing: Christmas is near.
If you’re anything like me, Christmas music typically falls into one of two categories: 1) disgustingly saccharine or 2) damn annoying. And still, you can’t seem to escape it. Shopping. Listening to the radio. Or anywhere near a child. It will invade your brain, make a little home and start gnawing on that last bit of patience you were hoping to save until the New Year. But it’s really hard when you’re bombarded with “All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth” or “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.”
Hark! There’s a third, more elusive category of holiday music: Songs that don’t make you throw up in your mouth. So get those downloading fingers ready, because here’s a holiday playlist that’s so good you’ll drop a yule log. Some are classics. Some are new incarnations of classics. And some are just plain silly.
The Classics:
David Bowie and Bing Crosby – “Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy”
First off, you cannot eff with David Bowie. He was, is and will forever be the epitome of cool. But when you pair Bowie with someone who’s old school iconic like Crosby, it’s the Rat Pack meets the Moon Man and somehow it just works.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono – “Happy Xmas (War is Over)”
It takes talent to inject politics into holiday music. And it takes guts to inject Yoko Ono into, well, anything. This song manages to combine what’s good about John Lennon and the magic of Christmas into a sweeping holiday anthem.
Reincarnated Classics:
Coldplay – “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
I’ve often likened Coldplay to elevator music with words, but there’s something about how understated and almost melancholy this song is that makes the band palatable.
Death Cab for Cutie – “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”
I’ll admit, I’m a huge Death Cab for Cutie fan, so I’m a little biased. Hell, Ben Gibbard could put out a polka album and I’d buy it. Although it’s a bit more up-tempo than traditional DCFC fare, the vocals still soar.
Bright Eyes – “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”
Even though the entirety of this Omaha outfit’s Christmas album consists of delightful traditional-but-not holiday tunes, I’m partial to this track. Conor Oberst’s voice may take some getting used to, but the product is rich and deep with a hint of twang.
Less-than-Cheery Carols:
Ben Folds – “The Bizarre Christmas Incident”
This one isn’t for the kiddies. Or maybe it is, if you want your kiddies to grow up to be Ben Folds. Anyway, this song tells a tale of the festively plump Santa Claus getting stuck in the chimney. It truly is a bizarre Christmas incident.
The Vandals – “Oi to the World”
One would think that Christmas and oi would go together like cookies and ass, but this song seamlessly – and unabashedly – fuses holiday messages with just plain fun punk rock. And if you like this song, you may like No Doubt’s cover.
Eric Cartman – “O Holy Night”
Leave it to South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone to take a holiday classic and, well, South Park it up. In it, the not-fat-but-big-boned Cartman gets shocked every time he forgets the words. Needless to say, madness ensues.
More Songs to Eat Fruitcake to:
The Smashing Pumpkins – “Christmastime”
Joy Electric – “Winter Wonderland”
The Raveonettes – “The Christmas Song”
Sufjan Stevens – “Only at Christmas Time”
The Arcade Fire – “Jingle Bell Rock”
Belle and Sebastian – “Are You Coming Over for Christmas?”
Snow Patrol – “When I Get Home for Christmas”
Jack Johnson – “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
Weezer – “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”
Kings of Convenience – “Deilig Er Jordan”
Grandaddy – “Alan Parsons in a Winter Wonderland”
Dandy Warhols – “Little Drummer Boy”
Teenage Fanclub – “Christmas Eve”
Run D.M.C. – “Christmas In Hollis”
John Legend – “Nutmeg”
Of course, I’m not telling you to rebel against the Christmas music establishment. But the sooner we can forget “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” the better – for all humanity.
Now for your $.02. Are there any holiday songs that you absolutely love or absolutely loathe with every fiber of your being?
Related posts:
I like a lot of these, and also:
The Long Winters – “Christmas With You is The Best”
Ben Folds – “Lonely Christmas Eve”
Barenaked Ladies – “Green Christmas”
Also good:
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Barenaked Ladies & Sarah McLachlan
Christmas Day – Dido
Barenaked Ladies version of Jingle Bells never fails to make me laugh.
I usually don’t dig Christmas music at all, but I like the Vince Guaraldi Trio. They do all the Charlie Brown Christmas music. I know, there goes every ounce of my street cred.
I hate the Christmas Shoes song. I also happen to hate the Little Drummer Boy (but like the Bowie/Crosby version).
I love the Weepies “All That I Want.” But cool musical taste has never been one of my prominent qualities.
My favorite song Christmas song is “All I Want for Christmas is You” NOT By Mariah Carey NOOOO, but by Vince Vance and the Valiants. Maybe it is because they are a New Orelans band and I listened to the stations down there pay the crap out of the song every 2 seconds for about 15 years or so. Or maybe because it is just an awesome, blues-y, kick ass version of the song and the girl’s voice is just amazing. I can’t help to sing it out loud when I do hear it on rare occasion here in ICT. Oh, and I also love anything by Harry Connick, Jr. Um, I think I am showing my cajun roots here. Oh well.
If you all have not checked out Straight no Chaser you should they have 2 Christmas albums and they are GREAT.
“All I Want For Christmas” is my favorite song ever. I love Mariah’s version but the best is the one from Love Actually. Too much cuteness.
The Weepies – All That I Want
Rosie Thomas – Why Can’t It Be Christmastime All Year
Lenka – All My Bells Are Ringing
May be a bit on the poppy side for some, but at least it isn’t “All I Want This Christmas Is You,” “Santa Baby,” and the same old traditional rendition of “Little Drummer Boy.”
the Pogues w/ Kirsty MacColl – “Fairytale of New York”
I’m a huge fan of Sufjan Stevens’ entire Songs for Christmas set, especially the song “Sister Winter”.
I just spent 24 hours in a car with my sister. Her favorite Christmas song is Mariah’s “All I want for Christmas.” I almost drove myself into a tree every time in came on (every 4.5 minutes).
The Pogues “Fairytale of New York” is a great choice, Greg. NOFX did a good cover of it, FYI to anyone who hasn’t heard it.
this is great! with this list, i at least give my Christmas party a fighting chance of not being lame. all i need to figure out now, is holiday treats and snacks that don’t suck.
blink-182’s “I Won’t be Home for Christmas”
Fountain of Wayne’s “I want an alien for Christmas”
Weezer’s “Christmas Song”
Sum 41 and Tenacious D’s “Things I Want”
The Hives and Cyndi Lauper’s “A Christmas Duel”
They were playing Christmas music at WalMart while I was frantically searching for white fishnets for Halloween a few days before.
I’m not sure, but that may fall under crimes against humanity.
I cannot express how happy I am that no one mentioned “Christmas Shoes.” Every year my friends and I email videos of the worst/most annoying Christmas music we can find. One of us always sends “Christmas Shoes” and usually Faith Hill singing “Where Are You Christmas?” shows up.
Completely forgot about B.B. King’s “Merry Christmas, Baby”
OK. I’m done commenting now. I promise.
…maybe.
Louis Armstrong’s scratchy rendition of “Is that you Santa Claus,” will never fail to brighten my Christmas.
“Red Snow” by Psychostick. The reindeer shouldn’t of called Rudolph a freak again.
Leave your response!
Verbs
Recent Comments
Archives
Authors
Follow Us
Recent Posts
Most Commented
Most Viewed
eat | drink | do | go | help | listen | inform | meet | move | nest | rate | read | save | shop | snap | try | watch | wear | work
verb [ICT] is the premier online source for discovering Wichita, Kansas. From the hottest local restaurants and bars to the best shopping, music, arts, events and travel, verb [ICT] has Wichita covered.