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The Xmas music playlist at my job is awful; give me your best non-traditional holiday songs!
I’m going insane from the bland ass Xmas music at my work and I’m looking to zhuzh up the playlist with some more interesting Xmas music. Think “Christmas at the Zoo” by the Flaming Lips or “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Wanna Fight Tonight)” by The Ramones.
I would also like some non-Christmas holiday songs, so we can get some representation for holidays besides the Christian one, or even just “Winter Songs”
Thanks!
Fairytale of New York - the Pogues (contains slurs)
Damn, you beat me by two minutes. I'll delete my duplicate recommendation. But for the unaware, the lead singer of the Pogues, Shane MacGowan, recently died which is why this song is probably on so many people's minds right now (mine included).
Lyrics
[Verse 1: Shane MacGowan]
It was Christmas Eve, babe, in the drunk tank
An old man said to me, "Won't see another one"
And then he sang a song, 'The Rare Old Mountain Dew'
I turned my face away and dreamed about you
[Verse 2: Shane MacGowan]
Got on a lucky one, came in eighteen-to-one
I've got a feeling this year's for me and you
So, Happy Christmas, I love you, baby
I can see a better time when all our dreams come true
[Verse 3: Kirsty MacColl]
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
[Verse 4: Kirsty MacColl & Shane MacGowan & Together]
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
[Chorus: Shane Macgowan & Kirsty MacColl]
The boys of the NYPD choir
Were singing, "Galway Bay"
And the bells were ringing out
For Christmas Day
You might also like
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Christmas Songs
Jingle Bells
Christmas Songs
Silent Night
Christmas Songs
[Verse 5: Kirsty MacColl & Shane MacGowan]
You're a bum, you're a punk, you're an old slut on junk
Lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed
You scumbag, you maggot, you cheap, lousy faggot
Happy Christmas, your arse, I pray God it's our last
[Chorus: Shane Macgowan & Kirsty MacColl]
The boys of the NYPD choir
Still singing, "Galway Bay"
And the bells are ringing out
For Christmas Day
[Verse 6: Kirsty MacColl & Shane MacGowan]
"I could have been someone" Well, so could anyone
You took my dreams from me when I first found you
I kept them with me, babe, I put them with my own
Can't make it all alone, I've built my dreams around you
[Outro: Shane Macgowan & Kirsty MacColl]
The boys of the NYPD choir
Still singing, "Galway Bay"
And the bells are ringing out
For Christmas Day
There was a lovely version performed at MacGowan's funeral yesterday with Glen Hansard and Lisa O'Neill singing. O'Neill in particular has a perfect voice for the song.
Nick Cave also did a great rendition of A Rainy Night in Soho, one of the great love songs and one Shane was always very protective of in regards to who performed it.
Yeah, last week on Nov 30th. :( There was a Tildes topic of his Guardian obit, if you're interest in reading it.
p.s. The Pogues actually had a few albums make the charts in the US, so they weren't entirely unknown here in NA. And my mom's best friend here in Canada loved them, so that's how I was first exposed to their music. But yeah, the Pogues and MacGowan are not exactly household names here like they are in Ireland and the UK.
I don't think I ever heard them on the radio here in Eastern Canada either, other than Fairytale of New York at Christmas time, but IIRC a few of their other music videos did occasionally make an appearance on MuchMusic (Canadian version of MTV) back in the day. And IIRC they interviewed Shane on MuchMoreMusic after he and The Popes played a gig in Toronto some time in the early 2000s.
Edit: Can't find footage of the interview, but the producer actually wrote about the interview on his Substack:
An All-Nighter With Shane MacGowan - My most memorable music interview lasted till dawn
YVW, and IKR? A signed cocktail napkin is a very fitting souvenir. :P
Here in the UK I'd say this is definitely a traditional Christmas song but I've noticed Christmas songs over here generally differ to those played in the US.
Songs like Merry Xmas Everybody by Slade, I Wish it Could be Xmas Everyday by Wizzard, and Christmas Time Don't Let the Bells End by The Darkness are played very regularly over here.
Even Jona Lewies Stop the Cavalry, a sombre anti-war Christmas song dealing with war, death, and nuclear weapons gets regular airtime every Christmas.
