Christmas songs are classics for a reason, but they can be a little overplayed. “Jingle Bells” doesn’t always jingle all the way like it used to. “Frosty the Snowman” might not look as shiny as it once did, and “Santa Baby” is probably grown up at this point. That’s why this year it’s time to hit “shuffle” and explore new holiday tunes to spice up the season.
In no particular order, here are 10 songs to add to the rotation this year.
Sweet Gingerbread Man — Sammy Davis Jr.
If readers take only one song off this list, it has to be this one. Hidden in his album “Lounge Legends: Sammy Davis Jr.,” Sammy Davis Jr. delivers a Christmas-adjacent song that perfectly captures the spirit of the season. “Gingerbread Man” is not about Santa Claus or snowmen but the winter dessert staple. Davis Jr.’s peppy tenor voice bounces over this merry melody of energetic and delicious lyrics about this iconic cookie. The song is a plain old good time that will put listeners in the Christmas spirit right away.
Dogs Love Christmas Too — Chris Isaak
Everyone loves dogs and everyone loves Christmas, so putting them together in a song just makes sense. Chris Isaak is an underrated king of the Christmas carol. While his versions of “Mele Kalikimaka” and “Let It Snow” are wonderful, he also has a lot of great renditions of lesser-known holiday songs — one of which is “Dogs Love Christmas Too.” This tune can only be described as pure joy. It’s a song about happy dogs getting treats from Santa, and there is nothing not to love about it. If any readers have ever experienced the simple pleasure of watching a dog open presents on Christmas morning, there is no reason for “Dogs Love Christmas Too” not to be in the rotation already.
Sleigh Ride — C-3P0 and R2-D2
Just like the “Star Wars Holiday Special,” this song shouldn’t exist, but the fact that it does is magnificent. This version of the classic Christmas carol gets completely reworked as it now sees C-3PO teaching R2-D2 how to sing. While C-3PO, with his stilted British accent, and R2-D2’s insistent chirping don’t initially seem like the obvious choices to carry a melody, it somehow absolutely works. The two droids’ interactions are as charming as ever, and R2-D2 learning to sing is quite possibly one of the most wholesome moments of all time. Even though this song will only appeal to a very specific audience, for people in that audience, this might just become one of their new favorites.
Santa Got Lost In Texas — Jeff Carson
With country music coming into the mainstream, this song is long overdue for a spotlight. The late great Jeff Carson charted back in the 1990s with his debut album “Jeff Carson,” but released a pretty good Christmas setlist in the early 2000s. Off his “Ultimate Christmas Hits, Vol. 1,” “Santa Got Lost in Texas” is a fun little jingle about Saint Nick being stranded in the flat wasteland that is Texas. The lyrics are actually pretty funny and have a rude sense of humor not often found in Christmas songs. There is also a lighthearted bounce to the rhythms that makes the song fun to bop along to. “Santa Got Lost in Texas” is an entertaining and fun listen that brings the country feel of the Lone Star State home for the holidays.
Christmas All Over Again — Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
This doesn’t sound like a traditional Christmas song, but that’s why it’s so great. While there are bells used faintly during the chorus to give “Christmas All Over Again” that classic holiday sound, it mainly sounds like a rock song from the 1980s — “The Fall” by the Electric Light Orchestra to be exact. Despite the untraditional orchestration, between the lively upbeat tempo and sentimental lyrics, it still carries that indescribable feeling of being home for the holidays. “Christmas All Over Again” is definitely a different kind of holiday song, but one that still imparts the spirit of the season.
Almost Christmas — Chris Isaak
Isaak delivers one of the most relatable Christmas songs of all time. While most holiday songs depict winter wonderlands and sugar-plum fairies, “Almost Christmas” is about the horrid reality of forgetting to buy presents. The lyrics are a play-by-play of Isaak feeling guilty about procrastinating buying gifts and having to run from store to store to buy anything before they close. “Almost Christmas” has the same surf rock sounds as Isaak’s other tunes that continue to make him stand out amongst the more traditional jazz standards. Isaak knows how to produce a great Christmas tune and “Almost Christmas” is yet another one of his underrated holiday hits.
I Wouldn’t Trade Christmas — Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra has one of the best Christmas discographies of all time, but this song somehow flew under the radar. Off the album “The Christmas Collection,” “I Wouldn’t Trade Christmas” has all the same Sinatra flair that made his versions of “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” and “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town” staples of the season. Jingle bells set the tempo of this merry musical and bright trumpets accentuate that joyous Christmas sound. Sinatra’s voice is perfect as always and is accompanied by a fun back and forth with his daughters, Christina and Nancy. For those who prefer a jazzier holiday tradition, “I Wouldn’t Trade Christmas” is a fantastic chart to add to the setlist.
Christmas Treat — Julian Casablancas
While the moody lead singer of The Strokes and The Voidz might not fit with the jolly holiday aesthetic, this song says otherwise. “Christmas Treat” sounds just like “Bad Decisions” off The Strokes’ quintessential album “The New Abnormal,” but accompanied by church bells to give it that timeless Christmas sound. Julian Casablancas’ voice typically has a distinct edge to it, and while that is still present here, it isn’t as angsty as it is in songs such as “Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus” — Casablancas genuinely sounds excited that Santa Claus is coming to town. An alt-rock Christmas song is something people have probably never considered, but it will become a holiday tradition after listening to “Christmas Treat.”
Reindeer Rock — The Sportsmen
In the same vein as “Run Run Rudolph” by Chuck Berry and “Little Saint Nick” by The Beach Boys, “Reindeer Rock” by The Sportsmen is yet another rocking Christmas song. Capturing the sound of 1960s rock with its tight vocal harmonies, screeching tenor sax, trombone solos and hard-hitting drums, this song is a jukebox classic straight out of 1955. Since The Sportsmen are playing around in this older style of music, “Reindeer Rock” sounds like something people have heard before while being entirely new all at the same time. The ability of “Reindeer Rock” to recapture the magic of already beloved Christmas songs makes it a no-brainer to add to the winter playlist.
May Ev’ry Day Be Christmas — Irma Thomas and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band
This song just sounds like chestnuts roasting by an open fire. “May Ev’ry Day Be Christmas” has this warm sound that makes it so inviting, like that special loving embrace only felt around this time of year. Irma Thomas’ tone is just a bit gruff and brimming with soul, evoking the style of great female jazz vocalists such as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. The tune just swings as the piano weaves in and out of accompaniment, the tuba adds depth to the track and the trumpet and trombone take the melody home for the holidays. “May Ev’ry Day Be Christmas” encapsulates everything there is to love about the season, and may be the most underrated song on this list.
When Rudolph doesn’t run as fast as he used to and Santa’s elves are all quitting their day jobs to become dentists, give the old Christmas playlist a shuffle and cue up one of these lesser known holiday hits.
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