The 25 Underplayed Christmas Songs ~ a Cody Humble Takeover

The music that accompanies this season is unlike any other. A Holiday message can be incorporated into any genre of music – and throughout history has been. It is also growing increasingly easier to find different interpretations of the same holiday classics that have been performed for generations, which is less common in other forms of music. This eclectic selection should help you cover all your bases, and refresh your playlist for many Christmas’ to come.

Boyz II Men – Let It Snow (1993) R&B/Soul

               

I have to thank the Fresh Prince for introducing me to this yuletide Motown jam, way back in the day. Displaying one of the most blazing vocal harmonies ever presented in a winter-themed song, Boyz II Men have secured their position as a Christmas staple in our house come the holiday season.

All Time Low – Fool’s Holiday (2013) Pop/Punk

               

It’s easy to feel like your drowning in cheer this time of year. All Time Low offers a more cynical (yet somehow completely appropriate) approach to the Christmas song with driven guitars and some incredibly thoughtful holiday lyrics that you might not be able avoid singing along to.

Luther Vandross – The Christmas Song (1992) R&B/Soul

               
 
If you’re looking for a soulful Christmas, then look no further. With a voice so warm it’ll make you feel like you’re sitting by the fire with a fresh cup of the hottest coco – Luther brings the fire that makes him a legend.

Michael Bublé w/ Shania Twain – White Christmas (2012) Big Band

               

Courtesy of his Christmas release back in 2011, Michael Bublé has been referred to as the modern “King of Christmas Music” in recent years. However, it’s the re-release from 2012 that included a few extra tracks that really takes the album to the next level. One such Christmas favorite features Shania Twain bringing a very “Drifters” inspired version of the classic to our earholes, and I’m definitely not mad about what the Bublé Twain™ is bringing to the table. (The Bublé Twain™ is what I refer to as the force that is to be reckoned with when Shania Twain and Michael Bublé collaborate in all their Maple-y, Canadian goodness)

Run DMC – Christmas In Hollis (1987) Rap/Hip-Hop

               

At the height of their career Rev Run, DMC and Jam Master Jay set the Christmas standard for Rap music. The lyrical mastery and beat (originally sampled from Clarence Carter’s Back Door Santa) stays funky almost 30 years later. Although credit for initially rapping a Christmas song has to go to Kurtis Blow with his 1979 banger – Christmas Rappin’, Very few Christmas songs in general have had staying power like Christmas in Hollis.

Issues - Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays (2013) Metalcore

               

Back in 1998, One of the world’s most successful boy-bands gave us for Christmas, a jam so catchy and poppy it has become the quintessential holiday pop classic for millennials far and wide. Now, imagine a world where that very song grew up with us, got stereotypical tattoos and piercings, shops at hot topic and started a metalcore band. That is this song and I’m not afraid to admit that I’m into it.

Shakin’ Stevens - Merry Christmas Everyone (1985) Rock N’ Roll

               

Across the pond, a modern Welsh classic more infectious than a seasonal flu swept the UK charts back in 1985. Although never commercially popularized in North America, you’d be doing yourself a disservice to leave this toe tapper off your Christmas playlist.

Mary J. Blige & Angie Martinez – Christmas In The City (1997) R&B/Soul

               

Somewhere in just about everyone’s top 5 things about Christmas are the decorations. And one of my favourite things about Christmas is venturing downtown - just about any downtown in North America - through the Christmas transformation that has taken place with the lights and wreaths and garlands and holiday displays. Christmas in the city really can be a special kind of holiday haven and with the soulful stylings of two of New York’s heaviest hitters, this is the perfect anthem.

Wham – Last Christmas (1984) Pop

               

Sometimes nothing compares to the original. Ever since George Michael birthed his melancholic Christmas anthem, many artists have attempted to capture the audible magic this song possesses. From Jimmy Eat World to Ariana Grande even Crazy Frog just to name a few, but none come so close as to embody that especially deep Christmas loneliness like Wham! Completely justifying the exclamation in their name since 1981.

