Around Christmastime, something just sort of happens to me. All of a sudden I wake up stringing small stocking with my friend’s rap names written on them up over our fireplace, or I find myself in the middle of the CVS seasonal aisle wearing a snowman ski hat and holding three packages of garland. Every year, from Thanksgiving to January 1, just like clockwork, I am a festive machine hellbent on bringing joy to others through forcible consumption of yuletide joy. This is no simple task, and to better accomplish it I began, in 2006, collecting Christmas music. Now, I have over 500 tracks on my laptop labeled “XXXMAS,” five versions of every staple holiday track and a couple really weird songs I don’t think many of us know exist (I see you, entirety of the Bright Eyes Christmas album).
This Christmas, I’m giving you the best of them.
Little Drummer Boy – The Dandy Warhols
Christmas In Harlem – Kanye West ft. Cam’ron, Jim Jones, CyHi Da Prynce, Pusha T, Big Sean, Teyana Taylor, Big Sean & Musiq Soulchild
Merry Christmas Baby – Otis Redding
O Holy Night – Musiq Soulchild
Wonderful Christmastime – Paul McCartney & Wings
Christmas Tree – Lady GaGa ft. Space Cowboy
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays – *NSYNC
Jingle Bell Rock – Bobby Helms
Merry Xmas Everybody – Slade
Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – Brenda Lee
What Christmas Means To Me – Stevie Wonder
Give Love On Christmas Day – The Jackson 5
Doo-Wop Christmas – Kenny Vance & The Planotones
Last Christmas – Wham
This Christmas – Donny Hathaway
It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year – Andy Williams
A Christmas Song – Shawn Phillips
Dashing Through The Snow – Jim Reeves
All I Want For Christmas – Mariah Carey
Step Into Christmas – Elton John
Little Saint Nick – The Beach Boys
Love On Layaway – Gloria Estefan
Donde Esta Santa Claus – Augie Rios
Do They Know It’s Christmas? – Band Aid
Thank God It’s Christmas – Queen
A Great Big Sled – The Killers
Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses
Christmas All Over Again – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
All Alone On Christmas – Darlene Love
Home For Christmas – Danity Kane
Gee Whiz, It’s Christmas – Carla Thomas
Carol Of The Bells – The Bird & The Bee
Sparkplug Minuet – Mark Mothersbaugh
Put the Lights On the Tree – Sufjan Stevens
Twelve Days Of Christmas – Mexicani Marimba Band
The First Noel – Little Things That Kill
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – Death Cab for Cutie
Happy Christmas (War Is Over) – John Lennon
Christmas Vacation Theme – Orchestral
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Studio) – Tori Amos
7 O’Clock News/Silent Night – Simon & Garfunkel
The Christmas Song – The Raveonettes
Little Drummer Boy – The Tokens
White Christmas – The Drifters
Santa Baby – Marilyn Monroe
Skating – Vince Guaraldi
Last Christmas – Jimmy Eat World
When I Get Home for Christmas – Snow Patrol
Just Like Christmas – Low
Wonderful – Watashi Wa
2000 Miles – Pretenders
Sleigh Ride – The Ventures
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Little Drummer Boy & Peace On Earth – Bing Crosby & David Bowie
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas – Coldplay
My Dear Acquaintance (A Happy New Year) – Regina Spektor
Wonderful Christmastime – Tom McRae