Christmas is finally almost here, but you've probably been preparing for this day long before December even hit.
That's right. The holiday season is a lovely time of year, and most people are eager to get it started as soon as possible without it being weird. OK, too weird. So let's be honest. Once Nov. 1 hit, you've probably had your classic holiday playlist on repeat, am I right?
By now, you have Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" memorized like it's your social security number, you find yourself humming "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" at the office and "White Christmas" provides the soundtrack to your dreams. Don't you think it's time to get some new tracks on that holiday playlist so you're not completely bored while listening to it on the big day? These seven underrated Christmas gems will help you do that.
1. "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" by Darlene Love
OK, so people know this song, right? I mean, Darlene Love sings it on The Late Show With David Letterman pretty much every year. But I still don't think we hear it as much as, say, "All I Want For Christmas Is You," which is basically today's soulful Christmas anthem. However, Darlene Love did it first with this holiday classic, and I would argue that she even did it the best.
2. "Christmas in Hollis" by Run D.M.C.
There aren't enough hip-hop holiday songs, which is really a shame. Thankfully, Run D.M.C. gave us one of the first with "Christmas in Hollis," and it sounds just as fresh today as it did in 1987.
3. "Father Christmas" by The Kinks
In case you want to turn your Christmas up to 11, might I suggest "Father Christmas" by The Kinks? This song has some great guitar riffs and is such an earworm, you're going to want to listen to it year-round.
4. "Christmas Wrapping" by The Spice Girls
"Christmas Wrapping" is kind of the anti-Christmas song. The lyrics basically describe how the singer is so over the stress of the holiday season and wants to just take a vacation from Christmas this year. I think there are some years where we can all relate. I particularly like The Spice Girls' cover of The Waitresses' 1981 New Wave hit because one, it's The Spice Girls, and two, because their vocals have just the right amount of snottiness and fun that the song needs.
5. "Don't Shoot Me, Santa" by The Killers
The Killers have released an original Christmas song and accompanying music video since 2006 with proceeds from the sale of the single going to (RED) to help fight AIDS. My favorite of this compilation is 2007's "Don't Shoot Me, Santa" because of how funny and absurd it is. Plus, I think it best captures The Killers' haunting-hipster-southwestern rock sound.
6. "Christmas Vacation" by Mavis Staples"
Mavis Staples' theme song to the 1989 Christmas movie classic Christmas Vacation is another soulful song that should have achieved more prestige among our holiday standards. For some reason it didn't, but it's never too late to try to make that happen.
7. "A Christmas Duel" by The Hives and Cyndi Lauper
I totally understand why this song has not achieved Christmas classic status. This NSFW tune details how two partners wronged each other just in time for Christmas. The song is done in the style of those iconic 1960s Christmas songs, but with the captivating vocals of Cyndi Lauper and The Hives' Pelle Amqvist, it has a totally punk rock attitude that demands to be listened to.
And for all you Spotify users out there, here's a playlist of all the songs currently available on Spotify.
