Good Christmas music
So there’s plenty of good Christmas music out there but what about good Christmas music. Here are seven great songs. They’ve been selected using one just criterion: I actually listened to them between February and November of this past year. Thus they qualify as being more than mere novelties.
Song: “Fairytale Of New York”
Artist: The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl
Comment: Probably the best of the bunch. It’s much more than just a Christmas song which means prevents it from losing relevance year round.
Song: “Gaudete”
Artist: Steeleye Span
Comment: As far as I can tell, the only Latin language song to ever become a hit single. “Sadeness” was half in French and Chant was an album, not a single. It works outside the Christmas season because I can’t understand the words.
Song: “Oi to the World!”
Artist: The Vandals
Comment: A humorous tale about Haji, a turban-clad punk, and Trevor, an ostensibly racist skinhead, who, following a bloody fight, make up and enjoy Christmas. Lyrics about God coming down on Christmas day would be presumably ironic if not for the fact that the song was written by Joe Escalante, who, along with Johnny Ramone, represents the entire conservative punk rock community.
Song: “Christmas Time Is Here (vocal)”
Artist: Vince Guaraldi Trio
Comment: A Charlie Brown Christmas is still my favourite Christmas special and I’m a big fan of Vince Guaraldi’s music so what’s not to like?
Song: “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”
Artist: Darlene Love
Comment: A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector is a spotty album at times but this song is a stone cold classic. Darlene Love has much better pipes than Ronnie Spector for whom it was written. It’s a shame Spector didn’t produce more material for her.
Song: “Father Christmas”
Artist: The Kinks
Comment: Ray Davies can write guitar riffs like no other.
Song: “Jesus Christ”
Artist: Big Star
Comment: This song has always perplexed me. The odd title and great tune don’t seem congruent with Alex Chilton’s disaffected voice. Chilton has gone on record stating that he’s not religious so it’s anyone’s guess. Just one of the many oddities from the shambolic masterpiece that is Third/Sister Lovers.
Song: “White Christmas”
Artist: Bing Crosby
Comment: This one’s kinda obvious.