The people who complain about Christmas music usually do so for reasons that aren’t the music’s fault. They say it comes too soon, you hear the same songs over and over, and all the gaiety becomes a bit much. Car-Floats.com and TwelveSongsofChristmas.com have a holiday playlist for your season that presents the right songs at the right time.
Halloween and Thanksgiving have had their time, and while you know Wham!’s “Last Christmas,” you likely haven’t heard by Japanese pop singer Cano Caoli. We’re based in New Orleans, so it’s a pleasure to present a burlesque version of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” by the Preservation Hall Jazz Band with the queen of rap cabaret, Boyfriend. Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” is a classic, but there’s no way he ever envisioned a New Orleans bounce version like Denisia’s.
We’re also happy to present Eartha Kitt’s “Nothin’ for Christmas,” a song that spells out the other side of her “Santa Baby” gambit. Carly Rae Jepsen sings a sentiment everybody recognizes, “It’s Not Christmas Till Somebody Cries,” and Cristina presents an NYC downtown debutante’s holiday memories. Former Saturday Night Live cast member Ana Gasteyer pays tribute to the best things about the holiday season on “Sugar and Booze.”
Because this is Car Floats, we naturally needed some Christmas songs featuring cars. Most debate what Santa will drive: “Santa’s Got a Mean Machine,” according to JD McPherson, “Santa Drives a Hot Rod” says Brian Setzer and the Brian Setzer Orchestra, “Santa’s Got a Coup de Ville” according to The Four Imperials, and Alan Jackson and The Chipmunks assure us that “Santa’s Gonna Come in a Pickup Truck.” Red Simpson and Dale Watson give us trucking visions of Christmas, and the only musician to connect Santa to an environmentally friendly car did so to a Tesla, but it is an instrumental and leaves everything to our imaginations.
We’ve tried to make this year’s playlist one that will fit into your life, whether at home or in the car. If you’re like us, this last fall has been a heavy punctuation mark at the end of a challenging year, so the last thing you need is your Christmas music demanding attention from you too. We hope it helps you find a little peace and maybe a groove if it’s in your ears while shopping.
… and speaking of shopping, if you want to buy your car something this year, we can help.
By Alex Rawls
Twelve Songs of Christmas and My Spilt Milk