Yeah, the UK has a long tradition of UK bands, musicians, and even regular people, releasing both novelty/parody and serious Christmas singles, often made to benefit charities. So if OP is looking for non-traditional Christmas/holiday songs, the UK Christmas Charts are probably a good place to dive into:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_UK_Singles_Chart_Christmas_number_ones
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_UK_Singles_Chart_Christmas_number_twos
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:British_Christmas_songs
E.g. The YouTube channel LadBaby has had the UK Christmas #1 for the last 5 years running. They even had Ed Sheeran and Elton John in their 2021 song, Sausage Rolls for Everyone, which actually beat the song it was parodying, Ed Sheeran and Elton John's own Christmas single from that same year, Merry Christmas. :P
That one's a story unto itself based on the previous 4 years number 1s.
Ahhh how great that was. A nice big two fingers to Simon Cowell and the pop factory at large.
Indeed it is:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_in_the_Name#2009_UK_Christmas_number_one_campaign
It both suprises me and at the same time doesn't that there's a wikipedia page for that.
Speaking of UK YouTubers and Christmas songs... one of my favorites, BeardMeatsFood, just released his own Christmas charity single for the Stroke Association:
GRAB THE MINCE PIES...
The most typical Christmas songs played in stores and on the radio here have been vetted to be bland and noncontroversial. We don't have many independant radio stations anymore.
. Anyway, our most typically played Christmas songs are meant to increase and encourage consumerism.
When I was working on-air at a radio station in the 90s I played Christmas With the Devil by Spinal Tap. Once.
I got called out on that the next day.
America doesn't seem to get new Christmas songs very often, either. The Christmas music I hear played on the radio at work has been the same rotation of 15-ish songs every year for six years.
That's the song they play in a lot of Doctor Who Christmas specials. I like it a lot.
Sufjan Stevens has a couple Christmas albums like Songs for Christmas and Silver and Gold.
There’s also the Bright Eyes A Christmas Album that has a few beautiful renditions of traditional songs, including Maria Taylor singing White Christmas and the saddest version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas I’ve ever heard.
For something totally different, we always enjoy playing Christmas music from Austria / Germany - there are a bunch of playlists on Spotify if you search weinachtsmusik and/or alpenländisch. A lot of it is instrumental and it isn’t the typical US Christmas songs, so it’s easier to listen to for longer periods. Definitely still has a winter holiday feel.
Oooor you could throw in a classic from my childhood: The Night Santa Went Crazy by Weird Al.
A couple years ago I decided to make an alternative Christmas music Spotify playlist. Mostly things that make me laugh. A good portion of it is NSFW.
Adam Sandler - The Chanukah Song
Bad Lucc - My Little Mama Trippin On Xmas
Barenaked Ladies With Michael Buble - Elf's Lament
Blues Traveler - Christmas
DMX - Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer
Epic Rap Battles of History - Moses vs Santa Claus Snoop Dogg
Froggy Fresh - Christmas
Hopsin - Hell's Carol
Jeremy Lister - Santa's Lost His Mojo
Joe Diffie - Leroy the Redneck Reindeer
Jon Lajoie - Cold Blooded Christmas
Jonathan Coulton - Chiron Beta Prime
Mik - Imperial March x Carol of the Bells Star Wars Lofi
Nate Dogg - Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto
New Found Glory - Ex-Miss
Psychostick - Zombie Claus
Quad City DJ's, The 69 Boyz and K-Nock - What You Want for Christmas
Run–D.M.C. - Christmas In Hollis
Samuel Kim - Carol of The Bells - Epic Version
Steven Colbert - Another Christmas Song *Missing from Spotify...
Steven Colbert and John Legend - Nutmeg *Missing from Spotify...
Turnstile - HOLIDAY
"Weird Al" Yankovic - Christmas at Ground Zero
"Weird Al" Yankovic - The Night Santa Went Crazy
Now this is my kind of playlist! Let's add some MF DOOM to the mix!
Chipmunks Roasting on an Open Fire by Bob Rivers is also good, as a sendup of The Christmas Song.
August Burns Red has great Christmas albums too
Just go play somafm's Christmas in Frisco feed, which is always my first choice for tons of really great non-traditional irreverent and eclectic songs. https://somafm.com/player/#/now-playing/xmasinfrisko
Yep, this is immediately what I thought of
Weird Al classics:
Christmas at Ground Zero
The Night Santa Went Crazy
Others:
blink 182 - I won't be home for Christmas
Ben Folds Five - Brick (not a Christmas song, but it says Christmas!)
