Songs that always make my Christmas playlist!
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
Peter J. Wilhousky – Carol of the Bells
Love them, hate them, or just accept them as a sort of undisputable fact of life, Christmas songs are a thing, and as December 25 gets inexorably closer and closer they’re a thing that becomes increasingly inescapable.
And although there’s been a fair amount of disposable novelty rubbish written over the years, the reality is that a lot of Christmas songs are absolute bangers! There are plenty of keepers from the 40s – 70s heyday of the Christmas record as an art form. But even more cynical later generations of pop have produced plenty of gold.
Every year I make a Christmas Spotify list, every year I try and mix it up however, every year sees a few faves that can’t possibly be left out, here’s a few that are utterly indispensable!
1. “Fairytale of New York” by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl
When was the last time you properly listened to Kirsty MacColl and The Pogues’ epic Big Apple-set fable? Shut your eyes and give it a go, and if there isn’t a tiny tear rolling down your cheek, your heart (like that jumper from your nan) is two sizes too small! “Fairytale…” is a perfect four-minute narrative of hope, despair and heartbreak – and, despite the profanity, it ends with love. Oh, and that bit in the middle nobody but Shane McGowan really knows goes something like… You're an old slut on junk, lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed, you scumbag, you maggot… you know the bit!
2. “Driving Home for Christmas” by Chris Rea
Many moons ago when my folks still lived in Manchester, I remember being stuck in traffic on the motorway the day before Christmas Eve and this came on the radio. Ever since, whenever I hear it, I remember my mum with a huge smile! Not only has it charted twice in the UK (reaching 53 in 1988 and 33 in 2007) but it even cracked Norway’s Top Three a few years ago. Clearly people of all generations and nationalities are able to enjoy this harmless slice of Christmas cheese!
3. “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” by the Jackson 5
There are versions of this song by everyone from Bieber to Bublé, but Jackson’s effort is by far, imho, the grooviest and the most fun. And since the song is mainly used as a bargaining tool by parents, it does make sense to have kids on the mic!
4. “Wonderful Christmas Time” by Paul McCartney
Good old Macca! Whereas Lennon could be relied upon to make impressive political statements (when he wasn't laying about in bed all day with Yoko), McCartney is the master of the charmingly naive pop opus. This little ditty — which is essentially Paul goofing around on a synth — isn't going to shake up your festive paradigm, but it won't half stick in your head, believe me!
5. “Santa Tell Me” by Ariana Grande
A new but worthy addition, everyone with any links to Manchester absolutely loves this wonderful, beautiful young lady – if you follow my blog, you’ll know why! Ari didn’t score a Mariah-level megahit with this peppy, upbeat ode to joy, but she came closer than almost any other pop star in the 30-ish years since “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Ari’s song fits right in her catalogue of bops… meaning you can comfortably transition between this plea to St. Nick and her recent hit about a late-night tantra session with relative ease!
6. “O Tannenbaum” by Vince Guaraldi Trio
A bit like the Frasier theme tune, it’s impossible to listen to this version of “O Tannenbaum” (from the soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas) without doing the classic jazz lean-and-nod. Basically, press play and you’re suddenly much, much cooler. This could be a good one to change up the vibe from Christmas lazing to some Christmas loving.
7. “Peace on Earth/The Little Drummer Boy” by Bing Crosby and David Bowie
This surreal encounter on Bing Crosby’s 42nd Christmas Special between The Thin White Duke and the good old boy of American family TV has become the stuff of legend. After Dave mistakes Bing for a butler and Bing jibes at Bowie’s music taste, they launch into a medley of “The Little Drummer Boy” and “Peace On Earth.” The results are... astounding!
8. “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday” by Wizzard
You could just listen to this perfect slice of pure ’70s pop, from the tongue-in-cheek ‘ker-ching’ of a ringing till to the fade-out of a children’s choir and twinkling bells. You could do that… Or take the plunge into the strange acid trip of Wizzard live and witness Roy Wood’s haunted eyes set in a face dripping with snowy glitter. Scary Christmas!
9. “2000 Miles” by The Pretenders
It sounds like a take on the classic ‘it’s Christmas, I miss you’ theme, but Chrissie Hynde’s frosty ballad gets much sadder when you know it was written for the band’s guitarist James Honeyman-Scott, who had died the previous year. Honeyman-Scott’s replacement Robbie McIntosh pays tribute with some gorgeous arpeggios: the closest a guitar gets to the sound of snowfall!
10. “The Power of Love” by Gabrielle Aplin
Purists out there are probably tutting and shaking their heads at the fact I didn’t choose the fabulous original by Frankie goes to Hollywood, in my defence, who can forget the most touching of all the John Lewis adverts, the one with the snowman with the silky tones of Gabrielle Aplin as the backdrop, if you’ve never seen it take a peep here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IaTVlOvv14, I defy you not to cry!
11. “Little Things” by ABBA
It took ABBA – or maybe it was their digital avatars – 40 years to drop new music. Shockingly, it took them even longer to drop a Christmas song. For all its newness, “Little Things” would have sounded like a throwback even if it was released back in the band’s heyday of 1973. Does that mean ABBA is timeless or that Christmas music is unchanging? It doesn’t matter: When ABBA does twinkly and sentimental, it’s gold and my mum, their BIGGEST fan, would have loved it!
12. “Last Christmas” by Wham!
A ballad of doomed romance, “Last Christmas” features sleighbells and synths, plus some truly memorable knitwear in the video. But what really sets “Last Christmas” apart is George Michael’s heart-on-sleeve delivery, his genuine heartbreak horror (“My God! I thought you were someone to rely on”) and wistful, sexy whispers. The words “Merry Christmas” never sounded so sultry.
What – No Whitney, no Mariah, no Bublé, no Williams!!! Well, in fairness, they’re in there but they’re all a bit obvious right!?!!
What’s on this week?
Head & Eyes – LeLUTKA EvoX AVALON 3.1
Hair – Stealthic - Fusion (S Head)
AO – BodyLanguage SLC BENTO AO Mila
Shape – DeeTaleZ Shape for Lelu EVOX Heads "Nora" - Tweaked!
Nails – . PUKI . My Deluxe Round Nails . Maitreya
Rings – (Yummy) Fairytale Rings [Lara]
Dress and Antlers – Luas Rudolpha @ the Santa Inc. event
Boots – Mosquito's Way - Astrid - Boots - Maitreya @ the Santa Inc. event
Pictures taken at the beautifully festive Tinsel & Treasures
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