Julian Casablancas – I Wish It Was Christmas Today (2009) Indie Rock

               

I’ll be honest – I didn’t think this would ever become a real song when I first heard it performed by Jimmy Fallon, Tracy Morgan, Chris Kattan and Horatio Sanz one Saturday night, in December of 2000. Despite its goofy humor and intentionally sloppy instrumentals this song has kind of a cool history if you’re interested in the behind the scenes of, or even that era of Saturday Night Live. – Tangent – Julian Casablancas (also singer of The Strokes) completely makes it his own, in a rendition that feels so natural, it will make you question which version came first. 

Stevie Wonder – What Christmas Means To Me (1967) Soul/Funk

               

By far one of the most powerful Christmas tunes of the 60’s. Stevie Wonder shows us yet again why he is a bonafide icon that has this ability to create music that becomes ingrained into who we are as a society. Unless you’ve never shopped around Christmas time - you’re almost guaranteed to be familiar with this one. Conversely, it is still severely underutilized at Christmas functions and in my medical opinion should be prescribed by doctors to diagnose Seasonal Affective Disorder.

The Killers – I Feel It In My Bones (2016) New Wave

               

Warning: You have now entered the eerie dimension of Christmas and this video WILL haunt your visions of sugarplums. Since 2006, The Killers have released an annual holiday-themed song, donating 100% of the proceeds in support of Bono’s RED campaign. Over the years they have created what is arguably the weirdest collection of Christmas music ever compiled including songs like Don’t Shoot Me Santa, and Joel the Lump of Coal (which I’m convinced would make a great Claymation, full length feature film) I Feel It In My Bones explores exactly what it means to be on Santa’s naughty list and what dangers you could be exposing yourself to.. With a serious groove like no other seasonal tune.

The Used – Alone This Holiday (2002) Post-Hardcore/Emo

               

The complete opposite of what you’ll hear on popular radio stations blasting Christmas cheer this holiday season. This is by no means a happy Christmas song, but if you’re familiar with The Used then you know what you’re getting into. And if you don’t know what you’re getting into - you should take this time to catch up on the sounds of the early 2000’s.

Ludacris – Ludachrismas (2007) Hip-Hop/Rap

               

If Santa was the kind of guy that had massive sub woofers in the trunk of his sleigh and would roll up to stop lights with his windows down forcing you (who is innocently just waiting for the light to turn green) to feel the vibrations of his beats.. This is what you would hear. So next time you’re in charge of the Christmas music at your families holiday function, make it a Ludachrismas – your family will thank you.

Elton John – Step Into Christmas (1974) Pop/Rock

               

Have you ever heard a Christmas song so good that you could listen to it year round? For me, this is that song. In true Elton style, he just wants to thank us all for the year and sing about all things our eyes and mind can see. Thoughtful lyrics, a peppering of southern influence in the guitars and a fist-full of piano riffing that will keep your Christmas party hopping well into the next morning.

My Chemical Romance – All I Want For Chirstmas Is You (2004) Punk Rock

               

If you’re as sick of Mariah Carey’s 1994 smash as the rest of the world then you’re in good company. More specifically Jennie’s Mom, and she’s top shelf. It’s not all bad though, the song itself is a decent, upbeat, well-crafted contemporary Christmas song that has become synonymous with the season. MCR completely revives the tune, taking the complete opposite route in their delivery. With vocals that would offend a diva, Gerard creates a painful urgency that is lacking in the original, yet still remains so musically satisfying.

Miley Cyrus – Silent Night (2015) Country/Pop

               

Say what you will about Miley Cyrus and her career choices, but last year ‘A Very Murray Christmas’ featured a Miley cover of the somber Christmas classic Silent Night.. and she absolutely sleigh’d it! Every single melody slightly diverges from the familiar with a slight southern twang that speaks magic to her personal roots and vocal tones. Strong highs and deep lows show off her vocal range, and the vacancy of Paul Shaffers instrumentals give Miley the reins on a very distinctive take on the typical Christmas standard.

