Do You Hear What I Hear? Christmas music. It’s EVERYWHERE this time of year. From shopping malls, restaurants, the work office, to the car radio, you just can’t escape it. The holiday music madness typically begins the day after Thanksgiving, but thanks to the internet, social media and a variety of other social, cultural and economic factors, it starts to creep in much earlier year after year.
Don’t get me wrong. I love getting into the “spirit of Christmas” with holiday music. However, when traditional songs get airplay overkill and it seems to all be a bit too much, I turn to some of my favorite covered classics with a merry spin by today’s artists, in addition to some unconventional Christmas carols. In no particular order, here is a breakdown of my top 27 Alternative Christmas Carols:
1." White Christmas "- Otis Redding
2." Surfer's Christmas List "- The Surfaris
3. "Back Door Santa "- Jet
4. "Christmas Song "- Dave Matthews Band
5." Fairytale of New York "- The Pogues featuring Kristy MacColl
6." Angels We Have Heard on High "- Relient K
7. "What Christmas Means to Me" - Ceelo Green
8. "I Won't Be Home for Christmas" - blink 182
9. "Alone This Holiday" - The Used
10. "A Great Big Sled"- The Killers
11." Oi to the World "- No Doubt
12. "Christmas in Hollis" - Run DMC
13. "Yule Shoot Your Eye Out"- Fall Out Boy
14. "The Little Drum Machine Boy" - Beck
15. "Sleigh Ride" - The Late Greats
16. "Christmas" - Blues Traveler
17. "Run, Run Rudolph"- Sheryl Crow
18." Someday at Christmas"- Jack Johnson
19. "Gabriel's Message" - Sting
20. "Blue Christmas "- The Lumineers
21. "Christmas All Over Again"- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
22." Let Me Sleep"- Pearl Jam
23. "O Holy Night"- Weezer
24. "Ave Maria "- Chris Cornell
25. "Twinkle "- J.D. MacPherson
26. "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas "- The Pretenders
27. "What are You Doing New Years Eve?" - The Head and the Heart
So when you’re sick of hearing Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You,” add a few songs from the list to your own festive Holiday mix. For the full alternative playlist, check out my Rockin’ Christmas playlist on Spotify.
