I’ve been posting this list for more than 10 years, but this year we seem to have a major shortage of original, interesting, and/or weird holiday songs. Even The Killers, instead of a new, oddball holiday song, dropped a compilation of their past Christmas singles (adding one cover of a holiday classic).
So in that spirit, here is a short list of the best holiday-themed stuff in my music collection, now in heavy rotation for the season. Enjoy.
- Christmas is Interesting – Jonathan Coulton
- Elf’s Lament – Barenaked Ladies (With Michael Buble)
- Christmas in L.A. – The Killers
- You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch – Thurl Ravenscroft
- I Want an Alien for Christmas – Fountains of Wayne
- Merry Christmas from the Family – Robert Keen Earl
- Can I Interest You In Hannukah? – Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart
- Father Christmas – The Kinks
- Ain’t No Chimneys In the Projects – Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
- Yuleman Vs. The Anti-Claus – The Bobs
- Snow Globe Christmas – Pink Martini
- The Christians and The Pagans – Dar Williams
- The Cowboys’ Christmas Ball – The Killers
- Come Darkness, Come Light – Mary Chapin Carpenter
- Alternate Christmas In Heaven Song – Monty Python
- Light One Candle – Peter, Paul & Mary
- Fifty Kilowatt Tree – The Bobs
- A Great Big Sled – The Killers
- Oklahoma Christmas – Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison
- Another Christmas Song – Stephen Colbert
- The Man in the Santa Suit – Fountains of Wayne
- Getting Ready For Christmas Day – Paul Simon
- Fruitcake – The Superions
And not really a holiday song, but still one that seems appropriate for some this time of year:
Atheists Don’t Have No Songs – Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers