Christmas songs that aren't shit...

Gulliver

I've got a few solo acoustic gigs this December - and a few venues have explicitly stated they would like some Christmas songs. Now, I know most Christmas music is fucking shit - so all suggestions of non-shit songs that would suit a solo acoustic setting greatly received!!

Winny_Pooh

Find any good song with "New York" in it and substitute it for "Christmas".

Job done.

LionAquaLooper

"Christmas Time Is Here" by Vince Guaraldi. 

VimFuego

this is one of my faves

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfY4b1NszpY

hollywoodrox

https://youtu.be/y__tczZDkTo?feature=shared

steamabacus

[edit to add acoustic interpretation]

Shrews

Donner and Blitzen - Badly Drawn Boy

Cut out the awful violin start and away you go. 

ESBlonde

Rockin around the Christmas tree - Brenda Lee, a nice slide up to the D7 and that GmMaj7 at the end of the second line is hypnotic.
I wish it could be Christmas everyday - Wizard, it usually gets the pub/club crowd singing along and it’s now a classic.
Winter wonderland - enough chords to make the widdler player shut up a minute and the way the key changes in each of the 4 sections make it interesting to sing and play.
People want familiarity and sing along when they are enjoying themselves, I try not to disappoint. This week I’ve refreshed my Christmas play list with10 numbers including 2 carols if I have to (rather not, I’m not religious). Just 6 weeks and it’s all over again.

EricTheWeary

https://youtu.be/99UT9G2qBw8?si=4-kCkEK0msxq6Wnp

tone1

https://youtu.be/v4GF7imFczI?si=Vcg1BaS4BKVB3Orb

greejn

There are 3. 

Have Yourself a Merry Little Xmas

Winter Wonderland

White Christmas

Tannin

There is only one, Jethro Tull's Christmas Song. 



Every single one* of the others makes me barf.

* Except for the obvious one that I forgot, of course.)

hollywoodrox

Tannin said:

There is only one, Jethro Tull's Christmas Song. 



Every single one* of the others makes me barf.

* Except for the obvious one that I forgot, of course.)

I always think of solstice bells as an Xmas single 
I’m not a huge fan but it has heaps of nostalgia .

also Mike oldfield  in Dulce jubilee & on horseback 
I also count all around my hat as an Xmas song 

steamabacus

hollywoodrox said:

Tannin said:

There is only one, Jethro Tull's Christmas Song. 



Every single one* of the others makes me barf.

* Except for the obvious one that I forgot, of course.)

I always think of solstice bells as an Xmas single 
I’m not a huge fan but it has heaps of nostalgia .

I found this quote from Ian Anderson about it...

"[It] was written for the Songs From The Wood album as a reference to the winter solstice pagan festival and the latter day transplanted Christian notional birth of the Biblical Jesus, but then the record company thought that we should release it as a Christmas single.

After a futile attempt to record a simpler, catchier version, we reverted to the original recording. It was released just too late to make the Top Ten charts in time for Christmas. But it has remained a radio play staple in the radio playlists for Christmas ever since."

Tannin

Solstice ... hmmm ... 22 vs 25 December. In a year more than 300 days long, the date is only out by 1%. Surely that's close enough for government work?

stickyfiddle

Santa Claus is Coming To Town

I was going to suggest Mariah as well but that depends heavily on the singer being up to it... YMMV!! 

stickyfiddle

VimFuego said:

this is one of my faves

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfY4b1NszpY

I absolutely adore this one. The main descending line is just gorgeous. 

mrkb

Stop the Cavalry

https://youtu.be/rDBfGrfUuug?si=1D8QmFjsXnHtjwBs

thecolourbox

The only Christmas song I've ever sang in public is A Spaceman Came Travelling. Great tune and a nice singalong chorus if required as well.

In my piano playing side hustle however I have to play loads of the usual crap so can't help with quality control from that point of view 

Sporky

If the audience is likely to have a (crude) sense of humour, slip this in (phnarr phnarr). 

axisus

I like loads of Christmas songs. One of the best for me is Fairytale of New York. For one thing I love the irreverent language which goes against the Xmas grain, but also it is just beautifully heartfelt and touching, which lets face it - most Xmas songs aren't!