 

The Lumineers – Blue Christmas (2016) Indie Folk

               

To compete with Elvis Presley is a challenge few can step up to. I will admit that due to how new this interpretation is, I can’t say if it will have the staying power that Elvis has had with his version. I haven’t even decided if I think it’s better yet. What I can say is that it comes off incredibly fresh. The contrasted vocals -compared to the original - kind of carve out a new path for the song to take. Conceptually it is a “sad” Christmas song, but the way The Lumineers present, the whole sound is slightly more optimistic than Elvis’. For now though, I’ll just keep listening to both.

Jason Mraz – Walking In A Winter Wonderland (2008) Acoustic Rock/Reggae

               

I won’t name any names but there exist some depressingly cheesy versions of this holiday classic. Walking in a winter wonderland is a fun experience. I’ve done it. It’s a good time. If you’ve never done it, it comes highly recommended! Typically I’m not the world’s biggest Jason Mraz fan, but credit where credit is due. How could it be that Jason Mraz has so playfully captured the spirit of a winter wonderland with the music of sun and sand? You may be asking. I know I did. We’ll just have to chock that one up to the magic of Christmas.  

Set It Off – This Christmas (I’ll Burn It To The Ground) (2013) Pop Rock

               

For those who say “Nightmare Before Christmas is my favourite Christmas movie!” I respond with “Have you heard This Christmas, by Set It Off? Because it’s about to become your favourite Christmas song”. I’m fairly convinced the lyrical concept was created by Jack Skellington himself. It is untamed and creepy in its delivery, but it’s one of the few Christmas jams that are completely appropriate to head bang to.

Run DMC, Mase, Puff Daddy, Snoop Dogg, Salt N’ Pepa, Onyx, Keith Murray – Santa Baby (1997) Rap

                 

There’s no way Eartha Kitt could have known the monster she was creating, way back in 1953 when she first sang what has now become the sleazy santa-seducing song of the season. There’s also no way she could have known what Run DMC, Mase, Puff Daddy, Snoop Dogg, Salt N’ Pepa, Onyx, Keith Murray and the Fugees were going to do with it nearly 45years later. Bet she would’ve been more into this than what Madonna did to it.

NOFX – Xmas Has Been X’ed (2012) Punk

               

Feeling especially angsty this Christmas? A dose of NOFX might be just what you need to help you get through the holidays. It’s fast paced, offensive, there’s yelling, and it makes you question “Whats so good about the holidays?” – alot like working in sales this time of year.

TLC – Sleigh Ride (1992) New Jack Swing

               

Not your typical sleigh ride. You’ll be waiting a while to “Just hear those sleigh bells jingling”. Although it shares a name with the light orchestral holiday classic from 1958 – TLC’s Sleigh Ride is a completely different piece of work. They stuck to the rivers and the lakes that they’re used to and made a great Christmas song that reeks of 90’s nostalgia.

Anberlin – Baby, Please Come Home (2005) Alternative Rock

               
  
Another familiar song that has been covered by nearly every artist under the sun, means it really says something to find an interpretation that stands above the rest. Anberlin’s version is a guitar driven epic with dynamic, real emotion, and an intense vocal performance that shows Bono and Mariah Carey’s to the proverbial door.

Destiny’s Child – 8 Days of Christmas (2000) R&B/Pop

               
 
Before she became #QueenBey, Christmas in the year 2000 experienced Beyoncé and her acolytes in their first holiday single. Thankfully Destiny’s Children settle the age old question of what women really want from their man for Christmas – gift certificates for Cd’s. Doesn’t it feel like Christmas? Yes it feels like Christmas.

Gratitude Is The Best Attitude