Top Five Alternative Holiday Songs
Published on November 29th, 2009 in: Holidays, Issues, Listicles, Music, Staff Picks, Top Five Lists |3. Adam Sandler, “The Chanukah Song”
Paul Newman’s half Jewish; Goldie Hawn’s half too,
Put them together—what a fine lookin’ Jew!You don’t need deck the halls or jingle bell rock
Cause you can spin the dreidel with Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock—both Jewish!
Okay, so Adam Sandler’s take on the Festival of Lights is fairly well known, and it’s been around for a while. What can I say, though? It’s not December without it, any more than it’s November without his “Turkey Song.” As with the Dar Williams number, I like the way it reminds people that there are other winter holy days, and does so in a funny, thought-provoking way.
Tree from Curbly.com
4. The Waitresses, “Christmas Wrapping”
“Bah, humbug!” No, that’s too strong
‘Cause it is my favorite holiday
But all this year’s been a busy blur
Don’t think I have the energyChorus:
Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!
But I think I’ll miss this one this year.
This song had its debut in 1981, but life has only gotten busier since then. The heroine of the song professes her intention to have a low-key Christmas by herself to cap off an exhausting year. During a last-minute trip to the convenience store, though, she runs into a man she met once and who she has been looking for ever since. I’m sure that lots us can relate to just wanting to relax for Christmas, and that just as many
would consider the possibility of new love to be better than any present.
5. Goo Goo Dolls, “Better Days”
. . . .Cause I don’t need boxes wrapped in strings
And designer love and empty things
Just a chance that maybe we’ll find better daysChorus:
So take these words
And sing out loud
Cause everyone is forgiven now
Cause tonight’s the night the world begins again
“Better Days” is a versatile song. It’s not specifically about Christmas, but it makes specific reference to the holiday. It has been used by CNN for their coverage of Hurricane Katrina, but also by the WWE for Tribute to the Troops on Christmas Night. I enjoy the hopeful, anti-materialistic message, and the juxtaposition of simple, slow verses against a faster, more powerful chorus. The last two lines of the chorus also beautifully sum up the meaning of Christmas for Christians all over the world.
So those are my five favorite contemporary Christmas or Holiday songs. Feel free to leave your own offbeat, lesser known, or less-than-obvious picks in comments. I hope you all have music that means something to you this season. Happy Holidays and blessed New Year!
Check out Popshifter‘s Blog for some more lists of Top Holiday Tunes.
Pages: 1 2
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.
Time limit is exhausted. Please reload the CAPTCHA.