I’ve opined that the two definitive eras for Christmas music were the Middle Ages and the 1940s. Even my favorite performers from later eras have come up with compositions that underwhelm me. (Exhibits A and B: Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run” and the Beach Boys’ “Little Saint Nick,” with both Lennon’s and McCartney’s efforts representing C and D.)
However, there are some holiday songs that do offer new views of the season … Not always jolly, but interesting in one way or another.
Here’s a favorite of mine that’s rarely played in shopping malls. (No surprise; it’s not exactly joyful and triumphant.)
What songs — happy, sad or otherwise — would you put on your “holiday contemporary” playlist?
BTW, I’ve focused on Christmas songs because I find a more varied palette there.
Not to backhand my own nominal ethnic holiday, but I can’t think of a recent Chanukah song that isn’t an out-and-out novelty number. Bring ’em if you got ’em, though!
Many, many thanks for the Waits, Matthew. I hadn’t heard that one in ages and find it very moving this Christmas morning. It has a certain something in common with the Pogues & Kirsty MacColl (R.I.P.) that I’m <param embedding here (he said hopefully, attempting his initial embed maneuver…). Surely familiar to all of you by now, but no less wonderful for that in my book. Happy Christmas, all.
Simon: I hope I got the right clip! Tell me if I’m correct.
Happy New Year’s!
simon, that’s my favorite.
Thanks for the JB, Matt!
Christmas -- like every other day of the year -- is James Brown day, in the Cornelius household. It was on the morning of December 25th, 2007, that Mr. Brown left this ghetto forever.