Wow, I really can’t believe it’s been nearly two years since I last blogged, and A LOT has happened since February of 2022 both personally and professionally. Currently, I’m recovering from another back surgery so I thought now would be a good time to start writing again while recovering and waiting for my next professional adventure. And since it’s the holidays, why not a top 10 Christmas song list? So if you’re tired of the same songs that seemingly get played everywhere each year, give the list below a listen!
- “Here It Is Christmastime” by Kevin Bacon & the Old 97’s – In November 2022, Disney+ released a 42-minute Guardians of the Galaxy holiday special which was so much more fun than I expected it to be. The special has become a new yearly tradition for me, & the soundtrack is incredible (which is to be expected from Guardians). Rhett Miller & the Old 97’s are featured in the movie as a band called Bzermikitokolok and the Knowheremen, & their re-recording of their song “Here It Is Christmastime” alongside Kevin Bacon (who stars as himself in the movie) is incredible & has quickly become one of my favorite Christmas songs.
2. “Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End” by The Darkness – Released 20 years ago in 2003, this song is exactly what you’d expect from The Darkness: Justin Hawkins’s amazing falsetto, some great guitar playing, & some hilarious double entendres. This fall, I was able to see The Darkness live on the 20th-anniversary tour of their debut album Permission to Land, & they’re still as incredible as ever & don’t nearly get the love they deserve as a band.
3. “Fruitcake” by Fred Schneider & the Superions – This song isn’t your average Christmas song, but you should expect nothing less from the B-52’s Fred Schneider. It’s weird, it’s fun, it’s got an incredible bassline, and it’s just one of those songs that grows on you. When I first heard it, I honestly wasn’t sure if I liked it or not, but then I caught myself randomly saying “It’s fruitcake!”
4. “Come on! Let’s Boogey to the Elf Dance!” by Sufjan Stevens – Indie musician Sufjan Stevens has released a lot of traditional Christmas music, but my favorite is one of his originals. It’s a joyous tune that continues to build as the song goes on. It’s also quirky with a timeless feel, and if you enjoy it, I would suggest checking out Sufjan’s vast Christmas discography.
5. “Carol of the Bells” by the bird and the bee – Yes you’ve heard Carol of the Bells before, but I’m certain that you’ve never heard it arranged/produced like this. Out of all the versions of this song that I’ve heard i my lifetime, indie pop duo the bird and the bee’s version is my absolute favorite & I think it’ll be one of yours too.
6. “Bringin’ Back Christmas” – Ryan Reynolds – I could almost include every song from Apple TV’s 2022 musical Spirited starring Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds, but as a public relations guy, this is my favorite Christmas tune from the movie (sidenote: I think Good Afternoon is the best overall song from the film, but it’s not really a Christmas song per se). The movie/soundtrack suffers in popularity a bit due to the film being on a streaming platform that not many people subscribe to.
7. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Hannah Waddingham featuring Phil Dunster & the Fabolous Lounge Singers – Another Apple TV song? Yup, sorry! If you’re a fan of either Ted Lasso or Game of Thrones, I’m sure by now you know that Hannah Waddingham (Rebecca/Septa Unella) is an incredible singer, but did you know that Phil Dunster (Jamie Tartt in Ted Lasso) can sing as well? This holiday special should be much bigger news, & there’s a lot of good stuff on Apple TV.
8. “Love This Christmas” by Rick Astley – No trolling here, Rick Astley released a true Christmas bop back in 2020 and I’m really surprised that I don’t hear this song more often than I do. It’s a great new holiday classic that should be added to playlists across the globe, and Rick’s timeless voice is as strong as it’s ever been!
9. “How Christmas Is Supposed To Be” by Gary Barlow featuring Sheridan Smith – You may know Gary as the lead singer of legendary British pop group Take That, but his first solo Christmas album released in 2021 featured this original song that also deserves to be an instant classic. Barlow & Smith’s voices go so well together in this refreshing holiday pop song.
10. “Christmas Dance” by Darren Criss – You likely know Darren from either Glee or American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace and in 2021 he released his first Christmas album featuring this catchy new holiday tune. From TV to Broadway, Darren is a very talented entertainer and this song should also be included on your annual playlist going forward.
Honorable Mention: “Fairytale of New York” by the Pogues – Shane MacGowan’s recent passing is what got me thinking about this list. I’ve always been a huge fan of the band and this song, but I felt that it never truly got the wide mainstream love that it deserved. It’s listed here in honorable mention because I think with Shane’s passing it’ll get a staying boost in popularity (in addition to it being covered by Jason and Travis Kelce in this year’s Philly Special Christmas album)
