Holiday Mix Tape
Tuesday, December 8th, 2009Over the years I’ve lived with a lot of people who do the 24/7 holiday music thing after Halloween, and I’ve spent my share of holidays working retail, so a big part of the season really has become the music.
With some advice from friends and a lot of my hunting, I’ve put together a 2009 holiday season playlist of 205 (at last count) holiday songs, most of which are not your typical “heard at the mall” carols. Here are 12 I especially like (because there’s a requirement that you do things in 12s for the holiday season).
- Light One Candle – Michelle Citrin
- Winter Song – Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson
- Sing – Kristin Chenoweth
- River – Michael Arden
- Blue and Cold – Versus The World
- The Grinch – Caravan of Thieves
- No Smiles on Christmas – Bleed The Dream
- Snake Oil Tanker (Xmas) – Alkaline Trio
- I Celebrate the Day – Reliant K
- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Hem
- Last Christmas – Glee Cast
- Auld Lang Syne – Various Artists
- Bonus track (unlucky #13) O Holy Night – Brand New
I included the bonus track because my all-time favorite holiday song is “O Holy Night” despite the inescapable religiosity. I have covers of the song by Celine Dion, Josh Grobin, South Park‘s Eric Cartman, Tracy Chapman, Il Divo and more. Because it’s such a familiar tune, I love that Brand New actually makes the song sound a) new and b) dark and c) maybe a little irreligious without actually changing the lyrics.
Anyway, if my attention to the internet is sporadic or limited to after midnight for the next two weeks, it’s only because I’m trying to find the right balance for finals studying. I never actually had to study for finals in college or high school, at least not in any kind of organized and dedicated way, so this process is a learning experience for me.
Oh, wonderful, Jere! This is totez goin’ on my iPod! And you made cover art, too! Merry Merry!
Jere Keys Reply:
December 9th, 2009 at 10:53 am
Thanks for noticing the cover art. The background might look familiar soon.
it’s fun to se alkaline trio & relient k up along wiff kristen chenoweth & “glee” cast.
Oh, and yay for brand new!!!!!!!!
Jere Keys Reply:
December 9th, 2009 at 10:52 am
Are any of these your clients?
Yup, only 4 of 12 (13) can properly be said to have a relationship to Broadway and theatregeekery, and that’s a rather low ratio when it comes to my playlists.
But somehow I didn’t manage get anything that markets itself as Country on the list.
josh Reply:
December 9th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
I wish BRAND NEW was one of mah clientz! If I was able to say that I was somewhat involved in the promotion of the band that wrote one of mah favo songz of all time (“Jesus Christ”), I would suffocate on mah own pride.
I have to say I am unfamiliar with a lot of those songs/artists, but I’ll definitely check them out. I don’t play Christmas music that much because it’s alllll around me it seems so when I’m on my own in the car I listen to non-Christmas stuff.
Jere Keys Reply:
December 9th, 2009 at 10:54 am
When I worked retail, that was always my rule. Music I get to pick = not holiday music. This year, I get to pick all my music, so I’m not so avoid-y of the carols.
What – no “Christmas Shoes”?
Jere Keys Reply:
December 9th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
D’oh! I knew I forgot one.
WHAT?!?!? Why would you even include “River” and not use the original version??
No one is better than Joni.
Jere Keys Reply:
December 13th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Sure, but Michael Arden is dreamy.