Top Five Alternative Holiday Songs
Published on November 29th, 2009 in: Holidays, Issues, Listicles, Music, Staff Picks, Top Five Lists |By Lisa Anderson
Carols are an inevitable part of the holiday season. Most of us have carols, whether sacred or secular, that we love, and others that we hate. It’s not unusual to end up sick of all of them by the end of the season, either—especially for someone who works in retail. I’ve decided to make a list of five of my favorite contemporary holiday songs. They all take a fresher and more realistic view of the season, as well as not being so overplayed that they barely register.
1. Jill Sobule, “Merry Christmas from the Family”
Send somebody to the Quickpak Store
We need some ice and an extension cord
A can of bean dip and some Diet Rites
A box of Pampers, Marlboro Lights
Hallelujah everybody say cheese
Merry Christmas from the family
Sobule is only one of several artists to cover Robert Earl Keen’s 1994 Christmas classic. I am most familiar with her version, though, and I like her a lot. The song brings together a motley and highly believable crew—including stepchildren, recovering addicts, and Mexican immigrants—for an imperfect but loving family holiday. Feliz Navidad, everyone!
Tree from Curbly.com
2. Dar Williams ,”The Christians and the Pagans”
So the Christians and the Pagans sat together at the table
Finding faith and common ground the best that they were able
And just before the meal was served, hands were held and prayers were said
Sending hope for peace on earth to all their gods and goddesses
A couple, Amber and Jane, end up at Amber’s uncle’s house for Christmas, and interfaith education ensues. I like this song because so often, earth-based spirituality gets lost in the annual skirmishes between the big three Western religions. Winter Solstice is the reason that the Holy Holidays are in December, after all. And Dar Willams’ song holds out hope for understanding between family members who still love each other, even if they don’t believe exactly the same things.
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6 Responses to “Top Five Alternative Holiday Songs”
November 30th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
I will always love “2000 Miles” by the Pretenders and “Christmas is a Time to Say I Love You” by Billy Squier. Also “Chiron Beta Prime” by Jonathan Coulton is a Christmas song, but that’s a bit more humorous than Christmasous.
December 1st, 2009 at 11:14 am
My Christmas musical choices are fairly pedestrian, I’m afraid! John Denver & the Muppets, Elvis, and the soundtrack to the Rudolph TV special. . . this year a friend has made me a mix CD with strange tunes she got from thrift store records. It’s fairly kitschy, but it might make for an interesting Top Five list in next year’s issue.
LLM
December 13th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Nice choices, and I’ll definitely be looking up some of those songs. I think my current favorite holiday song is “Light a Light” by Melissa Etheridge: “´Tis the season of change
The seasons are the contrast
The key to life and how it´s done
It´s time to let go of all our past
And let go of what´s to come
Write down your excuses
And turn them into dust
Plant the seeds of change
Water it with trust
And light a light – tonight we light a light
We light a light – tonight we light a light
Now that this time is ending
And everyone is here
We light a light
A light this year
´Tis the season of change”
To give you an idea…
December 13th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Yay! Fun coundown/list/thing, Lisa. Personally, I’m a fan of “Solstice Bells,” in which Jethro Tull talks about “seven druids” who “dance in seven time.” 🙂 “I Believe in Father Christmas” by ELP covers the disillusioned Christmas Song category, and Sufjan Stevens’s “That Was The Worst Christmas Ever” nails down the Truly Heartbreaking vote.
December 14th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Now that I have read everyone’s lists, I no longer think my choices are pedestrian, just very very odd!
LLM
January 5th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
I have definitely have two new favorites this year.
Straight No Chaser’s “Twelve Days of Christmas” – a grand adventure in a Capella, medleys, and Toto.
Tim Minchin’s “White Wine in the Sun” – which really was everything I really wanted this year.
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