Monthly Music Fix 2023 12 - Christmas Edition
Some of my favorite Christmas tunes to spin for the next few days of the holidays
“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 wish I had a river. I could skate away on. I wish I had a river so long. I would teach my feet to fly. Oh, I wish I had a river. I could skate away on. I made my baby cry.”
Welcome to my annual Christmas list. This year is a bit more positive than last years. Though we still have some heaviness of course. But, I really wanted to bring out the positive this year. You can put this on in the background as you’re wrapping presents, baking cookies, enjoying some eggnog by the fire, decorating the tree, or just spending time with family and friends. It should be a nice accompaniment to your holiday season.
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Andy Williams
We’re kicking it off big this year. I love Christmas. My Mr. 33Forever loves Christmas Grandpa 33Forever loved Christmas. I love so much about Christmas. But, I love most of all the joy it brings so many people. Yes. Its heavy for lots of people (we get to that later). But, lets start off by focusing on the awesomeness of the season.
“It's the most wonderful time of the year. There'll be much mistltoeing. And hearts will be glowing. When loved ones are near. It's the most wonderful time of the year.”
Mistletoe and Holly - Frank Sinatra
I’ve always loved this Frank Sinatra classic. I love how the words just flow off the tongue and the light musical accompaniment that is plucky and upbeat.
“Oh, by gosh, by jingle. It's time for carols and Kris Kringle. Overeating, merry greeting. From relatives you don't know.”
Baby, It’s Cold Outside - She & Him
I love how Zoey and M. Ward turn this Christmas classic on its head by changing the gender roles. I dig how they sound and even the tempo that provides and urgency to it. The whistling is a nice touch. This song was always how I viewed Christmas in my 20s living in a city.
“The neighbors might think, baby, it's bad out there. Say, what's in this drink, no cabs to be had out there. I wish I knew how, your eyes are like starlight now. To break this spell, I'll take your hat, your hair looks swell.”
It’s Christmas! Let’s Be Glad! - Sufjan Stevens
Its a battle between She & Him and Sufjan Stevens for who owns the best Christmas music. In this song, Sufjan writes his own Christmas song about being positive in the face of an adverse year and to hope for something better during the Christmas season.
“Since it's Christmas, let's be glad. Even if the year's been bad. There are presents to be had. A promotion for your dad. Don't be angry don't be mad.”
Christmas Song (live) - Dave Matthews, Tim Reynolds
In a live version I can’t find of this song, Dave introduces the song with, “this is just a nice story thats all it is.” I am an atheist who loves the gospels. They can make me cry. Jesus tried so hard to bring so much love in the world; his heart was so full of “love love love.”
“So the story goes, so I'm told. The people he knew were. Less than golden-hearted. Gamblers and robbers. Drinkers and jokers. All soul searchers. Like you and me. Like you and me.”
Old Toy Trains - Glen Campbell
I loved this song as a kid growing up. I love the magicalness it brings.
“Close your eyes.Listen to the skies. All is calm, all is well. Soon you'll hear Kris Kringle and the jingle bells. Bringin' old toy trains, little toy tracks. Little boy toys comin' from a sack. Carried by a man dressed in white and red. Little boy, don'tcha think it's time you were in bed?”
Xmas Time Is Here Again - My Morning Jacket
I love it when Indie bands make up their own Christmas songs. I love the lightness of the song mixed with the minor key heaviness. I dig the guitar at the end.
“Christmas time is here again. All this joy for girls and boys. Life was bad, but now is good. Love is right, I think we should.”
Blue Christmas - Bright Eyes
This is about not being with the people or person you love on and around Christmas.
“I'll have a blue Christmas without you. I'll be so blue just thinking about you. Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree. Won't be the same dear, if you're not here with me. And when those blue snowflakes start falling. That's when those blue memories start calling. You'll be doing all right. With your Christmas of white. But I'll have a blue, blue, blue, blue Christmas.”
I’ll Be Home For Christmas - Kacey Musgraves (feat. Lana Del Rey)
Another song about missing the people you love on Christmas.
“I'll be home for Christmas. You can plan on me. Please have some snow and mistletoe. And presents by the tree.”
The Friendly Beasts - Sufjan Stevens
I’ve love this song since I was a young kid. I love how they talk about the gifts. Sufjan has the definitive version I think.
