I'm not the kind of person who goes nuts around Christmas and spends a lot of time decorating, baking and trying to get everyone in the Christmas spirit. So I usually get quite annoyed when the airwaves fill up with saccharine sweet Christmas songs, so therefore I've made a list of ten songs that won't drive me nuts in the month of December. They may not all be Christmas songs in the conventional sense, but they all mention Christmas in one way or another and every one of them should be a nice break from Last Christmas and Silent Night.
01) The Pogues: Fairytale of New York
Shane MacGowan and the late Kirsty MacColl duet about being a pair of bums in New York at Christmas time in a song, which is both absolutely beautiful and funny. Not surprisingly the song was The Pogues' biggest hit and it still stands as the best Christmas song ever written.
Best line: You scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy faggot
Happy Christmas your arse, I pray God it's our last
02) Fountains of Wayne: The Man in the Santa Suit
This song is only available on the I Want an Alien for Christmas single (which features The Man..., Alien..., and Haunakah under the Stars). It tells the story of a guy, who has to suffer the humiliation of having to work as a department store Santa, so he can make a few bucks around Christmas. It's a classic Fountains of Wayne song, which blends melancholy and humour with a catchy tune.
Best line: And he's a big red cherry, but it's hard to be merry
When the kids are all laughing saying hey it's Jerry Garcia
03) D-A-D: Sad, Sad Christmas
Danish rockers D-A-D (formerly Disneyland After Dark) released this corny Christmas single about a single Dad, who has trouble getting into the spirit of things after his wife left with the car, the credit cards, and the furs. It's not exactly a brilliant song, but it is quite funny and the chip monks singing back-up really takes the song over the top. The song is available on the record D-A-D Special, which features the best songs from their first two records. The album was released to pave the way for the album No Fuel Left for the Pilgrims, which was supposed to have been their big break in the US.
Best line: Well, now we can't afford to celebrate The Lord
Daddy, what a Lord? He made Mother take the Ford
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Eric Olsen
Great list for a freaky Scandinavian dude.
2 - Bill Sherman
A few others I like to hear this time of year:
Ramones, "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)" (the album version);
Wall of Voodoo, "Shouldn't Have Given Him A Gun for Christmas" (yeah, it's a novelty song, but it still makes me laff);
XTC, "Thanks for Christmas" (love the hook on this 'un);
Timbuk 3, "All I Want for Christmas" (neo-hippie folkie sentiments beautifully presented - whatever happened to these two?);
and
T-Bone Burnett's lovely rendition of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen."
I also love that Pogues song.
3 - Jen Raj
My Morning Jacket- Xmas Curtain, Best line, "We are criminals who never break the law"
And, for some odd reason, I kinda like Run DMC's Xmas in Hollis Queens..
4 - Eric Olsen
My fave is probably the Drifters' "White Christmas."
5 - Bill Sherman
The Drifters' version is indeed fine: I'm also partial to Otis Redding's take on the Berlin song.
Perhaps the one all-Xmas disc that gets the most play in our house during the season is Rhino's collection of jazz & rhythm-and-blues tunes, Hipsters Holiday. It includes another personal fave, Louis Armstrong's "'Zat You, Santa Claus?," as well as Miles Davis' ultra-hipster cynical "Blue Xmas."
6 - John Fogde
A friend of mine mentioned that 2000 Miles by The Pretenders is another great Christmas song.
7 - Sarah D
I absolutely adore the Pogues Christmas song, its about the only song I actually like hearing when I walk past a dept store or standing in a queue somewhere. It reminds me of someone special and just makes me smile.
8 - Jon P
What about "santa Claus and his old lady" by cheech and Chong? Also, christmas is never complete without hearing Bob and Doug McKenzie's "12 days of christmas". And a beeer in a tree!!!!
9 - Eric Olsen
More great ones - thanks. Hey all you USA Today visitors, do you have any holiday favorites? What about songs you never want to hear again? When should the Xmas songs start up each year? Doesn't it get earlier and earlier?
10 - Dave
How about "Father Christmas" by The Kinks...great song.
11 - Drclueful
Run Rudolph Run - Keith Richards
Jesus Christ - Big Star
Merry Christmas Will Do - Material Issue
Little Drummer Boy - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Feliz Navidad - El Vez
12 - Cracker
Bing & Bowie's "Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy".
Remember how odd this pairing seemed at the time?
Still gives me chills.
13 - Nathan
Pearl Jam's Let Me Sleep is kool. Len Monahan's Being Alone for Christmas is really great and hurts in a good way. Pogues' Fairytale is about here and now.
14 - Naomi
I once met Len Monahan in a resturant in D.C. He's really a cool guy. I told him that Being Along For Christmas was my favorite Xmas song ever. He just laughed and paid for our dinner. It was over $100! Now how many people would do that?
15 - Daryl
"Silent Night" by The Only Ones
"Santa Claus Go Down To The Ghetto" by James Brown
16 - Tony Iovino
I add Steve Earle's "Nothing But a Child"
17 - Amy
Fairytale of New York is the best...but I also love, Merry Christmas (I don't want to fight) - Ramones;I won't be home for Christmas _ Blink 182,; Please Come Home for Christmas - Aaron Neville; the South Park version of Oh Holy NIght; and Christmas in Hollis
Clearly you need a sense of humor this time of year!
18 - HW Saxton
Gotta agree with Eric's pick to click of
The Drifter's "White Xmas". Those bass
vox on that song give me the chills.
19 - The Theory
the ones I like don't get played on radio... but they are...
Dear Ephesus- The Holidays
and anything Sufjan Stevens
20 - TiggerUSM
I really like "Daddy Christmas" by "Who's the Daddy now?". WTDN are a tribute band to CarterUSM - an indie band from the 1990's. The curio about them is that the tribute band features both members of the original band!
21 - Nick Jones
James White and The Blacks 'Christmas With Satan'.
22 - cr0wgrrl
Can't forget Tom Waits' "Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis"
23 - Steff
The song 'I Hate Christmas Parties' by Relient K...It's not cheerful, and it's not fun, but it's my favourite, and considering my lack of enthusiasm for the glittery 'good will to all men and peac on earth' part of the holiday, and my over enthusiasm for the 'let's break out the whisky I was given last year, oh yeah i drank it on new years eve' part of the holiday, i think the song is amazing!
24 - gobraves
Santa can't stay Dwight Yoakum
25 - jd
The Yuletunes Christmas compilation is the best modern Christmas record -- all the way through.