Fallout Boy - Yule Shoot Your Eye Out
Reel Big Fish - I just wanna skank for Christmas
I went shopping for a birthday present for my mother in November and the Christmas music was already blasting at the stores. I literally wanted to leave the store because it was playing the same repetitive annoying saccharine-sweet "everything is so great and wonderful shop shop shop!" tunes that we hear year after year.
Actually, I did end up leaving the store because of it, even though it was a store which had the types of things my mother would like as gifts. Once I got out and window shopped right outside the store without the irritating music being wormed into my ear, I was able to go back and actually buy some gifts.
I recall some days later I was in another store, and I noticed they were playing "Christmas" music but it was instrumental music, and not just covers of the typical pop Christmas songs. It was more ethereal and winter-celebration-appreciation-feeling music. It was so much nicer.
I'm sure for me it's some sort of negative association of the trite Christmas pop songs being connected with excessive mindless consumption.
A shop I was in the other day was playing the Home Alone OST and it was fantastic.
What an ace idea. They could just cycle through OSTs from movies like The Christmas Chronicles or Elf.
The Kinks — Father Christmas
The Band — Christmas Must Be Tonight
Grateful Dead — Run Run Rudolph
MC Einar - Jul det' cool The original Danish christmas rap from 1988
Støvledans from The Julekalender from an advent calendar series from my childhood.
Jul På Vesterbro - Anders Matthesen from yet another advent calendar series.
Anne Linnet - Lille Messias old unironic song which I happen to like.
Alexander Jean feat: Casey Abrams - We Three Kings I loved this old hymn ever since I discovered it as a midi file in those days. Wish I sill had that midi file, but this is a neat cover.
The Billy Nayer Show - One Winged Man This one always felt very christmas to me.
Gasolin' - Dejlig Er Jorden
I'm out of christmas songs, but here's some various stuff:
waxattack - yesss!
nick cave - the mercy seat live at paradiso
Sort Sol - Let your fingers do the walking
Lucy Monostone - Strange New World
Dizzy Mizz Lizzy - Silverflame
Halva Priset - Den fineste Chevy´n feat. Maria Mena
My ex introduced me to this song and I still think it's one of the best Xmas songs! Lacuna Coil - Naughty Christmas
Christmas in LA!!
https://youtu.be/d5K3UgrPdbQ?si=fP_WNzd0v9oA_jcq
Absolutely! If we're going to add Vulfpeck Christmassy songs, might as well add A Very Vulfy Christmas by Woody Goss.
Love this Woody Goss Trio rendition
August Burns Red’s Sleddin’ Hill and Winter Wilderness are my favorite non-traditional Christmas albums. They are mostly instrumental and will melt your face.
I’ll also second all of Sufjan Steven’s Christmas music.
Yes! Sleddin' Hill is my goto at Christmastime. Carol of the Bells forever.
An ABR song with the wintery music but not strictly Christmas-related, and has harsh vocals - The Frost
Speaking of harsh vocals...Becoming the Archetype - O Holy Night
Will also second a rec upthread in Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Christmas albums. Wizards in Winter is great, so is Wish Liszt (Toy Shop Madness).
Two of my favourites:
Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Wizards in Winter
Satan, The Dark Prince - Christmas Time in Hell
I was told about the James Brown's Funky Christmas album this year and I can't get enough: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lcG9WNAwuQ667ooWBMaEDNU8I4n5z5BTY&si=XOmPvFYgCDzAIBXG
For a bigger set of Brown's Christmas songs, also check out the 37 track compilation The Complete James Brown Christmas!
Imogen Heap's Just for Now is my pick, and it's not so in your face you can't listen to it any other time of year too.
The live version she performed using a loop station on Indie 103.1 is my personal favorite:
Imogen Heap - Just For Now (Live at Studio 11 103.1FM)
Full set (Just For Now, Let Go, Hide And Seek) with Zach Braff interviewing her in between each song:
Imogen Heap live at Studio 11 103.1 FM
I was lucky enough to see her perform live in my city, it really is such a cool approach to live music. Her use of the mimiu(?) gloves to do mixing and effects on the fly with gestures and movements was entrancing. Really a very unique concert experience I highly recommend it!
Damn, I'm super jealous. I've never had the opportunity to see her live in concert, myself. I have seen her use the MiMU gloves before in few videos though, like in her NPR Tiny Desk concert, and yeah they're pretty cool.
p.s. Incidentally, the Cello player performing alongside Imogen in the second song of the NPR Tiny Desk concert was Zoë Keating, another amazing loop station artist. My personal favorite song/performance of hers:
Zoe Keating - Tetrishead (from Macworld 2011)
I feel you, I think I'll go insane if I hear Wham or Mariah Carey one more time.
