Around this time every year, everyone’s pretty sick of Christmas music, usually thanks to relentless supermarket adverts. Slade, Mariah and other Christmas cult classics are wailing everywhere and personally, mainly for this reason, I’m glad Wizzard’s wish for Christmas everyday doesn’t come true…!
However, you can be festively funky with your music choices, here are seven alternative tunes to get you in the mood for Christmas.
Merry Monday
The Ramones – Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight)
Stay merry! Don’t get manic and panic and stress out on your loved ones. While Christmas is a notoriously stressful time of the year, The Ramones remind you just how merry it can be. So let’s not fight tonight!
Where is Santa? At his sleigh?
Tell me why is it always this way?
Where is Rudolph? Where is Blitzen, baby?
Merry Christmas, I don’t want to fight tonight with you
Mistletoe Tuesday
Kanye West – Christmas in Harlem feat Cam’ron, Jim Jones, Vado, Cyhi Da Prynce, Pusha T, Musiq Soulchild, Teyana Taylor & Big Sean
This collective led by conductor Yeezy shows how much the hip-hop stars love that snowflakey day. Teyana’s got the mistletoe and mic in this spirited release from 2010. Shoutouts to Kwanzaa and Hanukkah too!
Christmas in Harlem
right after autumn falls
soaking it all in
then we go hit the mall
even though we ain’t balling
feels like we bought it all
the mistletoe’s right here
come give a kiss to Santa Claus
Wishing on a Wednesday
Dido – Christmas Day
The peace-inducing vocals of Dido; festive tambourines and echoes of calmness from the British singer when the house it at it’s loudest. It’d be hard to stay stressed when this song is playing, and so you shouldn’t!
And the last words
I heard him say,
Were I shall return,
For you,
My love,
On Christmas Day
Winter Wordplay Thursday
Run-DMC – Christmas in Hollis
“It’s Christmas time in Hollis, Queens, Mum’s cooking chicken and collard greens…”
With a great narrative like this, Christmas in Hollis encapsulates xmas traditions from the run up through to the big day. The likelihood is you’ll recognise the beat, but you just haven’t realised until now that it was from this absolute classic.
Decorate the house with lights at night
Snow’s on the ground, snow white so bright
In the fireplace is the yule log
Beneath the mistletoe as we drink egg nog
The rhymes that you hear are the rhymes of Darryl’s
But each and every year we bust Christmas carols
Festive Friday
The Killers – A Great Big Sled feat Toni Halliday
Absolute Anthem. The Killers have the quintessential behaviours of Christmas in mind. From the lyrics to the video, with a cameo from Santa himself, the festive spirit and holiday mind-set is clearly in the air. So have a rockin’ Christmas.
I want to roll around like a kid in the snow,
I want to re-learn what I already know,
Just let me take flight,
Dressed in red, through the night,
On a great big sled.
I want to wish you merry Christmas
Ho Ho Ho
Sleigh-ing it on Saturday
James Brown – Soulful Christmas
Need motivation to finish wrapping those presents? James will soon have you spinning in your living room whilst you twirl ribbons and tie bows around everything that stays still!
Got my baby, my precious love
Happiness, good God, I got plenty of
Would you believe I got peace of mind
And I’ll be groovin’ at Christmas time
Special Sunday
Christina Aguilera – This Christmas
There’s no doubt that vocally, Christina is one of the heavyweights. With ‘This Christmas’, she once again hits those notes you didn’t know existed. Fireplace on, presents under the tree, and a mince pie in hand, it’s time to relax. You’re all set for a great Christmas, ‘This Christmas’.
Presents and cards are here
My world is filled with cheer and you, oh yeah
This Christmas
And as I look around
Your eyes outshine the town, they do
This Christmas
Fireside is blazing bright
We’re caroling through the night
