This is extremely indulgent posting- be warned. Every year, I make my friends a mix CD of Christmas rock and novelty songs. I’d like to offer up 20 of my favorites, via Youtube, for y’all. I’m going to put this all after the page jump because, seriously, we’re talking a lot of links here. Also, note that some of these you definitely hear every year anyway- sorry, but I still think they’re great songs.
Rufus’s League Christmas Mix 2010:
For our Baltimore friends (I know you’ve heard this): (David DeBoy) “Crabs for Christmas”
For those of you not in the Christmas spirit: (The Sonics) “Don’t Believe in Christmas”
For those really not in the Christmas Spirit: (Hives/Cyndi Lauper) “A Christmas Duel”
And those really, really, really not in the spirit: (Fear) “F*** Christmas“; (Eric Idle) “F*** Christmas”
Don’t drink and drive, seriously: (The Youngsters) “Christmas in Jail”
Also, don’t get drunk if you’ve got kiddies: (John Denver) “Please Daddy, Don’t get Drunk this Christmas”
And don’t fight tonight, okay: (Ramones) “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)”
Yeah, it gets old to hear it every year. It’s also a great song: (Mariah Carey) “All I want for Christmas is You”
Especially when sung by Japanese punk bands: (Nicotine) “All I Want for Christmas is You”
This one chokes me up every damn year: (Pogues & Kristy MacColl) “Fairytale in New York”
Probably my second favorite Christmas rock song (and a great video): (Wizzard) “I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday”
Also in the glam spectrum: (Slade) “Merry Christmas Everybody”
Not their best song, but hey- Queen: (Queen) “Thank God its Christmas”
Christmas wishes from the Mexican Elvis: (El Vez) “Feliz Navi-Nada”
Christmas wishes from Run DMC: (Run DMC) “Christmas in Hollis”
For those having a sexy Christmas: (Rufus Thomas) “I’ll be Your Santa Baby”
In the running for second/third best Christmas song ever: (Stevie Wonder) “What Christmas Means to Me”
For those of you wishing for a less secular Christmas: (Staple Singers) “Who Took the Merry out of Christmas?”
Recent Christmas Rock: (Killers) “Great Big Sled”
Finally, the best Christmas rock song ever recorded: (Darlene Love) “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”
Damnit, were we supposed to identify indulgent posts as such at the top of each one? That explains a lot.Report
Ah, I never do usually. I just figure everyone expects it from me by now. This time it was a Christmas gift.Report
Fairytale in New York is the song that we listen to over and over again every year.
It’s one of those songs that offended me when I was young.
Now I listen to it and wonder “who was I?”Report
My wife didn’t get the song either. She thought the appeal was that it gets vulgar and people find that funny. I told her- “Listen to it. It’s a Christmas song about how life can break your heart. How can that not choke you up??”Report
John Lennon’s Happy Xmas is a personal favorite. Some day I may figure out whether I love it in spite of or because of its overwhelming sentimentality.Report