I don't have any suggestions in particular, but it seems you're already well supplied. Consider this a comment of solidarity.
Oh and for others, feel free to tag this comment as noise.
Snoopy's Christmas (and Snoopy vs the Red Baron by association) By the Royal Guardsmen are both really enjoyable to me. Fun classic that's not in the usual rotation.
It rotates at my house because I still have my original vinyl from the '70s!
They Might Be Giants - Santa's Beard
Once a year, my friend puts on a red suit
And hangs around with me and my wife
Now I can't help but feeling jealous
Each time she climbs on his knee
And she stands beneath the mistletoe, screaming
For him to stand beneath the mistletoe, screaming
Now I can't help but feeling jealous
Each time she climbs on his knee
Why must she climb on his knee?
I saw my baby wearing Santa's beard
She kissed him once and whispered in his ear
I saw my baby wearing Santa's beard
I wish he would go
He's breaking up my home
She always had this twisted side to her
But she'd never drag my name around town
But lately she's been humming cheating songs
And I don't like that fat guy around
No I don't like that fat guy around
I saw my baby wearing Santa's beard
She kissed him once and whispered in his ear
I saw my baby wearing Santa's beard
I wish he would go
He's breaking up my home
I saw my baby wearing Santa's beard
Thrilling (thrilling)
Christmas (Christmas)
Trembling fear
I saw my baby wearing Santa's beard
I wish he would go
He's breaking up my home
I love when December comes around because I finally get to whip out The Irish Rover's Christmas album.
Okay, so there are a bunch of the classics, but I think I actually feel the Christmas joy when I listen to
Miss Fogarty's Christmas Cake is so funny to me. It's a 3 and a half minute roast of someone's really shitty cake. But over a classic Christmas song caroling tune. It's so bizarre, every year it feels like a fever dream. Especially when she trips over Flanagan's brogans.
In english:
Sexy Santa - Steel Panther Tbh I'm not a fan of this song, but it is something pretty different.
a Christmas Carol - Tom Lehrer 1959 parody of christmas songs.
Jingle Bells - Jello Jingle bells remix by this classic band.
Swedish bonus:
Tomten Lars - Owe Törnqvist Not sure how to describe it, song/story about a guy doing santa and his misadventures.
Juligen - Just D Ok, not that obscure, but pretty different from the traditional stuff.
Mer Jul - Adolphson & Falk Same as the above.
Julen är en härlig tid - Adolphson & Falk Synth christmas
As for "winter song": My December by Linkin Park - https://youtu.be/9DCdCoQ49u8?si=NjsD86VWK31cGNXK
We're All Going to Die by Malcolm Middleton is a fun non-standard holiday song. Malcolm is a local musician from my home town in Scotland and is also a member of the post-rock/alternative band Arab Strap.
Its actually got nothing to do with Christmas but it was released in early December 2007, the video features Malcolm staggering around in a Santa suit, and there was a campaign to try get it to number one for Christmas day (it ended up at number 30 or 31 I think) so it's become a kind of unofficial Christmas song. It's good fun.
The Arrogant Worms, Santa's Gonna Kick Your Ass Not safe for work, obviously, but it's why I always smile when I hear the word "begonias."
Taxi Chain, Cheer My Baby up for Christmas
I prefer heavy metal Christmas, punk rock Christmas, indie Christmas, and lofi Christmas playlists on Spotify. Those all have a distinct vibe that isn't traditional, yet keep the holiday feel.
If you want a hip hop Christmas mix, toasty digital just released a mash-up of Christmas songs and old Kanye songs. Surprisingly well done:
https://youtu.be/7aqDawjezsI?si=NCkiInaXrhcmmaJ8
I was introduced to Corey Taylor's "X-Ma$" recently, if you like hard rock and punk that's pretty good .
Not a song, but SomaFM has five special stations for the holidays, full of alternative versions of Christmas songs.
Julian Casablancas - Christmas Treat
Birdcloud-Cool Christmas
https://youtu.be/9r-MG1e2cKE?si=-tbSeZZAOPzhNZhY
We Wish You a Reggae Christmas by Yellowman has become kind of a meme in our family. My cousin put it on when my aunt asked for "only christmas songs". It it's also pretty good
Murder by Death (I'd call their genre "dark Americana" I guess?) came out with a Christmas album a couple of years ago: Lonesome Holiday
There's also a (sadly now broken-up) band from my hometown who did nothing but Christmas rock: The Yule Logs
Jorts - December (electronic)
All I Want For Christmas Is A Creep by Zach Sanders.
