Sometimes I have a love/hate relationship with Christmas or Holiday music. I want to kill all the local radio stations here in Los Angeles because as per usual they play the most mass-produced, typical music during the holidays and even the entire rest of the year, and while I like Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” as much as the next person, I always yearn for something more. I find that stores like Banana Republic and Anthropologie play some of the best holiday music there is. It’s strategic really and very subliminal because they want to keep you in the spirit and shopping, while not driving you away with annoying notes and lyrics at the same time. The shopping/music experience has to be balanced. So without further adieu, I present to you my favorite Holiday songs…
Ella Fitzgerald’s voice is like velvet, even moreso with this song, where she croons about a lover’s plans for New Year’s Eve. “Maybe I’m crazy to suppose/I’d ever be the one you chose/Out of the thousand invitations you receive/Oh, but in case I stand one little chance/Here comes the jackpot question in advance/What are you doing New Year’s, New Year’s Eve? It’s a timely classic that makes you think about the last day of the year and who you’re going to spend it with and it’s slow and seductive – just the way I love my music.
I will always and forever love Dinah Washington, she’s amazing for me and her voice is just as great. You can either spend time listening to “Here Comes Santa Clause,” or trade in that played out song for “Ole Santa,” a ballad about the man in the red suit that’s unique. A bag full of toys on his shoulder/I’m so sure there’ll be a stampede/But I’m wishing Ole Santa ‘Godspeed’. These lyrics are particularly genius, but it’s the delivery that counts. Dinah Washington, just like Ms. Fitzgerald never gets old.
Fun – this is the simplest way I can describe this song from The Kinks, one of my favorite bands. It’s not only upbeat, but funny and a bit sad actually if you listen to the lyrics. But the last time I played father Christmas/I stood outside a department store/ A gang of kids came over and mugged me/And knocked my reindeer to the floor. There’s a short guitar solo and bells in the song and even though the subject matter is a bit disturbing, this song really gets me in the mood for the holidays – don’t ask why.
This song is from the soundtrack of “Love Actually” and though it’s an instrumental, it’s so beautifully done and dripping with melancholy notes, which is why I probably love it. Music that upsets you and makes you mopey is always better in my opinion, because it tends to give you something to reflect on, and this song does just that – it makes you reflect on the year you’ve had, the ones you’ve lost or perhaps the ones you love.
Every time I think I’m not going to like a Leona Naess song, I end up loving it. “Christmas” is no exception. Her voice is calming and heavy all at the same time. It’s almost a bit haunting as well. This is not an extraordinary song in the least bit and the lyrics aren’t a literary masterpiece, yet her voice combined with the music makes me love this song. It’s also a sad one, which seems to be the running theme of my list so far. Cause I am full of love/I want kisses and dresses/A late night message that cradles, halos me to sleep
Cause I am full of love/ Yes I am full of the above
Another “fun” one, The Pixies’ “Winterlong” is another depressing one, yet the somewhat upbeat music disguises the lyrics. I waited for you winterlong/You seemed to be where I belong/It’s all illusion anyway. I like the simultaneous male and female voices singing together and what sounds like an electric guitar strumming in the background.
