For a portion of the holiday-loving population, Christmas tunes began the minute Halloween ended.
Even though Christmas music is a favorite genre, the tunes this time of the year tend to get stale. But mixing it up and bringing a bit of funk to the holiday season can help bring those winter song blues come to an end.
So, for those who have had to endure “Jingle Bells” and “Santa Baby” for the last 36 days straight — here is a playlist that will surely keep you from saying bah humbug.
“Funky Christmas Party” — Hammerheads
This is the kind of Christmas tune that will get any holiday celebration going.
This song sounds more like a track from a ‘70s Donna Summer album than a true Christmas jingle, but that’s what makes it perfect for this playlist.
“Santa’s Coming For Us” — Sia
When you think of Sia, Christmas might not be the first thing that comes to your mind. However, the singer brings a fresh new beat to the holiday season with this track.
Although, Sia’s full Christmas album, “Every Day is Christmas,” packs a punch of holiday spirit into a 13-song playlist, “Santa’s Coming For Us” still takes the cake.
“Sleigh Bells” — Trap City
Christmas music and trap music don’t usually end up on the same playlist. However, the new genre mix-up has gained traction in the past few years. Spend 10 seconds searching for Christmas tunes on Spotify and a trap version of your favorite Christmas song is sure to appear.
If you didn’t already hear this trap version of the classic “Sleigh Bells” in every Black Friday store you entered, spend some time getting acquainted with all the trap versions of classic tunes.
Hailey Stewart | Argonaut
“Christmas Wrapping” — The Waitresses
This song might have been released in the early ‘80s, but it has made a comeback in recent years as a snappy and poppy Christmas classic.
If you listen closely, the song — more about a less-than-perfect year leading up to Christmas than holiday cheer — is pretty perfect for the average college student during the holidays.
“Happy Christmas (War is Over)” — Maroon 5
Let’s be clear, there is no other artist that can create a tune quite like John Lennon — not even Maroon 5. But, when it comes to the holiday season, why not leave room for both.
Lennon recorded the original track in 1971 as a form of protest against the Vietnam War. With various other recordings of the song from Celine Dion, Sarah McLachlan and The Fray, Maroon 5 and the original Lennon versions rise to the top.
“Thank God It’s Christmas” — Queen
Thanks to this band’s recent biopic, Freddie Mercury’s voice is on everyone’s mind this holiday season. However, this lesser-known Christmas tune is one that should be on your playlist.
Two of the best things to happen to music, Christmas and Queen, combine for this fun track.
“Sleigh Ride” — TLC
Another remix of a Christmas classic, TLC adds a dash of the ‘90s in “Sleigh Ride.”
In true TLC fashion, the group adds in their own twist to the “Sleigh Ride” original.
“Merry Christmas Lil’ Mama” — Chance the Rapper & Jeremih
No playlist is complete without the soothing sounds of Chance the Rapper’s voice — even a holiday playlist.
Chance the Rapper and Jeremih combine their vocals on a 2017 Christmas album that brings just as much joy as a classic album.
Hailey Stewart can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @HaileyAStew