The list of acceptable Christmas songs

I managed to survive the Whammageddon last year as well as avoiding the Mariah Carey song until after Boxing Day. I tend to avoid Christmas music as much as possible, but was wondering what songs make the list of things we don't mind listening to.

I'll start with Fairytale of New York by the Pogues.

Having worked retail most of my life, I would say none of them.

If forced to choose, I would tolerate classical Christmas music without words/lyrics/voices. The rest can be launched into the sun to perish forever.

Folks in retail have it the worst when it comes to holiday music.

That said, here's something you may not have heard:

Fountains of Wayne, "I Want an Alien for Christmas this Year."

And for Paleo we have the Bawlmer classic:

Yeah, maybe we should sunset Crabs for Christmas.

Here are my two favorite albums:

Here's the Winter Solstice II playlist on YouTube.

Not this. (Language warning)

LouZiffer wrote:

Not this. (Language warning)

Honestly, anything by Pentatonix. Sorry, I love acapella and their arrangements are fabulous. I've got their Christmas album playing right now as a matter of fact.

Also, I love listening to Jewel sing any Christmas song as well.

This is an acceptable Christmas song:

I like that whole album actually. She can make any Christmas song at the least listenable. I'm looking forward to the Christmas special thing she did that's going up on Amazon Prime.

I forgot one of our family favorites!

We are from Mid-Missoura ya know.

Half of the soundtrack to Toys. Especially the one where Seal has an exceptional hat.

I remember playing these on the piano during Christmas time growing up.

The one and only Christmas song.

I just like the cover better than the original.

Silent Night / Last Christmas

Christmas was always the biggest holiday in my (almost completely non-religious) family, so the music always reminds me of happy memories. And I like most of it. Especially stuff by Sinatra. He was my grandmother's favorite in general, so his album was always on at her house over the holidays. So part of my enjoyment of it is missing her since she died of cancer. Part of it is also me just missing how festive Seattle would be at this time of year and how odd it is to live somewhere where it was 87 degrees today and nothing is festive.

Edit: Except Wonderful Christmastime. That song can f*ck off forever.

Tuffalo listed two of my favorites: the "A Winter's Solstice" albums and Winston's December. I stick to guitar/instrumental as well:

A Charlie Brown Christmas - Vince Guaraldi
The New Possibility: John Fahey's Guitar Soli Christmas Album
Merry Axemas
Merry Axemas II
Gary Hoey's "Ho Ho Hoey" albums

And for a completely inappropriate switch-up, I always have to spin Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics at least once a year.

tuffalobuffalo wrote:

This is an acceptable Christmas song:

I like that whole album actually. She can make any Christmas song at the least listenable. I'm looking forward to the Christmas special thing she did that's going up on Amazon Prime.

Is there a less depressing song on the album?

Edit: That comes off harsh. I mean in the sense that I have a playlist with tons of Christmas songs, but they're family friendly and this is a bit too low key for that list.

Acceptable for Christmas, but Not Safe For Work:

garion333 wrote:

Is there a less depressing song on the album?

Edit: That comes off harsh. I mean in the sense that I have a playlist with tons of Christmas songs, but they're family friendly and this is a bit too low key for that list.

That's really the only "sad" song on the album. The rest are pretty cheerful and classic Christmas songs like Rudolph.

Edit: Here's a fun one. I think this one is an original too:

Ooooh, with Leon Bridges. Gonna roll with this a few times before throwing it on my playlist.

kazar wrote:

I remember playing these on the piano during Christmas time growing up.

Believe it or not, that's Jon Bon Jovi doing vocals there. This is his first professional recording.

And most everything on this playlist is pretty great

The only acceptable answer is melancholy jazz covers of Christmas Songs ala the Peanuts Holiday Special

I prefer instrumentals: any brass quartets, Vince Guaraldi, and especially Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite are my favourites.

And of course there has to be Stan Rogers:

Lux Interior of The Cramps had a Christmas mix tape that he made for friend many years ago. It's as good as you'd expect from Lux.

And a couple more fun songs