I’ve been very carefully building a Christmas playlist for the past few years. I only add one song a year, and I only listen to the songs on the list between Thanksgiving and the Epiphany. There are now six songs on the list.
- The Pogues: “The Fairy Tale of New York”. Sometimes I listen to the No Use for a Name Cover, but this original is just so damn good.
- Jeff Buckley: “Hallelujah”. Not actually a Christmas song, but there’s something cold and lonely about the tune that feels to me like it would play perfectly over a sad story about being alone on Christmas.
- Blink-182: “I Won’t Be Home for Christmas”. A slight contrast from the previous track.
- Bing Crosby and David Bowie: “Peace On Earth/The Little Drummer Boy”. Whoever had the idea of putting these two together for this duet should get a trophy.
- Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Jordan: “Baby It’s Cold Outside”. There are a few versions of this song out there. This one’s my favorite. I love how the song’s just a desperate attempt by a guy to get a girl to sleep over, and how she’s just trying to be a tease.
- Dean Martin: “Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Show!”. This year’s addition. I’ve always liked this tune, and I like the swing kick this version has.