Merry Christmas and happy holidays everyone!
If you hate Christmas music, maybe these covers can Tiny Tim you into a post -"A Christmas Carol" version of Scrooge. And if you’re stuck working retail, I hope this playlist can help mix up the same 10 versions of the same 15 songs you’re forced to listen to for eight hours every day. My condolences. Here are eleven of my favorite Christmas covers!
1. Sleigh Ride – fun.
I’ll admit this is a pretty standard cover of a Christmas song. But there’s nothing more joyful than an early fun. song and the fact is, there’s nothing more Christmas-y than those jingle bells and whip snaps in the background.
2. Last Christmas – Carly Rae Jepsen
Listen to this cover of Last Christmas and you might be confused as to how this song wasn’t a Carly Rae Jepsen original. All good covers manage to find a balance between staying true to the original and putting a unique spin on the song. Carly Sleigh Jepsen was made to sing "Last Christmas."
3. Wonderful Christmastime – Dog is Dead
I know a lot of people harbor a deep hatred for this song, so you might just want to skip this track if that’s you. Dog is Dead’s cover is simultaneously a chilled out and more lighthearted version of the McCartney classic.
4. Happy Xmas (War is Over) – The Polyphonic Spree
Of course, The Polyphonic Spree, a “choral rock band” would do a great cover of Happy Xmas. The music video also features lovely watercolor images done by Gala Bent.
5. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Barenaked Ladies Ft. Sarah McLachlan
Is this maybe the weirdest idea ever? Barenaked Ladies doing a cover of one of the more religious Christmas songs and featuring the lady from the sad dog commercials? But somehow it works. Its just upbeat enough and McLachlan’s voice really is beautiful.
6. Baby, It’s Cold Outside – She & Him
This take on the classic, questionably intention-ed, song is great because it swaps the duet. The lady is now the one trying to convince the guy to hang around.
7. O Holy Night – Bastille
Covering songs is something Bastille does best – they’ve released three EP mix-tapes that are nothing but creative covers. Sampling from Christmas films and featuring Dan Smith’s haunting voice, this cover is classic Bastille.
8. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Bright Eyes
Maybe you’re feeling sad but you still want to be festive because if you’re not festive you’ll feel even more sad. Maybe you want to think about ghosts while you listen to a Christmas song. Who else better to listen to than Bright Eyes? Ultimately, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" was initially written to be much darker, and the writers were asked to make the lyrics more jolly, so maybe this despondent cover is most fitting.
9. Star of Wonder – Sufjan Stevens
You can’t talk about Christmas music without mentioning Sufjan Stevens, who has recorded at least a hundred Christmas songs. His version of "Star of Wonder" is one of my favorites, featuring looping electronics and multiple layers of instruments.
10. In Like a Lion (Always Winter) – Relient K
This one isn’t a cover, but I always associate this song with Christmas. Featured on their cleverly titled "Let it Snow Baby Let it Reindeer" album, Relient K’s song about the inhabitants of Narnia reminds us how lucky we are to have Christmas to get us through the ten degree weather. Even though the world might be tough, we still have hope... see "Rogue One" in theaters today.
11. Auld Lang Syne – Andrew Bird
Everyone knows that for the seven days after December 25th you can only listen to different versions of "Auld Lang Syne" until Janurary 1st. This one should get you started! Happy New Year.