Bane of my existence, Xmas music! For those old enough, am the Al Bundy before Al Bundy Sr portrayed me in a sitcom... Anyway, Sears, just why, explain it, just why!!! Since those dark days I have been compiling a better music playlist of xmas jams, mostly jazzy type. Hope you enjoy it.
Title,Artist,Album
John Gorka - Christmas Bells,,A Putumayo Christmas, World, Folk, Blues, Jazz And Soul
Snowfall,,The Christmas Album
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,Ella Fitzgerald,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,Ella Fitzgerald,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Ill Be Home For Christmas,Tony Bennett,A Swingin Christmas
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam
Jingle Bells,Duke Ellington,A Jazz Christmas
Sleigh Ride,Tex Beneke,A Jazz Christmas
Santa Is Coming To Town,Dave Brubeck Quartet,A Jazz Christmas
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,Dexter Gordon,A Jazz Christmas
Frosty The Snowman,The Dukes Of Dixieland,A Jazz Christmas
Deck The Halls With Boston Cha,Lambert, Hendricks & Ross,A Jazz Christmas
Our Little Town,Heath Bros.,A Jazz Christmas
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,Tex Beneke,A Jazz Christmas
Winter Wonderland,Chico Hamilton,A Jazz Christmas
Ill Be Home For Christmas,McCoy Turner,A Jazz Christmas
Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow,,The Christmas Album
Ottmar Liebert - We 3 Kings (Of Orient R)-Santa Fe Xmas,,A Putumayo Christmas, World, Folk, Blues, Jazz And Soul
Go Tell It To The Mountain,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays
Merry Christmas, Baby,Kenny Burrell,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Merry Christmas, Baby,Kenny Burrell,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Silver Bells,Tony Bennett,A Swingin Christmas
Mary Had A Baby,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam
Mary Had A Baby,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam
Winter Wonderland,Pharez Whitted,A Mojazz Christmas Vol.2
Have Yourself A Merry Christmas,Wayman Tisdale,A Mojazz Christmas Vol.2
Give Love On Christmas Day,Daryle Chinn,A Mojazz Christmas Vol.2
O Come All Ye Faithful,Eddie M,A Mojazz Christmas Vol.2
Home For Christmas,Dean Phil,A Mojazz Christmas Vol.2
Santa Baby,Ronee Martin,A Mojazz Christmas Vol.2
Christmas Time Is Here,Vincent Lars,A Mojazz Christmas Vol.2
The Nite Before Christmas,Impromp2,A Mojazz Christmas Vol.2
This Christmas (Id Rather Have Love),Carol Riddick,A Mojazz Christmas Vol.2
Charlie Brown Christmas,Norman Brown,A Mojazz Christmas Vol.2
We Wish You A Merry Christmas/Jingle Bells/Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer,Mojazz All Stars,A Mojazz Christmas Vol.2
Margie Joseph - Christmas Gift,,A Putumayo Christmas, World, Folk, Blues, Jazz And Soul
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - Santa Man (Medley),,The Christmas Album
Christmas Eve,Billy Eckstine,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Christmas Eve,Billy Eckstine,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays
All I Want For Christmas Is You,Tony Bennett,A Swingin Christmas
Jingle Bells,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam
Jingle Bells,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam
A Child Is Born,Oscar Peterson,Have Yourself a Jazzy Little C
Christmas Medley,Swingle Singers,Have Yourself a Jazzy Little C
Jingle Bells,Jimmy Smith,Have Yourself a Jazzy Little C
The Secret Of Christmas,Ella Fitzgerald,Have Yourself a Jazzy Little C
We Free Kings,Roland Kirk Quartet,Have Yourself a Jazzy Little C
Christmas Eve,Billy Eckstine,Have Yourself a Jazzy Little C
Ive Got My Love To Keep Me Wa,Billie Holiday,Have Yourself a Jazzy Little C
Ole Santa (Single Version),Dinah Washington,Have Yourself a Jazzy Little C
Santa Claus is Coming To Town,Bill Evans,Have Yourself a Jazzy Little C
White Christmas,Ella Fitzgerald,Have Yourself a Jazzy Little C
O Little Town of Bethlehem,Sister Rosetta Tharpe,Have Yourself a Jazzy Little C
The Christmas Song,Mel Tormé,Have Yourself a Jazzy Little C
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,Jimmy Smith,Have Yourself a Jazzy Little C
Silent Night (Single Version),Dinah Washington,Have Yourself a Jazzy Little C
Have Yourself a Merry Little C,Ella Fitzgerald,Have Yourself a Jazzy Little C
Machel - Soca Santa,,A Putumayo Christmas, World, Folk, Blues, Jazz And Soul
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire),,The Christmas Album
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays
Here Comes Santa Claus,Ramsey Lewis,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Here Comes Santa Claus,Ramsey Lewis,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
My Favorite Things,Tony Bennett,A Swingin Christmas
