Christmas Music!

I figure it has been a little while in between music posts for me and tis' the season so I wanted to talk a little about Christmas music. From my personal experience very few people are neutral on Christmas music, either you absolutely love it or cant wait for the calendar to hit January so you can be done with it. I definitely fall in the former category, pretty much as soon as it hits November I've got my Christmas playlist ready to go.

I grew up loving the classics, Burl Ives, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, etc.. and to me those will always be the pinnacle of Christmas music. However I am interested in finding new original Christmas music that doesn't suck. As much as I love the classics it's nice to see people at least attempt to make something new. Granted, most of those attempts fail horrifically, but kudos to them for at least trying.

I wanted to share a few of the new-ish (post 1995 which is practically brand new in xmas terms) original Christmas songs that I really enjoy.

Present Without a Bow- Kacey Musgraves ft. Leon Bridges (2016)

I was familiar with both of these artists individually before I heard this song. Kacey Musgraves is a country artist who is a pleasant diversion from the current glut of Bro country out there today and Leon Bridges I stumbled across from an NPR tiny desk concert he did which was phenomenal. This song holds up for me still after listening to it both last year and this year and I feel like it has the potential to eventually turn into a Christmas classic.

Winter Song- Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson  (2009)

Both of these artists have had success outside of Christmas music though I was definitely more familiar with Sara Bareilles than Ingrid Michaelson. I guess it technically isn't a Christmas song though it is seasonal winter song which is close enough in my book. I don't recall when I first heard this one but it was released on an album called The Hotel Café Presents Winter Song. While not exactly upbeat it does come across as a sentimental song and one that got stuck in my head for longer than I would have expected.

The Season's Upon Us- Dropkick Murphys (2012)

It took me far longer than it should have to find out that Dropkick had a Christmas song. For those who don't know the Dropkick Murphys are an Irish punk band hailing from Quincy MA who came to more mainstream recognition for their song Shipping up to Boston. I don't think this one will ever be a mainstream classic but at least it is original and entertaining. I'll always give a group points for trying to come up with something new, its better than the 429th version of Jingle Bells to come out.

The Night Santa Went Crazy- Weird Al (1996)

I had to include this one because it I remember listening to this as a 13 year old and thought it was fantastic. Not to date myself but my friends and I would huddle around the cassette tape and listen when our parents weren't around. Granted Weird Al is decidedly PG these days but this was mildly edgy back in its day. Again, another song that was never widely adopted by the Christmas stations but something I have on my personal playlist every year.

What are some of your favorites?

This is by no means an exhaustive list of what I enjoy but instead a sampling of a few of my favorites. Some I didn't list because who actually wants to admit they like a Christmas song by Ariana Grande or being from Detroit listened to this gem from ICP? Musical tastes are incredibly subjective but I will give just about any Christmas song a chance. So lets hear from you, what some of your favorite Christmas songs? Preferably the more modern ones but if you want to share a classic you love that is fine too.