I love Christmas. My dad loves Christmas. My grandfather loved Christmas. His father also apparently loved Christmas. A love of Christmas is in my blood. And, I love Christmas music. I love a whole variety of Christmas music. Old, new, religious, secular, classic, and modern. I dig them all. When I was growing up I would listen to Christmas music year round. Growing up I would imagine and fantasize about what it would be like to spend Christmas time in a big city. In New York. I got that fantasy in 2000 and it exceeded expectations. Just like all music, I love the emotion behind Christmas songs. My favorite ones are the ones with the biggest emotional hit. Therefore I love joyous Christmas songs, but I also dig sad Christmas songs too. This list hopefully reflects a diverse perspective on Christmas music. I intended this to not be such a heavy list, but upon review this is really a more heavy Christmas playlist. I have three Phoebe Bridgers songs on here. It’s going to get awful heavy in some points. Therefore, I’ve added a couple of fun songs to **try** to balance things out. I hope you enjoy.
We Need A Little Christmas - Ages and Ages. As previously mentioned 2022 was a tough year for a lot of reasons. And, man, do I want and need Christmas this year. And that’s the theme of this song. Christmas provides that cheer in some people and that cheer keeps rubbing off on others until by Christmas everyone has some cheer in their eyes regardless of their current situation. This is about needing that Christmas cheer.
“For I've grown a little leaner, grown a little colder Grown a little sadder, grown a little older And I need a little angel sitting on my shoulder Need a little Christmas now”
Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) - Death Cab for Cutie. I fell in love with the Eagles version of this song, but this is by far my favorite arrangement of one of my favorite Christmas songs. This is really a love song that is set around Christmas time. It captures a deep loneliness and the longing that goes along with that.
“They're singing Deck The Halls But it's not like Christmas at all 'Cause I remember when you were here And all the fun we had last year”
If We Make It Through December - Phoebe Bridgers. The first of three. And probably the saddest. This Mearle Haggard cover is just fantastic. The fact is that December is tough for a lot of folks. I’ve spoken to two people in the past year for whom this time of year is downright traumatic for them. And for some people they want it to be better and it just isn’t. This song captures this sad take on December.
“If we make it through December Everything's going to be alright, I know It's the coldest time of winter And I shiver when I see the falling snow If we make it through December Got plans to be in a warmer town come summer time Maybe even California If we make it through December, we'll be fine”
Must Be Santa - Kurt Vile. This is just a fun little Christmas song that goes great with Kurt’s super chill vibe. This is one of the chillest Christmas songs you’ll hear. Is that kids just singing a long? Its super fantastic way to lighten the mood.
The Christmas Song - The Raveonettes. I love the whole melancholy vibe of this song. It’s not a sad Christmas song, but its a dark one for sure. Still its a bit of a love song about wanting to be with that special person around the holidays.
All the lights are comin' on now How I wish that it would snow now I don't feel like going home now I wish that I could stay
I’ll Be Home For Christmas - She & Him. I saw their Christmas show a couple years ago and loved it. She & Him were made to do Christmas music. This is a new and classic take on Christmas classic. I love everything about it. Even M. Ward’s guitar solo is excellent.
“I'll be home for Christmas You can count on me Please have snow and mistletoe And presents on the tree”
Let Me Sleep (It’s Christmas Time) - Pearl Jam. In the year of Pearl Jam, I’ve of course included a Pearl Jam song in my Christmas playlist. This captures that sorta midtwenties Christmas feeling feeling for me. Thinking about to a childhood of Christmases that felt magical at times.
“Oh, when I was a kid Oh, how magic it seemed Oh, please let me sleep, it's Christmastime”
Carol of the Bells - The O’Pears into Carol of the Bells - Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovy (from the Home Alone Soundtrack). I love the slow version that leads into this anthemic (and by far my favorite version) of Carol of the Bells. The build up and urgency and tone of this song is just amazing. I don’t know how you can create this level of urgency in a Christmas song, but there is urgency here. This song brings a tear to my eye because of the pure beauty of the song. This is a children’s chorus - correct?
“Hark! how the bells Sweet silver bells All seem to say "Throw cares away." Christmas is here Bringing good cheer To young and old Meek and the bold.”
River - Robert Downey Jr. This is close to my favorite version of this song. My favorite version of this song is actually the one from the show. It’s just Robert Downey Jr. and a piano and its just awesome.
“It's coming on Christmas They're cutting down trees They're putting up reindeer And singing songs of joy and peace Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on But it don't snow here It stays pretty green I'm going to make a lot of money Then I'm going to quit this crazy scene.”
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas - Gayla Peevey. This is here for fun. We needed a little fun in this list and this is a super fun and lively Christmas song.
“I want a hippopotamus for Christmas Only a hippopotamus will do No crocodiles, or rhinoceroseses I only like hippopotamuseses And hippopotamuses like me too”
Someday at Christmas - Jack Johnson. I listened to a lot of Jack Johnson this year. I needed his take on the world. This is a great cover of Stevie Wonder’s original. This imagines a better world that aligns with spirit of the season. He makes minor adjustments to the lyrics and I love them.