Blue Christmas,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam
Blue Christmas,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam
Christmas Song,Shirley Horn,Jazz For Joy: A Verve Christma
Frosty The Snowman,Roy Hargrove,Jazz For Joy: A Verve Christma
Let It Snow,Betty Carter,Jazz For Joy: A Verve Christma
Those Soulful Jingle Bells,Mark Whitfield,Jazz For Joy: A Verve Christma
Christmas Cheer,Abbey Lincoln,Jazz For Joy: A Verve Christma
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,Nicholas Payton,Jazz For Joy: A Verve Christma
Double Decker (Deck The Halls),Christian McBride,Jazz For Joy: A Verve Christma
Winter Wonderland,Shirley Horn,Jazz For Joy: A Verve Christma
Ill Be Home For Christmas,Stephen Scott,Jazz For Joy: A Verve Christma
Home For The Holidays,Nicholas Payton,Jazz For Joy: A Verve Christma
Have Yourself A Merry Little C,Stephen Scott,Jazz For Joy: A Verve Christma
This Christmas,Christian McBride,Jazz For Joy: A Verve Christma
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer,Nicholas Payton,Jazz For Joy: A Verve Christma
Michael Doucet - Bonne Annee,,A Putumayo Christmas, World, Folk, Blues, Jazz And Soul
Silent Night, Holy Night,,The Christmas Album
Away In A Manger (Medley),Jazzy Brass For The Holidays,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!,Joe Williams,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!,Joe Williams,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Christmas Time Is Here,Tony Bennett,A Swingin Christmas
Go Tell It On The Mountain,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam
Go Tell It On The Mountain,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam
Winter Wonderland,Herb Alpert & Jeff Lorber,Jazz To The World: A Christmas Collection
Baby, Its Cold Outside,Dianne Reeves & Lou Rawls,Jazz To The World: A Christmas Collection
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear,Fourplay,Jazz To The World: A Christmas Collection
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,Diana Krall,Jazz To The World: A Christmas Collection
O Tannenbaum,Stanley Clarke,George Duke,Everette Happ,Jazz To The World: A Christmas Collection
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!,Michael Franks,Jazz To The World: A Christmas Collection
Christmas Waltz,The Brecker Brothers,Steve Khan,Jazz To The World: A Christmas Collection
The Little Drummer Boy,Cassandra Wilson,Jazz To The World: A Christmas Collection
Ill Be Home For Christmas,Herbie Hancock & Eliane Elias,Jazz To The World: A Christmas Collection
O Come O Come Emmanuel,John McLaughlin,Jazz To The World: A Christmas Collection
Christmas Blues,Holly Cole,Jazz To The World: A Christmas Collection
Angels We Have Heard On High,Steps Ahead,Jazz To The World: A Christmas Collection
The Christmas Song,Anita Baker,Jazz To The World: A Christmas Collection
What Child Is This?,Chick Corea,Jazz To The World: A Christmas Collection
Winter Wonderland,Dave Koz,Jazz To The World: A Christmas Collection
II Est Ne, Le Divin Enfant,Dr. John,Jazz To The World: A Christmas Collection
Caroling, Caroling,,The Christmas Album
Dan Crary - What Child Is This,,A Putumayo Christmas, World, Folk, Blues, Jazz And Soul
Frosty The Snowman,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays
Greensleeves,John Coltrane,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Greensleeves,John Coltrane,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Winter Wonderland,Tony Bennett,A Swingin Christmas
O Christmas Tree,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam
O Christmas Tree,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam
Happy Holiday - The Holiday Season (Medley),,The Christmas Album
Otis Redding - Merry Christmas, Baby,,A Putumayo Christmas, World, Folk, Blues, Jazz And Soul
Jingle Bells,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays
The Christmas Song,Mel Torme,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
The Christmas Song,Mel Torme,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,Tony Bennett,A Swingin Christmas
O Little Town Of Bethlehem,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam
O Little Town Of Bethlehem,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam
A Christmas Love Song,,The Christmas Album
Mason Williams - The Virgin Mary,,A Putumayo Christmas, World, Folk, Blues, Jazz And Soul
What Child Is This,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays
Zat You, Santa Claus?,Louis Armstrong,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Zat You, Santa Claus?,Louis Armstrong,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Santa Claus I Coming To Town,Tony Bennett,A Swingin Christmas
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear,,The Christmas Album
Koko Taylor - Merry, Merry Christmas,,A Putumayo Christmas, World, Folk, Blues, Jazz And Soul
