Remember when we first shared that top photo, in a bygone era?!?! Remember when the “news” made claim that a Christmas song by the Shins had overtaken Mariah Carey’s holiday anthem as the “the most played holiday song?”
Although I love the Shins, their version of a Paul McCartney holiday song, and the idea of it being the #1 holiday song, I’ve always been a tad suspect.
If we are living in a world in which the Shins can have the #1 holiday song, then I’d like to make the world a holiday mixtape… with these amazing holiday songs (in no particular order) in hopes these will make the #1 list someday.
{Here’s our playlist of the songs available on youtube}
Do you have any we should add to this list?
- Princess Superstar – “Xmas Swagger” (youtube)
- Emmy The Great & Tim Wheeler – “Home For The Holidays” (youtube)
- Eux Autres – “Another Christmas At Home” (youtube)
- Darren Hanlon – “Spend Christmas Day With Me” (youtube)
- Billy Squier – “Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You” (youtube)
- Old 97’s – Love The Holidays (youtube)
- The Wedding Present – “Step Into Christmas” (youtube)
- Math and Physics Club – “It Must Be Christmas” (youtube)
- Six Cents and Natalie – “Secret Santa (You Could Be The One)” (youtube)
- The Dandy Warhols – “Little Drummer Boy” (youtube)
- The Kinks – “Father Christmas” (youtube)
- The Ramones – “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight)” (youtube)
- Allo Darlin’ – “Will You Please Spend New Years With Me?” (bandcamp)
- Sunturns – “The Sun Turns” (bandcamp)
- Belle & Sebastian – Santa Claus (The Sonics cover) (youtube)
- The Beths – “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”(bandcamp)
- Exohxo – “Snoopy’s Christmas (featuring Colin McBride)” (soundcloud)
- Bright Eyes – Blue Christmas (youtube)
- ballboy – “Merry Christmas to the Drunks, Merry Christmas to the Lovers” (bandcamp)
- Bears – “Merry Christmas Have a Happy New Year” (bandcamp)
- xnerdyspicex – “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (bandcamp)
- Wham! – “Last Christmas” (youtube)
Want some more Christmas-song joy? Imaginary Liz has a radio show – here are the 2021 and 2020 holiday episodes – chock full of obscure indie-pop holiday hits!
Here are some videos to watch on repeat:
This one wins for best video:
A favorite – spot the John Roderick Santa!
SO CUTE!
I feel like he’s saying “Merry Christmas” right to me!
There should be some sort of trophy for “Best Christmas Song Dance Moves”
And in case you haven’t heard the Shin’s version of “Wonderful Christmastime” – enjoy!
Top photo: Santa John (taken and shared in another era). Photo credit: Laura Duffy