Written by Richie Oliver
I have a love/hate relationship with Christmas music. While I don’t mind the preemptive playing of the season’s tunes, I can get a bit picky about what I like to hear. Because of my tendency to be so particular about this, I decided to take a look at both singles and albums, classifying them as a hit or miss. See if your pick makes the list!
HIT: “Merry Christmas” by Mariah Carey, 1994
Mariah Carey’s 1994 release “Merry Christmas” is lightning in a bottle. With a great mix of both classics and new songs, Carey’s Christmas album hits in all the best ways. Everyone and their mother loves “All I Want for Christmas is You,” and for good reason. This upbeat, pop banger is always guaranteed to get people dancing and in the spirit of Christmas. Some other great songs on the album are Carey’s version of “Silent Night,” backed by a southern gospel choir. Carey’s version of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing/Gloria (In Excelsis Deo)” hits all the right notes, backed again by a choir. Carey’s Christmas album is a classic album with a big rating on the replayability scale.
MISS: “Happy Xmas” by Eric Clapton, 2018
Eric Clapton made a Christmas album? The same guy that wrote about how cool it was to do cocaine? Clapton’s take on a Christmas album isn’t fulfilling. Although there are some breakout songs, including Clapton’s electric guitar filled version of “White Christmas,” Clapton’s Christmas album fails to deliver on every other aspect. Songs that seem fine are muddled by excessive amounts of reworking, making the album feel like an experimental Christmas album.
HIT: “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” by Bruce Springsteen, 1975
Released in 1981, this cut from a 1975 live show is a great culmination of Springsteen’s raw, unrefined vocals with a Motown reworking of a classic. Made famous by the Jackson 5, “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” is always included in Motown Christmas compilation albums. Springsteen’s version adds the E Street Band, saxophone solo and all, to the famous classic. While I am not the biggest Springsteen fan, I will say this: Bruce Springsteen sings every song of his like it’s his last, including this Christmas song. Add this one to your Christmas playlists. It’ll stay there every year.
MISS: “Lit This Year” by Florida Georgia Line, 2020
“That Christmas tree ain’t the only thing getting lit this year.” To even enjoy this song, you might need to be “lit” too. If they really wanted to make a modern Christmas song, they should’ve written about how you need to be “lit” to endure your relatives during the holidays.
HIT: “Christmas Cookies” by George Strait, 2001
Finally, a country Christmas song that actually works. Utilizing a talk-sing for the verse, this bluesy, countrified Christmas song is about my favorite part of the holiday. George Strait’s smooth-as-silk vocals work like an extra dash of vanilla in the dough, making this song an enjoyable part of any Christmas tradition.
MISS: “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” bu Burl Ives, 1965
Rudolph can kiss my ass.
Did your picks make the list? What’s your favorite song of the holiday season? Let us know over at @lgndsoftmrw!
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