Deck The Halls,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays
Winter Wonderland,Shirley Horn,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Winter Wonderland,Shirley Horn,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Ive Got My Love To Keep Me Warm,Tony Bennett,A Swingin Christmas
The Christmas Song,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam
The Christmas Song,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,,The Christmas Album
Son Seals - Lonesome Christmas,,A Putumayo Christmas, World, Folk, Blues, Jazz And Soul
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays
Santa Claus Is Comin to Town,Bill Evans,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Santa Claus Is Comin to Town,Bill Evans,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
The Christmas Waltz,Tony Bennett,A Swingin Christmas
Good King Wenceslas,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam
Good King Wenceslas,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam
Goodnight,,The Christmas Album
Maggie Sansone - The Holly and The Ivy,,A Putumayo Christmas, World, Folk, Blues, Jazz And Soul
Good Morning, Blues,Count Basie,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Good Morning, Blues,Count Basie,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
We Three Kings,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays
O Christmas Tree,Tony Bennett,A Swingin Christmas
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam
Loreena McKennitt - Dickens Dublin (The Palace),,A Putumayo Christmas, World, Folk, Blues, Jazz And Soul
Good King Wenceslas-Cool King Wenceslas,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays
Jingle Bells,Jimmy Smith,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Jingle Bells,Jimmy Smith,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Greensleeves,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam
Greensleeves,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam
Silent Night,Dinah Washington,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Silent Night,Dinah Washington,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
The Little Drummer Boy,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays
A Child Is Born,Oscar Peterson,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
A Child Is Born,Oscar Peterson,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
O Holy Night,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays,Jazzy Brass For The Holidays
Diana Krall - Harry Connick, Jr & Branford Marsalis - This Christmas,Album Jazz,AlbumWrap - Diana Krall - All For You (Complete CD)
Christmas Jazz - Oh Happy Days (Gospel),Aretha Franklin,Joy to the World
01 Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer - Ella Fitzgerald,Best of Christmas Jazz,
02 Merry Christmas, Baby - Kenny Burrell,Best of Christmas Jazz,
03 Christmas Eve - Billy Eckstine,Best of Christmas Jazz,
04 Here Comes Santa Claus - Ramsey Lewis,Best of Christmas Jazz,
05 Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Joe Williams,Best of Christmas Jazz,
06 Greensleeves - John Coltrane,Best of Christmas Jazz,
07 The Christmas Song - Mel Torme,Best of Christmas Jazz,
08 Zat You, Santa Claus - Louis Armstrong,Best of Christmas Jazz,
09 Winter Wonderland - Shirley Horn,Best of Christmas Jazz,
10 Santa Claus Is Comin To Town - Bill Evans,Best of Christmas Jazz,
11 Good Morning, Blues - Count Basie,Best of Christmas Jazz,
12 Jingle Bells - Jimmy Smith,Best of Christmas Jazz,
13 Silent Night - Dinah Washington,Best of Christmas Jazz,
14 A Child Is Born - Oscar Peterson,Best of Christmas Jazz,
Harry Connick, Jr & Branford Marsalis - This Christmas (A Jazzy Wonderland),Blues-Jazz,AlbumWrap - Diana Krall - All For You (Complete CD)
Diana Krall - Jingle Bells-Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,Chrismas Songs Xmas Jazz,
Christmas Album - Complete,Frank Sinatra,
Grp - A Smooth Jazz Christmas - 12 - Suite De Nuestra Navidad,Dave Grusin -Christmas,Making Spirits Bright: A Smooth Jazz Christmas
Christmas - Deck The Halls,Dixieland Jazz Band,Dixieland Christmas
Jazz For the Holidays,Herbie Hancock Elaine Elias,
Peter White - The Christmas Song,Jazz,Songs Of The Season
12 - Bela Fleck & Bob James - White,Jazz Christmas Party,Jazz Christmas Party
Jingle Bells,Big Band Xmas Jazz,
Popuri Christmas Music,Big Band,
Diana Krall - Jingle Bells-Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,Xmas Jazz,
Jazz Christmas - Harry Connick Jr. - Sleigh Ride,Xmas Jazz,
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,Ella Fitzgerald,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Merry Christmas, Baby,Kenny Burrell,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Christmas Eve,Billy Eckstine,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Here Comes Santa Claus,Ramsey Lewis,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!,Joe Williams,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Greensleeves,John Coltrane,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
