For this week’s OE Monomania, we decided to put together a playlist of some of our favorite Christmas songs, whether the classics, covers from some of our favorite bands, or new originals that should become holiday classics in their own right. These are the Christmas tunes we’ve got stuck in our head. Check down at the bottom for a Spotify playlist in one easy to listen place.
Alvin & The Chipmunks – “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)”
You kids know about The Chipmunks right? Didn’t they recently remake Alvin & The Chipmunks or something like that? I’m sure it was a smash hit and included this song, right? Possibly the best Christmas song recorded? At least in chipmunk voices it was. – MG
Andrew Bird – “So Much Wine, Merry Christmas”
Andrew Bird reimagines The Handsome Family‘s “So Much Wine” into his own classic. – MG
Andy Williams – “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
Of course we love discovering new music, we love Christmas covers of the classics and some of our favorite “current” bands creating new Christmas songs that will become classics, but let’s be honest, there are some songs, some versions of these holiday tunes that will forever be synonymous with the holidays and Andy Williams classic “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” will always be right up there. – MG
Bahamas – “Christmas Must Be Tonight”
Toronto’s Bahamas, singer songwriter Afie Jurvanen’s moniker, has always known his way around a good melody, and here Afie has put together a beautiful version of The Band‘s “Christmas Must Be Tonight”. – MG
Ben Bridwell (Feat Jason Lytle and Brave Baby) – “The Christmas Thing”
While working on a new Band of Horses album, frontman Ben Bridwell was inspired with a new Christmas song and he enlisted one of Charleston’s best band’s, Brave Baby, and Grandaddy’s Jason Lytle for this one, and we are all better for another fun Christmas song from some talented musicians. – MG
Bing Crosby – “Winter Wonderland”
“Winter Wonderland” is a classic under any circumstance, a yearly dream and disappointment for any good Southerner, except for the maybe a few times in your lifetime it all comes through with a few magical snow flakes. Looks like 2015 isn’t that year, instead I’ll be listening to this while playing in 75 degree weather….gross. – MG
Beta Radio – “Winter Eclipse”
The Wilmington, NC folk/Americana duo, Beta Radio, have put out their The Songs The Season Brings Vols. 1-4, a collection covers and originals that is perfect for the your holiday tunes. On “Winter Eclipse” the band created a beautiful new tune that fits right in with any of the classics. – MG
Beta Radio – “Carol of the Banjos”
On this classic cover, Beta Radio has brought us a banjo centric instrumental that’s perfect to tis the season. – MG
Brenda Lee – “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”
Another classic I’m not allowed to leave out of a Christmas playlist, nor would I want to. – MG
Bruce Springsteen – “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town”
Ya damn right I’m including a cover of one of the all time classic Christmas songs by The Boss. – MG
Carly Rae Jepsen – “Last Christmas”
Carly Rae Jepsen covers Wham! and brings a whole lotta SAX! It’s fun and you can dance to it — all the makings of a great holiday track. – EH
Cassie Ramone – “Wonderful Christmastime”
Cassie Ramone (Vivian Girls, The Babies) released the fuzziest Christmas album of all this year via Burger Records. The Paul McCartney original, “Wonderful Christmastime”, is one that I can not stand, but I can dig Cassie Ramone’s cover. – EH
Cousin Dan – “Last Christmas”
Is any Atlanta Christmas complete without Cousin Dan‘s electro cover of Wham!’s classic? I think not. – MG
I love this collab from Crocodiles and the Dum Dum Girls. It’s the perfect Christmas love song, IMO. – EH
Darlene Love – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Dr. Dog – “Christmas Party”
Dressy Bessy – “All the Right Reasons”
One of the few happy Christmas songs I enjoy, by one of the happiest bands out there. I hope you enjoy it, as well! – MS
Felice Brothers – “Carriage”
The Felice Brothers self-released a Christmas EP this past November appropriately named Felice Navidad. The upstate New Yorkers bring their trademark careless vocal, providing beauty to their single “Carriage” as they sing of loneliness in small town America while discovering the simple pleasures of the holiday. These are the songs that help us put things in prospective for the holiday season. – LP
Frankenstrangler – “Last Christmas”
Frankenstrangler was/is one of the late great Athens supergroup/cover bands featuring members past and present of The District Attorneys, Futurebirds, Tedo Stone, Crooked Fingers, Surf Bored. This is a Wham! cover that almost has a Hall and Oates vibe about. It rules so hard. – CF
A Frankenstrangler Christmas — https://frankenstrangler.
