Mariah vs. Shane: A battle for my Christmas music-listening soul
As I admitted in a recent post, both "Fairytale of New York" and "All I Want For Christmas is You" rank among my faves.
Who's to say which is better? It's like comparing apples to rotted out teeth that can no longer eat apples. Well I have another confession.
I like this
as much as this.
In my life, I've done a lot of moaning about how much I do absolutely hate hate hate Christmas music. It's annoying and everywhere. I especially hate "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (it's a parable of conformity and kissing up to authority, and we let kids listen to it!) and "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" (This was funny exactly once, when I was like seven years old). (Hypothesis: It's not Christmas songs I hate, but reindeer songs. Definitely worth looking into.)
But I've recently decided to make an effort to be a little more positive. No, not as a New Year's resolution (I think those are stupid and arbitrary. Surprise!), but as a general attitude readjustment: Things suck, but me sitting around saying they suck isn't going to make things stop sucking. So instead, inspired by this list, here's a few more songs that are awesome.
Follow me after the jump...
Deerhoof - X-mas Tree (caged from Brooklyn Vegan's list)
I generally find Deerhoof to be annoying as shit. I feel the same way, obvs, about Christmas music. Using the multiplicative property of two negatives, that means I like this song.
Bit Shifter - Let it Snow
You gotta love 8-Bit Christmas compositions.
Peter and the Test Tube Babies - I'm Getting Pissed For Christmas
Two-minute punk perfection.
The Long Winters - Sometimes You Have to Work on Christmas (Sometimes)
I love The Long Winters, and I do have to work on Christmas! Also, this song comes from a charity compilation to benefit Toys for Tots, put together by Hard to Find a Friend.
Radiohead - Winter Wonderland
It's a pretty straightforward cover, but this is the happiest Thom Yorke has ever sounded.
Ludacris - Ludachristmas
So I saw "Fred Claus" (I have young cousins, don't judge) over the weekend, and Luda was pretty funny as the elf who mans the DJ booth up at Santa's workshop. The movie's soundtrack isn't too bad either; pretty traditional with The Jackson 5's "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" and The Waitresses' "Christmas Wrapping" — a song always invoked in defense of Christmas music. I didn't used to like it, but it's growing on me ... after 26 years.
Martha Wainwright - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
I usually don't like Martha. She seems like she's in so much pain when she sings that it's a little uncomfortable to watch. But this song is cute. Extolling the pleasures of the holidays at home while betraying a hint of sibling rivalry — that's basically what Christmas is.
Of course, I'm not the only one with a list. Check these guys out too.
The aforementioned HTFAF has a non-charity list.
Lost In Your Inbox has tracks by Ted Leo and other cool kids.
To The Dogs or Whatever has an extensive list.
AM, then FM (hey, nice name) has 1, 2, 3 posts on seasonal music.
And He's a Whore rocks out in a Santa suit. (Which reminds me, SantaCon is coming to town.)
Which just leaves one question ...
eh.www.amNY.com
Comments (3)
Patti Smith at the Bowery Ballroom/ G.
Rufus Wainwright how horrrible. I like the rest of the vids, yes even Mariah Carey, however The Kinks Father Christmas needs to be mentioned I think. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moHjJZBPYXI
G.
hey, thanks for the shout out and the martha wainwright. : )