The Christmas Song,Mel Torme,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Zat You, Santa Claus?,Louis Armstrong,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Winter Wonderland,Shirley Horn,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Santa Claus Is Comin to Town,Bill Evans,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Good Morning, Blues,Count Basie,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Jingle Bells,Jimmy Smith,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Silent Night,Dinah Washington,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
A Child Is Born,Oscar Peterson,Verve Presents: The Very Best of Christmas Jazz
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam,1
Mary Had A Baby,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam,2
Jingle Bells,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam,3
Blue Christmas,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam,4
Go Tell It On The Mountain,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam,5
O Christmas Tree,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam,6
O Little Town Of Bethlehem,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam,7
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam,8
The Christmas Song,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam,9
Good King Wenceslas,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam,10
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam,11
Greensleeves,Wynton Marsalis,Christmas Jazz Jam,12
There are some great recommendations in this thread already! In the UK, and especially in the northern parts (Yorkshire, where I'm from is a great example) we have a tradition of gathering in pubs with singers and musicians (typically a brass band) and singing traditional carols. This can get very crowded and lairy! It's enormous fun though, and a wonderful part of the folk tradition. There are a lot of religious themes in many of the songs, which may bother some, but I don't mind so much as it's all just wrapped up in the season, and the music is beautiful.
I strongly recommend the albums Holly Head and Glad Christmas Comes for a flavour of the types of music you might hear in a traditional folk setting around this time of year. And if you listen to just one of the songs on each, I suggest you go for Hippo For Christmas and The Good Doctor. I couldn't find a dedicated link for the latter, but the Bellowhead version is a lot of fun as well :)
Merry Christmas!
Hundreds of songs listed here and still no mention of Christmas Wrapping by The Waitress?
My favorite Christmas song by far is The Hives and Cyndi Lauper - A Christmas Duel. I feel it accurately conveys the spirit of the holidays!
This was posted to the other website a couple days ago, but:
Merry Crunkmas (fyi, tiktok link)
King Diamond - No Present for Christmas
Tar Barrow in Dale by The Unthanks is the best christmastime song and it doesn't even mention christmas because really it's about new year. The Unthanks are from North East England and you can hear that in their voices (if you know what a Northumbrian accent sounds like) and I love that so much. People singing in their own accents is something I'm a big fan of.
Anyway this is a beautiful piece of music and I recommend it to anyone who has ears.
One of my favorite bands just released a new Christmas track that I think is quite beautiful and worth sharing:
Among Authors - Butterfly Christmas (feat. Once Around The Sun & Townsend's Solitaire)
Lyrics
You took that call,
not knowing at all.
This one would bring you to your knees.
How could this happen,
So close to home down the street.
We can't explain why a butterfly dies,
on its way down to the sea.
Or how you could migrate away from the pain just for me.
Cause when it's Christmas time,
you always find,
some way to make us feel loved.
When we know how hard it can be,
on Christmas Eve.
Year after year,
and tree after tree.
Dad stealing cookies from the hot cookie sheet.
While we shake the presents to hear what we could not yet see.
Thanks for your selflessness.
Thanks for your care.
Thanks for cleaning up when we eat.
Thanks to your devotion to this family,
we all know what it means to give not receive.
Cause when it's Christmas time,
you always find,
some way to make us feel loved.
When we know how hard it can be,
on Christmas Eve.
[Choir]
Cause when it's Christmas time,
you always find,
some way to make us feel loved.
When we know how hard it can be,
on Christmas Eve.
Cause when it's Christmas time,
you always find a way.