My Favorite Holiday Songs
Back when I was a poor executive assistant, my go-to gift was a mix-tape (or CD, if you will). I worked for a record label so I had blank CDs and a massive CD-copier at my disposal. I would spend hours putting together the perfect mixes for whatever event was coming up: birthdays (mostly party songs), St. Patrick’s Day (lots of songs about getting drunk), or Valentine’s Day (either a Love Sucks! or a Love is Awesome! mix, depending on your relationship status). My favorite mix was for the holidays – I loved finding songs that were a little different and introducing them to my friends.
I don’t make mixes for my presents anymore, but I still make them for fun. Here are my favorite songs you need to improve your holiday playlists.
~ “River” by Travis
This is one of my favorite Joni Mitchell songs of all time, but Fran Healy’s voice was made to sing this song. It’s gorgeous, and I’ve been known to listen to this song in the middle of June, just because I love it so much.
~ “Oi To The World” by No Doubt
Gwen has the perfect voice for this sassy song. Can’t we all just get along?
~ “Frosty The Snowman” Fiona Apple
If Fiona ever released an album of standards, I would buy it in an instant. She nails this jazzy-blues version of Frosty.
~ “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Coldplay
True, Chris Martin could sing the phone book and I would love it. This version of the song is such a stand-out because of how simple it is. Just a voice and a piano, and it’s so beautiful.
~ “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” by NSYNC
I’M NOT MADE OF STONE. This song is catchy, damn it!
~ “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (Stuhr Remix)” by Kay Starr
There is an entire album of remixed Christmas standards (Christmas Remixed – Holiday Classics Re-Grooved), but this one is my favorite. It’s fun to dance along to the old-school hits.
~ “I Want” by Tenacious D and Sum 41
Jack Black. Enough said.
~ “Silver Bells” by Schuyler Fisk
I have been singing “Silver Bells” since my Kindergarten holiday program a zillion years ago, so I have a soft spot for it. That being said, Schuyler’s gorgeous voice knocks this out of the park. When your parents ask you who’s singing, be sure to tell them it’s the coal miner’s granddaughter.
What do you think? What songs would you add to my list?
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I Wanna Be Sedated…The Ramones song and also, seriously.
I can’t believe you don’t have Justin Bieber on this list. FAIL.
Do You Hear What I Hear -Johnny Mathis
little Drummer Boy
Anything by Burl Ives
The Waitresses….Christmas Wrapping. Can’t wait to listen to the ones on your list!
“I Won’t Be Home For Christmas” by Blink 182. Heh heh.
“Blue Christmas,” by, of course, Elvis.
And “The Holly and the Ivy” – Judy Collins did a nice version.
The Barenaked Ladies – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.
“Last Christmas” by Wham is a huge hit in our house for some reason.
With all of the people that put red lights in their lights on their houses around here just in time for Christmas the song “Roxanne” always reminds me of the holidays.
Seriously, how can people not realize what the heck the red light is supposed to be for.
@domestic extraordinaire HEATHER. MY NEIGHBORS DO THIS! HAHAHAHA!
I love Christmas music!!
Some favorites include “Do They Know it’s Christmas” by Band Aid, “The Twelve Pains of Christmas” (I forget who does this one), and “Deck the Stills” by Barenaked Ladies. My most favorite Christmas carol ever is “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” (this might have something to do with “It’s a Wonderful Life”) but I’m very picky about the version… it has to be sung JUST right! :)
Definitely NOTHING by the “Sh.t I so want to be your sex partner’ singer/songwriter ;)
HAHAHAHAHAHA best comment ever, Fellow Sufferer.
“Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by U2 (also done by Leighton Meester (what?), Hanson and Cher, but the U2 version is the best) – my absolute favorite!
I really like the Aimee Mann version of “River”
For some reason “All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey never fails to make me tear up – blame “Love Actually”
“The Christmas Song” by Weezer
And, contrary to my husband’s tastes, nothing by Jimmy Buffett
Yes, SueBob! I love, love, love the Barenaked Ladies version of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. Also have to second Last Christmas, All I Want For Christmas Is You and Baby Please Cone Home.
I haven’t had Christmas without “funky, funky Christmas” by NKOTB since I was 11. It’s always a big hit when it’s played at Christmas get togethers.
I believe Schuyler Fisk is Sissy Spacek’s daughter not granddaughter. Just sayin’ !
Thanks for the list! I was just thinking of updating my Christmas list. I LOVE
I Saw Three Ships. It’s just too short! And Christmas Song by Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds. Have you heard Schuyler Fisk’s Sleep Sleep? A great lullabye for sleepyheads!
My husband would be highly disappointed if there was no mention of “Christmas in Hollis” by RUN-DMC (you might remember this song was highlighted in the Christmas classic, Die Hard).
Oh but in all seriousness, I really love the whole Vince Guaraldi Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack.
I love the following newer songs…
Christmas Lights by Cold Play
My First Snow by Matt Morris
Little Drummer Boy and A Snow Globe Christmas by Pink Martini
Winter Moon Album by Mindy Gledhill
Very Merry Christmas Album by Dave Barnes (I especially like Mary and Joseph)
In the Morning by Jack Johnson
Snow Globe by Matt Wertz
Christmas by Teddy Thompson
Do You Hear What I Hear by Maranatha! Music
Christmas This Year by Toby Mac
Jingle Bells by Frank Sinatra on the album Concepts (search in itunes for Frank Sinatra Concepts)
Go tell it on the Mountain by Folk Angel
A New Thought for Christmas by Melissa Etheridge
Sweet Night by Katie Rice
Where’s the Line to See Jesus? by Becky Kelley
The White Christmas Album by Oh, Hush!
A Baby Changes Everything by Faith Hill
A couple more I remembered…
It’s a Marshmallow World by Dean Martin
A Merry Christmas at Grandmother’s by The Andrew Sisters with Danny Kaye
I can just picture Annie dancing to these two!
Anything by the Roches, Sufjan Stevens, Rockapella or Straight No Chaser!
Bob River’s Twisted Christmas CD
– 12 pains of Christmas….There’s something stuck up in the chimney..and The Restroom Door said gentlemen…
and one very sad song always played around christmas called “Dear Mr. Jesus”….
hahaha, thanks Heather, I thought you’d appreciate that one. (I’m the woman who had the same job as you, albeit a few years later ..argghhhhhhh!!!!)
I believe the song is called, “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses. It is total 1980′s KROQ, but it is a really catchy, fun song (and the story it tells is sweet). I have had it on my standard I-Tunes playlist for years and my 17 year-old daughter (along with her friends) loves it! When Hayley & I do our Annual Holiday Baking with my Sister and Sister-In-Law, we always listen to music and when this song comes on, we crank up the volume and dance like fools…I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but if not, you’ll inevitably love it too! Happy Holidays!
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