Updating Your Playlist {Not Your Mama’s Christmas Music}
Music has always been the lifeblood of my family. I spent most of my formative years in my mom’s music store teaching music lessons or playing with one of my bands. I can’t think of a single memory that doesn’t have some music attached to it.
I love to carry on my mom’s tradition of “all Christmas music, all the time” from Thanksgiving through December. Truth be told though, I’m not much of a Celine Dion and Kenny G fan, so I updated the tradition to match my own music tastes.
I’ve divided them into categories and you can listen to the whole playlist at the end of the post. Also, most of the music is available on Amazon Prime’s Music app for free! You can listen to the whole playlist here on Spotify too!
Christmas Dance Party
Lenka – All My Bells Are Ringing This song just makes me want to twist my hips and bop around the house. I dare you not to at least tap your toes!
Band of Merrymakers – Must Be Christmas
The Late Greats – Sleigh Ride You’ll feel like you’re in a holiday commercial while rocking out to this one.
Maggie Eckford – Christmas Like We Do In her own words, you’re going to “shake, shake, shake” while making memories.
Jessie J – Man With the Bag
Grown-up Christmas
Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal
The Pogues – Fairytale of New York If you want to freak your in-laws out, play this one “in the drunk tank”.
Caleb Hawley – Santa’s Just a Hippie With a Beard Don’t let your kids hear this one, unless you want to explain why Santa has the munchies!
Sufjan Stevens – Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing I like to play this one during meals or while enjoying a glass of wine by the tree.
Peter Bradley Adams – Snow Will Fall Tonight
Paul McCartney – The Christmas Song
Rock & Roll Christmas
They Might Be Giants – Santa’s Beard
Iggy Pop – White Christmas It’s not a playlist without Iggy Pop… right?
Gary Glitter – Another Rock & Roll Christmas
Reel Big Fish – Little Drummer Boy This song always takes me back to Christmas in high school, where my mom would be blasting her cheesy versions of Little Drummer Boy and I’d be hiding in my room listening to Reel Big Fish.
Bad Religion – Angels We Have Heard On High Their entire Christmas album is worth a listen, honestly!
Brian Setzer Orchestra with Ann-Margret – Baby It’s Cold Outside This is, hands down, my favorite holiday song.
Local Flavor
The Top Cats – Holly Jolly Wonderful Christmas Time
Benny Grunch & the Bunch – The 12 Yats of Christmas You can’t listen to this song without laughing.
Christian Serpas & Ghost Town – Santa Claus is Back in Town
Louis Armstrong – Christmas in New Orleans This is always first on my playlist when I’m decorating the Christmas tree. It’s Christmas time in New Orleans!
Irma Thomas with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band – May Ev’ry Day Be Christmas