"I," said the sheep with curly horn. "I gave Him my wool for His blanket warm. He wore my coat on Christmas morn" "I," said the sheep with curly horn.”
What Child Is This - Rebecca Roubion
I try to stay away from hymns. But, this one can bring me to tears. I love how dirgey it is. I love how dark it sounds. I love the minor key.
“So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh. Come peasant, king to own Him. The King of Kings salvation brings; Let loving hearts enthrone Him. Raise, raise, the song on high. The Virgin sings her lullaby.”
Feelin Sorry - My Morning Jacket
Not one, but two MMJ Christmas songs. This was just released this year and I had to include it. We’re entering the sad portion of the playlist.
“Feeling sorry for myself. Wishing that something would change. Feeling sorry for myself. On Christmas day. Oh, why do the holidays. Always make me feel this way?”
christmas will break your heart - LCD Soundsystem
Every year its someone’s first Christmas without their mother, father, brother, sister, daughter, son, cousin, grandma, grandpa, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, or good friend. Maybe its the first year after a separation for a family or the first year after someone’s breakdown. Maybe its yet another year of unemployment and not being able to buy gifts for the ones you love. Christmas will in fact break your heart. I love the intense emotional outro. “So what if they don’t love you anymore.”
“Christmas will break your heart. If your world is feeling small. And there's no one on the phone. You feel close enough to call. Christmas will crush your soul. Like that laid back rock 'n' roll. But your body's getting old. And it's much too tired to be so bold. Christmas can wreck your head. Like some listless awkward sex. So you refuse to leave your bed. And get depressed when no one checks. Yeah, Christmas will break your heart. Like the armies of the unrelenting dark. Once the peace talks fall apart”
Day After Tomorrow - Phoebe Bridgers
This is just a sad song about not being where you want to be either physically or in your life around Christmas. Written from the perspective of someone fighting a war.
“You can't deny the other side. Don't want to die any more than we do. What I'm trying to say is, don't they pray. To the same God that we do?Tell me, how does God choose? Whose prayers does He refuse? Who turns the wheel? Who throws the dice? On the day after tomorrow?
Fairytale of New York - The Pogues
Glen Hansard did a fantastic rendition at Shane MacGowan’s funeral this year and I really felt like I had to include this song.
“They've got cars big as bars. They've got rivers of gold. But the wind goes right through you. It's no place for the old. When you first took my hand. On a cold Christmas Eve. You promised me. Broadway was waiting for me. You were handsome. You were pretty. Queen of New York City. When the band finished playing. They howled out for more. Sinatra was swinging. All the drunks they were singing. We kissed on a corner. Then danced through the night. The boys of the NYPD choir. Were singing Galway Bay. And the bells were ringing out. For Christmas day.”
Do You Want to Build a Snowman - Jasmine Thompson
A great example of someone reaching out to a friend with depression around the holidays. I imagine this is what it was like for me and my family circa 2016-2019.
“Do you wanna build a snowman? Come on, let's go and play. I never see you anymore. Come out the door. It's like you've gone away. We used to be best buddies. And now we're not. I wish you would tell me why. Do you wanna build a snowman?. It doesn't have to be a snowman...Okay, bye...”
River - Roma di Luna
This song and the various versions of it are probably my favorite Christmas song. Even if it wasn’t meant to be a Christmas song. I love this version and how slow and quiet it is.
“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 wish I had a river. I could skate away on. I wish I had a river so long. I would teach my feet to fly. Oh, I wish I had a river. I could skate away on. I made my baby cry.”
A Long December (live) - Counting Crows
Is this a Christmas song? I think its becoming one for me. The piano is awesome.
“And it's been a long December and there's reason to believe. Maybe this year will be better than the last. I can't remember all the times I tried to tell myself. To hold on to these moments as they pass.”
I Believe In Miracles (live) - Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam released this during a previous 10 days of Christmas. I think it works as a Christmas song and ends things on a positive note. And isn’t that what Christmas is about in someway, about believing in miracles and believing in a better in world for me and you?
“I used to be on an endless run. Believed in miracles 'cause I'm one. I have been blessed with the power to survive. After all these years, I'm still alive.”
Check out the playlist below: