They encompass some of the most familiar sounds of our time, yet they hail from some of the most unlikely places.
More than any other time of year, the holiday season is known for its music, which spans the entire spectrum of musical genres and artists.
Rather than generating a soundscape of Jersey Shore boardwalks and Garden State factory towns, Bruce Springsteen in "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" admonishes us all, declaring "You better watch out/You better not cry."
Mariah Carey in "All I Want for Christmas is You" blurs the line between Valentine's Day and Christmas Day as she pleads with the object of her affection to cast aside the presents and simply fall into her arms.
And the biggest holiday of the year for many is a day for regret in the contemporary holiday tune "Last Christmas." Whether you enjoy the original version by Wham! or covers by Carly Rae Jepsen or Ariana Grande, "Last Christmas" attempts to reconcile the joy of the season with the twists and turns of holiday heartbreak.
And let's not forget comedian Adam Sandler's “Chanukah Song,” a hilarious tune with a broad message of inclusiveness and aversion to stereotypes.
There are of course, the traditional holiday songs — like "Rudolph-the-Red-Nosed-Reindeer" — sung by all the usual suspects. And at this very moment you could be listening to any or all of this.
Some are filled with cheer, some are reflectful and some are downright ridiculous. Holiday music covers all the complicated emotions the season can create.
So in the spirit of the season and the songs, Journal staffers have listed their favorite holiday songs and offered an explanation of why these tunes resonate so loudly with them. So sit back, crank up that turntable or MP3 player and please, share in our seasonal sonic immersion.
John W. Barry, Arts and Entertainment Reporter
“Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon and Yoko Ono/The Plastic Ono Band with The Harlem Community Choir
Christmas in particular and the holidays in general can be a lot of fun. But they can also be downright depressing with all kinds of expectations and demands that we feel a certain way because it’s a certain time of year. Anticipation builds for months and we arrive at the holidays and, very often for me, it’s a sense of, OK, it’s Christmas.
I have this upward swing of emotion that culminates on Dec. 24, then a downward swing of emotion that spirals on Dec. 26, and my head is spinning. I end up being much happier when I embrace the message of this song and say to myself, “OK.This is Christmas. Big Deal. Merry Christmas. Peace on earth. Happy New Year. Can we move on, now? And can I have my brain back, please?”
The first line of this song sums it all up for me — “And so this is Christmas…”
Christmas for me can be like one of those hollow chocolate rabbits you eat at Easter. It’s all very eye-catching and holds a lot of potential, but just one bite reveals a lot. Happy (yawn) holidays.
Mike Benischek, News Director
“Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” by Elmo & Patsy
Few holiday songs carry a message as important as this one: Even at a time of peace on Earth and goodwill toward men, keep one eye on the deer.
Poor grandma was the first casualty. If we were heeding this song, we would treat grandma’s untimely demise not as an eggnog-induced accident, but as an assassination on par with that of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The deer were striking the first blow, and humanity has been blind to acknowledge it.
With every car they sacrifice themselves to destroy, they move one step closer to executing the inscrutable plot they surely have been hatching from their lair deep in the woods beyond the Taconic State Parkway. Truly, none of us will be safe when the Venison War commences…
…Oh, and when I was a kid, anytime I sang the song to my own grandma she would give me an over-the-top cartoonishly indignant response, just because she knew my 7-year-old self found it to be hilarious. It’s a memory I likely share with many other young boys and grandmas out there.
Holidays are about family. And, as the song says, “It’s not Christmas without grandma.”
Heather Clark, Features Reporter
"A New York Christmas" by Rob Thomas
No song captures the happiness and hopefulness I feel during this season more than "A New York Christmas.".
The chill guitar riffs and steady jingle bells evoke images of walking between skyscrapers during a soft snowfall and catching a glimpse of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. Its lyrics, including "I'm sending you a merry New York Christmas/ And a prayer for peace on Earth within our time" and "Bring your compassion/ Bring your forgiveness," remind us what the holiday season is all about: celebrating peace, love and each other.
Not to mention, taking a trip down to New York City is a must-do during the holiday season and one of my all time favorite traditions.
Katelyn Cordero,Breaking News Reporter
“Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano
My favorite memories ofholidays as a kid come from Christmas Eve,after everyone finished eating.
That's when my dad would roll up the rug in our family room and turn up the stereo, blasting a mix of Spanish and Christmas classics for everyone to dance to. “Feliz Navidad” was always the song that started the dancing and signaled for everyone to make their way to the “dance floor.” Whenever I hear that song, I get taken back to that room, twirling around with my big brother, trying to copy the moves of all the adults.
Barbara Gallo Farrell, Community Content Editor
“Christmas Must be Tonight” by The Band
The Band’s “Christmas Must Be Tonight” is the perfect song to put me in the mood for the winter holidays.
