Have yourself a quirky little Christmas
I may be giving away my age here, but it was around 2004 when my taste in Christmas tunes changed forever and I owe it all to a fictional — and arguably geeky — tastemaker: Seth Cohen.
In a year crowded with buzzwords like “wardrobe malfunction” and “so fetch,” it was the half-Jewish, half-Christian O.C. character’s “Chrismukkah” that had real crossover appeal. The hybrid holiday — a combination of Christmas and Hanukkah — has since spawned its own genre of greeting cards, novelty products, and seasonal music. Five years on, “Music From the O.C. Mix 3: Have a Very Merry Chrismukkah” has turned into a culture-blending classic, something that has somehow broadened the narrow definition of what a holiday soundtrack should sound like. Rooney’s Merry Xmas Everybody and Jimmy Eat World’s Last Christmas are to our generation what Bing Crosby’s Christmas Song and Frank Sinatra’s White Christmas were to our grandparents.
In the spirit of “eight days of presents, followed by one day of many presents,” I have tunneled through my personal archives to assemble a far-reaching lineup of songs Mixtape Jesus would approve. Make room in your iTunes, dust off those search engines, and download your way to a Santastic Christmas. Now.
• Lady GaGa — Christmas Tree. Oh no, she didn’t, I hear you say. But yeah, my friends, she totally did! The GaGa goes from zero to crazy on this year-old track and dares you to “light me up, put me on top” to fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la. The Mayans were right. Cherry cherry boom boom!
• Salem Al Fakir — Hymn. It’s not exactly a Christmas carol, but the xylophones, piano work, and strings give it a vibe as fresh as fallen snow. It’s but one of the treasures in “This Is Who I Am,” the Syrian-Swedish 28-year-old singer’s critically acclaimed album.
• Julian Casablancas — I Wish It Was Christmas Today. The only holiday-themed track from “Phrazes For The Young” sounds like The Ramones with sleigh bells. That can only be a good thing.
• The Flaming Lips – Christmas at the Zoo. The modern rock stalwarts think peacocks, snakes, and seals deserve some eggnog, too. I’d hate to mix my metaphors, but it’s a vignette straight out of The Mighty Boosh.
• Owl City — The Christmas Song. Released in 2008 — yes, Owl City was around way before Fireflies — this is perfect for those planning to spend the holidays headphoned, alone and online.
• Lee “Scratch” Perry — Santa Claus; Bob Marley and the Wailers — White Christmas The first features space age club beats, erratic handclaps, and the dub legend rambling Tourette’s-like lyrics (“Donkey will be here! Mickey Mouse! Walt Disney!”). The second sees the late reggae god switching up a lyric (“Not like the ones I used to know”) to describe the shortage of snow in Jamaica. Both are absurdly fun.
• Sufjan Stevens — Joy To The World. The gently cascading acoustic guitar makes this the perfect coming down song for kids in buffalo plaid shirts, tight jeans, and boat shoes.
• Guster — Donde Esta Santa Claus? From the same dudes who gave us Carol of the Meows comes this 2003 cover of the 1958 Spanglish classic.
• Lindstrom — Little Drummer Boy. The reclusive Norwegian auteur reimagines the Christmastime march as a slow-building, sofa-surfing cosmic disco orgasm.
• Aimee Mann — I’ll Be Home For Christmas. The marimbas and lazy guitar twang conjure swaying palms, but her full voice turns everything into a wistful island jam.
• Blitzen Trapper — Christmas Is Coming Soon. A gem from a compilation called “I’ll Stay ’Til After Christmas,” this mellow tune is something both you and your grandma can enjoy.
• Go Home Productions — Carpenters Christmas Mashup (Karen Meets Roots Radics Uptown) A little reggae, a splash of dub, and a reverb-laden medley (Sleigh Ride, Goodbye To Love, and Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft) make for a slightly eerie sonic stew. I call this the new nostalgia.
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I wish everyone the best this season. Jingle balls! ginobambino.tumblr.com.
