Christmas songs can get a bad wrap; the saccharine content, the over-produced instrumentals and the bells… oh god the bells! In a bid to get everyone into the holiday spirit in style, here are ten songs that are the perfect antidote to sugary shopping centre jingles you can’t get out of your head. For hardcore fans of the advent, there’s hours of Christmas-themed listening available that doesn’t feature Michael Buble. Here are some tunes sure to get even the biggest of grinches in the festive spirit.
The Ramones – ‘Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight)’
Yes, it’s nearly the day of the year where you’re forced to smile politely while family members you barely know make judgements on your life choices from across the dinner table. But with Joey Ramone’s iconic, mournful voice asking everyone to get along, how can you say no?
TLC – ‘Sleigh Ride’
With this track TLC give Christmas the nineties RnB treatment. A low-fi beat, a couple of punchy verses, and killer harmonies throughout make it easy to forget this song is celebrating the same event as “Jingle Bells.”
The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl – ‘Fairytale Of New York ‘
This classic, nostalgic track is best bellowed off-key after one too many eggnogs (or cold beers.) There’s nothing like turning to a loved one and shouting “you scumbag, you maggot!” in their face, before wrapping them in a drunken hug. A holiday song to bring people together.
LCD Soundsystem – ‘Oh You (Christmas Blue)’
If your idea of a perfect Christmas is sneaking off somewhere alone and putting a pair of headphones on, this is the song for you. Written for the movie Greenburg, it’s a dark, hallucinogenic track with spurts of jagged guitar and cathartic vocals. Not one to play for the toddlers.
Tom Waits – ‘Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis’
Strangely beautiful like only a Tom Waits song can be, this track is a heartbreaking ballad in his familiar rogue’s drawl. The opening line, “Charlie I’m pregnant, living on ninth street,” is a pretty good indication of how the rest of the song is going to go. A good one to listen to for those with a lot of travel during the holiday season. Play it and watch the world go by.
Low – ‘Just Like Christmas’
This sweet little indie track could really be enjoyed at any time of the year. It plays out the bittersweet tale of a couple in Scandinavia, complete with plenty of wistful lyrics about snow. Listen to it in our 30 degree December heat and daydream what a wintry European Christmas would be like.
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Weezer – ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’
We’ve all heard this one a million times, but with a new guitar sheen and all of River Cuomo’s earnestness, this track will have you dancing around the house covered in tinsel. It’s not exactly a radical cover, but it’s a lot of fun.
Best Coast & Wavves – ‘Got Something For You’
Exactly the type of sunny, whimsical Christmas song you’d expect from these two acts. Perky and loveable, with the sound of sleigh bells jingling throughout, this is a perfect accompaniment for anyone lucky enough to celebrate their holidays near a beach.
John Lennon and Yoko Ono – ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’
No list of quality Christmas songs is complete without this number. Simple but powerful, this is John Lennon at his sentimental post-Beatles best. Plus, this is almost certainly a track the whole family will love.
Anything On Mary J Blige’s 2013 Christmas Album
Because she called it “A Mary Christmas” and that’s amazing. A holiday pun is the best kind of pun