From their 1977 album “Islands,” this song conjures up the magic that can come with the holiday season — if one is open to it. This is storytelling at its best, even if you’re not a believer: “Come down to the manger, see the little stranger. Wrapped in swaddling clothes, the prince of peace.”
Rick Danko’s singing is sublime, along with the harmonies and talents that define this iconic group of musicians. Garth Hudson offers beautiful coloring with those trills on the organ and the cadence of the song is mesmerizing.
It’s a yuletide gift that just keeps on giving for me: “How a little baby boy bring the people so much joy. Son of a carpenter, Mary carried the light. This must be Christmas, must be tonight.” We can all use a little bit of wonder and joy this time of year, and for me, this song is a reminder to set aside the fears that are often part of daily life and embrace the season of miracles and light — if only for a night.
Stephen Haynes, Sports Reporter
"Sleigh Ride" by The Ronettes
My favorite holiday tune isn't at all connected to any memories from the halcyon days of Christmas as a child. Most of the Christmas songs I remember from childhood are the basic old carols, most of which are boring. I first remember hearing “Sleigh Ride” during a commercial I wasn’t paying attention to, but it caught my ear.
I came across The Ronettes' rendition as an adult —after I’d listened to their 1963 hit “Be My Baby” a thousand times —so the combination of a tune I like sung by a group I like made it close to automatic for me.
Plus, the song rocks just as much on a summer afternoon while being blasted in the car as it does in December. It’s hard to hear the lively, uptempo melody of “Sleigh Ride” and keep from bobbing your head and snapping your fingers. It can even brighten my mood a little —and I’m a jaded ol’ curmudgeon.
A.J. Martelli, Sports Reporter
“Snoopy’s Christmas” by The Royal Guardsmen
Songs that tell stories are the best. This song is a tale about a little beagle named Snoopy, who on Christmas Eve takes flight with “ice on his wings” for another battle with his arch nemesis, the Red Baron.
The Baron has an opportunity to take Snoopy out, but inexplicably doesn’t pull his trigger. He then forces Snoopy to land behind enemy lines. When our favorite beagle comes face to face with his crimson rival and thinks he’s done for, the Baron cries out, “Merry Christmas, my friend!” before Snoopy salutes him and the Baronoffersa toast.
I have memories of my dad playing the song for me and my sisters on car rides to visit family each December, and I've always loved it. To me, it’s a sweet reminder that we can all set aside our differences during the holiday season.
Geoffrey Wilson, Food andDrink Reporter
“All I Want For Christmas Is You" by My Chemical Romance
None can deny the influence or impact of Mariah Carey’s version.It’s the standard by which we judge holiday music, and 25 years later, it has yet to be topped.
But as a teen, Carey’s saccharine hit was the last thing I wanted to hear during the holiday season. This is what makes My Chemical Romance’s rendition of the song so wonderful. It understands that the strength of any cover is how it re-contextualizes the source material while playing up the performers’ skills.
The words are the same, but the melancholic wail with which Gerard Way delivers the lyrics just hits differently. An emo take on the holidays’ most iconic anthem can feel irreverent to the spirit of the season. But, frankly, it’s worth remembering that the holiday season isn’t happy for everyone. It’s a hectic time of year driven by rampant consumerism and high expectations.
With My Chemical Romance’s cover, you can enjoy this holiday hit without the requisite cheer that seems tied to the season.
More recently, a new holiday music favorite has come from an unlikely place: “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” delivers plenty of great gags amid its superheroic action. The film particularly enjoys poking fun at the commercial aspect of superhero media, referencing a Spider-Man Christmas album.
But a week after the film’s premiere, “A Very Spidey Christmas” was released onto the world. The five-track EP features the film’s voice actors riffing on Christmas classics while in character. Shameik Moore’s “Joy to the World” is especially wonderful, with the character Miles Morales lamenting the lack of steady pay that comes from the superhero business.
Patrick Oehler, Photographer
"Fairytale of New York," by The Pogues & Kristy MacColl
Ever since I first heard this song when I was in college, when the song was already more than 10 years old, I’ve been enamored with it. The song is a duet between Shan MacGowan and Kristy MacColl, two Irish singers who were popular in the '80s.It is set on Christmas Eve and the pair seem to be arguing about life and where it’s gotten them. According to MacGowan, one of the writers of the song, the pair are an older duo who were performers on Broadway, reminiscing on days past and if life was going to turn out OK.
I enjoy the banter between the two characters, amid scenes of New York City. The holidays are often a time to reflect on the past, and to look ahead to what’s coming up in the new year. The duo certainly have a past, yet there’s a hint of sentimentality and hope in the final verse: “Can't make it all alone I've built my dreams around you.”
JohnW. Barry: jobarry@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4822, Twitter: @JohnBarryPoJo
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