Someday at Christmas there'll be no tears When all men are equal and no man have fears One shinning moment *my heart ran* away From our world today
Christmas, Of Course - Will Dailey. As I mentioned, Christmas is downright traumatic for some. It’s stressful for most. This song captures that sentiment. This is just a fantastic stream of consciousness about family and Christmas.
“Got everything we've wanted Now there’s too much stuff race around in darkness unsure of when it's enough night's longer now as the earth tilts away from the pagan star the ritual came from credit card is heavy crashing a new year tail lights in this traffic are festive and everyone selling their brand will say debt from giving doesn't count it's Christmas, of course I am just stressed out”
Wonderful Christmastime - The Shins. This cover of a classic by the Shins is fantastic. Just a fun diddy about the joy of the Christmas season.
Simply having a wonderful Christmastime Simply having a wonderful Christmastime
Just Like Christmas - Low. Classic indie band lost their drummer this year. And, this is one of my favorite indie Christmas songs. The band Low is from Minnesota and gets Christmas and they get what Christmas is like.
“It was just like Christmas,”
Every Holiday - Mt. Joy. Mt. Joy was a top five band for me this year according to Spotify wrapped. They also released a great song about making it through the holiday season. The horns are a nice addition to this song.
“But maybe it's all worth it just to see if we can outrun it And I look at you across the room Your eyes like sinking balloons Merry Christmas, babe, I hope we make it through”
In the Bleak Midwinter - Wolf Alice. Another new indie band I dig with their take on interesting holiday music. First it sounds cool and different. But, still with that holiday vibe. It’s actually a poem they are singing. Pretty cool.
“What can I give him? Poor as I am If I were a shepherd I would give a lamb If I were a wise man I would do my part But what I can I give him Give him my heart”
Jingle Bells - Joy Oladokun. I saw this band open for MMJ this year and they rocked a great version of Smells Like Teen Spirit. I love their take on this Christmas classic to lighten the mood again.
“Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh.”
Christmas Song -Phoebe Bridgers. Welp. We’ve reached the point in the playlist that we’re just going on in on depressing takes on Christmas and its only our second of three Phoebe Bridgers songs. I love how witty it is. If that makes sense. It’s just a super cynical take. It’s Christmas so no one can fix it.
“You don't have to be alone to be lonesome It's easy to forget The sadness comes crashing like a brick through the window And it's Christmas so no one can fix it”
The Christmas Waltz - She & Him. No heaviness here. Just a nice song. Enjoy. I love She & Him singing Christmas music.
“Frosted window panes Candles gleaming inside Painted candy canes on the tree Santa's on his way He's filled his sleigh with things Things for you and for me”
It’s Christmas So We’ll Stop - Frightened Rabbit. Christmas is a good time to stop all the bad in your life and focus on the good things. You can stop fighting. Stop being depressed. For one magical night. Christmas is the time to change our nature and our wear shiny clothes.
“And life might never get better than this With the perfect excuse for our natures to change And wear shiny clothes Ah, it's Christmas, so press pause on the remote”
So Much Wine - Phoebe Bridgers. This newly released Christmas song is for sure sad. It’s a bout a sad Christmas. Little 33Forever asked why someone made a sad Christmas song. My response was that not everyone has awesome Christmases and for some people Christmastime makes them sad. We need Christmas music for those people too.
“I had nothing to say on Christmas day When you threw all your clothes in the snow When you burnt your hair and knocked over chairs I just tried to stay out of your way”
Drummer Boy - Titus Andronicus. Well this is just pure fun. Sang to the tune of Billy Joel’s Piano Man, this song Christmas song pokes alot of fun at what what would have actually happened had Mary and Joseph showed up looking for a place to stay.
“There stands a young a lady, who’s having a baby though she claims to be a virgin. And she says innkeeper can you take pity on me, you see that my child is in danger. And the innkeeper says with a shake of his head, you may spend the night in the manger”
A Long December - The Counting Crows. Is this a Christmas song? It’s a bout a tough December and a lot of these songs are about a tough December. This song has stuck with me since it came out. It’s a heavy personal song for me. It reminds me of winters and my moms.
“The smell of hospitals in winter And the feeling that it's all a lot of oysters, but no pearls”
What Are You Doing New Years Eve - Nancy Wilson. I’ve loved this song since college and it filled me with me fantastic fantasies of what a New Year’s Eve in a place like New York City would be like. I still love this song.
“Ah, but in case I stand one little chance Here comes the jackpot question in advance What are you doing New Year's, New Year's Eve?”
Happy New Year - Frank Turner. This is just a fun little song to say happy holidays to someone.
“Call up your buddies, get them to bring the beer, Thin Lizzy on the stereo, no fights no tears. If I could be anywhere, I'd want to be here. Have a happy new year.”
In The New Year - The Walkmen. This is bringing hope for the new year. I love the Walkmen and they have not one but two songs about the new year. I love the guitars in this song.
“I know that it's true It's gonna be a good year Out of the darkness And into the fire I tell you I love you And my heart's in the strangest place”
The New Year - Death Cab For Cutie. There is lots of hope for the new year. And this song captures how that hope can turn into disappointment and cynicism.
“So this is the new year And I have no resolutions Or self assigned penance For problems with easy solutions”
I forgot to actually share the playlist. You can check out spotify here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4aSPfvWWlfsbZnPAIRGn5z?si=41031ddc9af7420f