One of the best parts about the holiday season is definitely the music. Everyone's got their favorite Christmas song that immediately inspires the taste of candy canes, the sound of jingling bells and the warming of hearts.
We just have to get through Thanksgiving first. But wait a minute. Let's not forget about the musical gems that Thanksgiving has inspired as well. Though they may not be as iconic as Christmas tunes, they will get you into the holiday spirit just as much as those yuletide jams. Check out these six Turkey Day songs. You'll be thankful you did.
1. "Thanksgiving Song" by Adam Sandler
This is the Thanksgiving song to end all Thanksgiving songs. Long before Adam Sandler made terrible movies, he created silly holiday songs as a cast member on Saturday Night Live. "Thanksgiving Song" was one of those classics that's an ode to the holiday's beloved bird. But what's truly wonderful about this tune is how nonsensical it is with non-sequiturs not related to Thanksgiving whatsoever, such as everyone's favorite line, "Love to eat the turkey / At the table / I once saw a movie / With Betty Grable." This song doesn't make much sense, but I'm still into it.
2. Bob's Burgers Thanksgiving song
Bob's Burgers has some of the best contemporary Thanksgiving TV episodes, and its Season 3 episode "An Indecent Thanksgiving Proposal" shows you why. Not only is it wacky and hilarious, but the episode also introduced us to the holiday classic that is Linda Belcher's Thanksgiving song. This little ditty covers all the bases: It describes a delicious-sounding Thanksgiving meal, shows appreciation for the people in her life and gets stuck in your head. The National also recorded an earnest, moody version of the song in case you're interested.
3. "Twerk Your Turkey" by Logo TV
Remember when twerking was all anyone could talk about last year? Well, the dance craze inspired Logo TV to create this freaky video just in time for Thanksgiving. You'll never look at a turkey — or Miley Cyrus — the same way again.
4. "It's Thanksgiving" by Nicole Westbrook
Written and produced by Patrice Wilson, the same guy who brought us the instant classic "Friday" sung by Rebecca Black, "It's Thanksgiving" is the modern Turkey Day anthem we never knew we wanted. The song, recorded by pre-teen Nicole Westbrook, reminds us to thank our loved ones for "the things you've done and what you did," have "a good time" with turkey and mashed potatoes ("Ay!") and that we "can't be hateful, gotta be grateful." Sage advice indeed.
5. "Back Home Ballers" from Saturday Night Live
This music video premiered during the Nov. 22 Thanksgiving episode of Saturday Night Live, and it's definitely the best new Thanksgiving song we've got. It featured all of the female cast members of the sketch comedy show and the host of that week Cameron Diaz. The video shows that "Back Home Ballers" are people who take advantage of their parents' excitement over having their children return home for Thanksgiving by being lazy and eating all of their food. No college student has ever done this ever.
6. "Turkey Lurkey Time" from Promises, Promises
This song from the 1968 Broadway musical Promises, Promises was technically sung during an office Christmas party scene, but it's all about turkey, so why not include it here? Actually, I don't think anyone really knows what this song is about. The lyrics mention turkey and geese and Christmas, but it all kind of just seems like gibberish. Oh well. It's still catchy.
