Music has the wonderful ability to guide you, enable you, inspire you, and help you understand yourself better than anything else on the planet. I don’t know if it’s the rhythm and the words, I don’t know if it’s the tempo and the tone – but whatever all of it is, it’s a powerful thing.
The holidays – which basically ensconce the month of December – are also powerful, but it’s not always rainbows and butterflies – sometimes they bring on stress and dread; drumming up all the stuff you shoved back down into a secret hiding place in therapy. Sometimes they don’t bring on those feelings, but are just overwhelming – in both a good and bad way – and it creates this energy in you that eventually needs to be let out.
Oddly enough, this time of year – Christmas, Hanukkah, Yule, and New Year – collectively have the largest amount of music written for and about it.
A few years back, I put together a playlist called “December”. It started off as a Christmas playlist.
We Christmas in our family, but sometimes we throw in a little Yule, and based on some recently discovered family information, we may start to Hanukkah.
But as the month drew closer to its climax, I started adding other songs in there – stuff that was making me feel – both good and bad – and helping me really find balance in the holiday season.
You can listen to it here.
Now! Focusing on Christmas, seeing it really starts tomorrow for most of us, here are my top ten tunes on the playlist that keep finding their way onto repeat:
1. The Pogues – Fairytale of New York
I was going through a divorce when this song landed on my front steps and is just the right amount of sad to help you get through anything.
2. Bela Fleck and the Flecktones – Jingle Bells
Bela Fleck was my first foray into bluegrass, many moons ago. This version of Jingle Bells is one of the best out there – and I won’t tell you why. You’ll know once you hear it.
3. Tim Minchin – White Wine In The Sun
First off, I love Tim. His music and acting are top-notch in all directions – but the bit of drama in this song always makes me cry.
4. Chris De Burgh – A Spaceman Came Traveling
I like trippy synth music that takes you places, and this is all about that – and fits right in with this time of year.
5. Greg Lake – I Believe In Father Christmas
I feel like the narrator of this song was stuck in a rustic cabin somewhere, with his synthesizer, and had himself a vision of epic proportions.
6. Keith Richards – Run, Rudolph, Run
This gem was a Record Store Day whale or something. It’s paired with “Pressure Drop” and “The Harder They Come” and all three are worth a listen.
7. Bob Seger – Little Drummer Boy
My oldest daughter was born to Bob Seger, so I’ve got a spot saved for him under the tree by my heart for this totem.
8. Andrea von Kampen – Old Fashioned Holiday
There must be something in the water in Michigan that gives its singer-songwriters the perfect voice and delivery combo. This is love-making music.
9. The Band – Christmas Must Be Tonight
I’ll pretty much gobble up anything you put in front of me from The Band. The hook in this tune – where the Levon and Richard come in to aid Rick in telling the tale gets me every fucking time. Every time.
10. The Head and the Heart – What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve
The first time I heard this song I was walking through Home Depot and it just hit me the right way. It’s got a great crescendo that hits and drops into a really eerie/ethereal ending.
I hope you enjoyed those ten wonderful songs that scream CHRISTMAS to me. Maybe you’ll play them at your holiday party, inspired by my enthusiasm? Maybe you’ll never listen to them again. Either way – there’s no dismissing the quality and impact.
Happy Holidays.
Nick/Ragged
Tribe Of Flannel 