By Munraj Chawla

 

A Christmas Tracklist

 

IT’S CHRISTMAS! Well , nearly. As we wake up to the news that our country is on fire and that people voted for the oil instead of the water, it can be easy to feel disconnected from the Christmas spirit and the warm, fuzzy feeling the holidays bring. Even though I don’t subscribe to the Jesus Origin Story, I am one of the most Christmassy people I and other people know. So, to help you get in to the Christmas spirit and in true “Munraj you have a SCAB due tonight… Write something, anything” fashion, here is a list of the top Christmas songs I think will bring you in to the holiday spirit: 

• Chris Rea – Driving Home for Christmas (Actually my favourite Christmas song of all time, having missed two years of Christmas with my family whilst living in Japan). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvDxSW8mzvU

 

• WHAM! – Last Christmas (My girlfriend hates this song, given that it’s a song about heartbreak at a time where everyone is in high spirits. But, she’s kind of a Grinch any way. So it makes the list).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8gmARGvPlI

 

• Mariah Carey – All I Want for Christmas is You (The ultimate song for couples and awkward encounters under the mistletoe at Christmas). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXQViqx6GMY

 

• Perry Como – It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (It is, Perry. It is. A must-listen song on December 1st). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmddeUJJEuU

 

• Idina Menzel & Michael Bublé – Baby It’s Cold Outside (The music video for this is ridiculously cute). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bbuBubZ1yE

 

• The Darkness – Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End) (Who says Christmas music has to have cute vocals and beautiful piano? Not The Darkness).  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQhuoY5h2kE

 

• The Pogues – Fairytales of New York (Following The Darkness, another classic that doesn’t fit the classic format of a Christmas song. And that’s why I love it). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9jbdgZidu8

 

• Band Aid – Do They Know it’s Christmas (1984 version, obviously. A beautiful song with a beautiful message, that cuts through the usual feel-good Christmas songs). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjQzJAKxTrE

 

• John Lennon – Happy Xmas (War is Over) (Another song that is rather morose but beautiful and leaves you feeling hopeful). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN4Uu0OlmTg&bpctr=1576354358

 

• Shakin Stevens – Merry Christmas Everyone (We return to the regularly scheduled programming of happy, feel-good Christmas music. Phew).
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeyHl1tQeaQ

 

• Wizzard – I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday (As a kid, as a teenager, still as a 25 year old man, I do). 
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJPc7esgvsA

 

• East 17 – Stay Another Day (I just found out this song came out before I was born and yet still remains a top contender for best Christmas song ever made). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wNhdjoF-6M

 

• Paul McCartney – Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time (The ultimate shop floor song that puts customers in the mood for Christmas and employees in the mood to break the radio). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9BZDpni56Y

 

• Cliff Richard – Mistletoe and Wine (See above for similar description. Still love it though).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZCEBibnRM8

 

• Dean Martin – Let It Snow 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN7LW0Y00kE

 

• Dean Martin – Walking in a Winter Wonderland 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkFP0VwpPRY

 

• Bing Crosby – White Christmas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9QLn7gM-hY

 

(The three above are ultimate, black and white telly, classic songs that my parents love). 

 

• Sam Smith – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (A modern voice that sings a classic incredibly well is rare but this has to make the list. Also, given that Frank Sinatra’s version is more famous than the original means there’s room for another singer to steal the crown). 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnEqv8WcVq8

 

Hopefully that’s enough Christmas music to get you to feel in the mood for turkey, pigs in blankets and to sneakily avoid putting brussels sprouts in your plate. To me, Christmas is a time where everyone is just a little bit nicer to everyone else. With the current climate in our country, regardless of how you voted, I’m sure that’s something we can all agree we need right now.

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Song of the SCAB (as if you needed any more music to listen to is another album, this time the new Stormzy album that dropped on Friday 13th.) 

Stormzy – Heavy is the Head 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k9RwZguZyagJJsHDuiUWerb4OBijBKG6k