Sonic Sunday: My Perfect Christmas

Hopefully, you all aren't sick of Christmas music already because I'm stuffing your stockings with three volumes of very special Christmas Sonic Sundays over the next few weeks!

This week, I'm offering up 15 of my personal favorite holiday tunes, which means no Kenny G! Hooray! (Note: I posted some of these a few years ago, so I may just use some of the same descriptions. I'm allowed to plagiarize myself, right?)


1. "A Fairytale of New York," The Pogues and Kirsty Macoll - It's a Christmas song. It's a St. Patrick's Day song. It's both! What could be better??

2. "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)," U2 - A lot of people prefer the Darlene Love original, which I also love, but I really dig U2's cover. Maybe it reminds me of a time when U2 were a great rock band and not the complacent cash cows that they are now. (Start the crazy U2 fan backlash now!)

3. "Christmas Bop," T. Rex - As I mentioned a couple of years ago when I posted this, it may be the only holiday tune that references silk jeans and space shoes. And it's fabulous. Crazy that it took a Jewish guy to write one of the world's most fun Christmas tunes.

4. "Christmas Day," Squeeze - I didn't love this song the first time I heard it, but it's so bizarre that it grew on me pretty quickly. It's kind of a funny, new wave-y look at Mary and Joseph's saga set in modern times. It's also about how Christmas wouldn't be the same without important stuff like aftershave.

5. "Christmas is the Time to Say I Love You," Billy Squier - This has been my favorite holiday song for as long as it's been around. I don't think anyone can beat it.

6. "Happy Holidays/The Holiday Season," Andy Williams - Andy is the King of Christmas, and this is one swingin' tune. Probably the only Christmas song that includes the phrase "whoop-dee-do."

7. "Jingle Bell Rock," Bobby Helms - A classic that's been covered a million times, but nothing beats Helms' original.

8. "Merry Christmas Song," INXS - A rare, original Christmas song that was distributed as a 7" fan club single back in 1982. It was written and performed by Kirk Pengilly.

9. "O Holy Night," Sufjan Stevens - This is my favorite traditional/religious Christmas song. I've never been a huge Sufjan fan, but I really love what he's done here. This song is usually belted out by power singers like Celine Dion and Martina McBride, so there's just something really understated and lovely about Sufjan's version. And you've gotta love that banjo.

10. "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," Brenda Lee - Much like Bobby Helms' "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," this song has been covered a million times, but no one will ever beat Lee's version.

11. "Santa Bring My Baby Back (To Me)," Elvis Presley - If Elvis were still alive today, he would probably change this to "Santa Bring My Baby Back Baby Back Baby Back Ribs." (That's a repeat, but that joke still makes me laugh because I'm simple.)

12. "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town," Bruce Springsteen - The Boss made it cool for rockers to cover Christmas classics, and his is still the best one of all. I once got to hear him do it live and it was quite a thrill!

13. "Sleigh Ride," Harry Connick, Jr. - Best version of this song EVER. Those horns are just fantastic.

14. "Someday at Christmas," Pearl Jam - A cover of the Stevie Wonder classic that was introduced to me a while back by Beth. I never knew of it before then because I endlessly procrastinated about joining the Pearl Jam fan club. (Finally joined this year - woo hoo!) I love this version even better than the original. (Surprised? No? Didn't think so.)

15. "The Wassailing Song," Blur - This is a super-rare recording of a traditional song (not the "figgy pudding" one) that was given out as a free 7" promo at one of Blur's early gigs. I wish I could say I'd been there, but no such luck.