Top Ten: More Holiday Tunes That Won’t Make You Sick

By Less Lee Moore

We all hate the played out holiday tunes that we’re forced to hear every year in malls, grocery stores, offices, and restaurants beginning at the end of November (or for those of us in Canada, the beginning of November). I can’t say I unequivocally hate Christmas music, just the Christmas music I hate. Here are ten songs that might change your mind about holiday tuneage.

1. “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” Electric Six

As if seeing Electric Six four nights in a row last year wasn’t already a great Christmas present, they performed this song each of those four nights. It’s as close to perfect as cover songs can be.

2. “Christmas Day,” Squeeze

The best thing about this song is that it doesn’t even sound like it’s trying to be a Christmas song. Even though there are some lyrics that refer to the reason for the season, they are shot through with Squeeze’s inimitable wit and charm and catchy melodies.

3. “Christmas Is Interesting,” Jonathan Coulton

This song sounds like a nice, wistful tune until you notice the dark, absurd, and laugh out loud lyrics.

4. “Christmas Time,” Susan Cowsill

This appears on Susan Cowsill’s 2005 Just Believe It album and its wintry feeling is beautiful.

5. “Christmas At Ground Zero,” “Weird” Al Yankovic

Leave it to “Weird” Al to have an air raid siren in a Christmas tune. Sometimes you just need one.

6. “Jingle Bells,” The Moog Cookbook

The Moog Cookbook actually has several excellent instrumental renditions of Christmas classics on their 2005 Bartell album, but this one happened to be on YouTube so I included it here.

7. “Christmas Celebration,” Weezer

A great song from Weezer’s glory days (i.e., before The Green Album) that is more Weezer-y than Christmas-y.

8. “Another Rock and Roll Christmas,” Gary Glitter

Gary Glitter is a disgusting person and I am in no way condoning his actions. He does know how to rock a rockin’ holiday song.

9. “Twelve Days Of Christmas,” Council of Doom

Characters from Space Ghost, including Brak, attempt to sing this holiday classic.

10. “Minty The Candy Cane,” Conan O’Brien

I dare you to get this song unstuck from your brain after hearing it once or twice.