Frank Sinatra – “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”
Sorry, but any good Christmas playlist has a little Bing, Frank, and Nat on it, if not, you are just doing it wrong. Pure classic. – MG
Hare and the Hounds – “Pretty Paper”
Atlanta’s Hare and the Hounds put their own touch on the Roy Orbison classic. – MG
Heartless Bastards – “Blue Christmas”
The Heartless Bastards put their own spin on the holiday classic, a perfect Christmas pairing for one of my favorites. – MG
John Lennon – “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”
A protest song, this has become a Christmas standard since it’s release in 1971 and this playlist is incomplete without it. – MG
Julian Casablancas – “Christmas Treat”
Julian Casablancas‘ cover of the SNL Xmas tune “I Wish It Was Christmas Today” feels like an instant classic, cheesy, full of angst, rockin’, and catchy, what else do you need? – MG
Mr Little Jeans – “Dear Santa”
My Morning Jacket – “Xmas Time is Here Again”
Nat King Cole – “The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)”
NSYNC – Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays
Palma Violets – “Last Christmas On Planet Earth”
Parenthetical Girls – “Thank God it’s not Christmas” (Sparks Cover)
Paul Baribeau – “Christmas Lights”
Another depressing Christmas song. Another catchy Christmas song. – MS
Phoenix – “Alone On Christmas Day”
Phoenix covering The Beach Boys classic with the help of Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Paul Shaffer, New York Dolls’ David Johansen (aka Buster Poindexter), nuff said. – MG
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – “White Christmas” and “Funky Little Drummer Boy”
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings put out a record FULL of great tunes called It’s a Holiday Soul Party (via Daptone Records). “White Christmas” and “Funky Little Drummer Boy” are my favorites! – EH
Small Reactions – “Santa Clause” (The Sonics)
Atlanta’s Small Reactions have turned up your Christmas a notch with this fuzzed out rock n roll cover of The Sonics. I’ll be needing this one to get through my last minute shopping, hopefully a little quicker and a little less angry. – MG
Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens has not only written plenty of holiday originals, but also covered many of the classics. What’s a holiday playlist without a few Sufjan songs these days? – MG
Sufjan Stevens, “Barcarola (You Must Be A Christmas Tree)” [Track 7/8, Vol. 6]
Sufjan Stevens – “Come On! Let’s Boogey to the Elf Dance!”
Sufjan Stevens – “Joy To The World”
Sufjan Stevens – “O Holy Night”
Sufjan Stevens – “Star of Wonder”
Sufjan Stevens – “That Was The Worst Christmas Ever!”
Takenobu – “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”
Atlanta cellist and composer Takenobu released a wonderful EP Christmas Songs a few years back, and this is a stunning rendition of “God Rest Ye Merry Genetlemen”. – MG
Takenobu – “Silent Night”
The Barr Brothers – “Dear Mrs. Santa Claus”
The Barr Brothers have created one beautiful original Christmas tune about the Mrs. herself. Throw this one on and enjoy the wonderful harmonies. – MG
The Decemberists – “Please Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk For Christmas)”
Colin Meloy and The Decemberists take on the country holiday classic! – MG
The Hunts – “O Holy Night”
The Hunts, a young folk group out of Chesapeake, VA of seven brothers and sisters have released a compelling version of the holiday classic. – MG
Julian Koster and the Music Tapes used to have a tradition of carolling across the United States every winter. I hope they bring it back soon. I hear their living room concerts were beautiful. – MS
The Shins – “Wonderful Christmastine”
Hey, The Shins sure do sound pretty damn natural in the Christmas song space right here with this Paul McCartney cover don’t they? – MG
The Snails – “Snails Christmas (I Want A New Shell)”
Samuel Herring and Future Islands have reinvented themselves as The Snails, and have released a fun, quirky snail themed Christmas song with plenty of horns. Makes sense. I’ll dance to this. – MG
Vintage Trouble – “Soul Noel”
A bluesy, soulful new holiday tune for your ears. – MG
Listen to all the tracks on Spotify in one easy playlist:
This week’s contributors: Corey Flegel(CF), This Is American Music; Emily Hogan (EH); Lisa Parish (LP); Maria Sotnikova (MS) JORTSFEST; Mike Gerry (MG);
