I Don’t Want A Lot For Christmas, There Are Just Five Songs I Need

noah | December 5, 2008 6:00 am

A lot of people I know are having kind of crappy weeks (not to mention Kanye West and Axl Rose), so I figured why not close the week out on a happy note? I now present to you my current version of The Five Songs That I Will Never Get Tired Of Hearing On All-Holiday Radio. List is after the jump; feel free to add your own suggestions.

5. Vince Guaraldi, “Christmas Time Is Here”

A simple singsong melody and instrumentation that sounds like icicles are about to sprout from the speakers the song’s coming through. Really, do you need much more?

4. Ramones, “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight)”

Sure, the holidays are a time for remembering how much you cherish your loved ones. But the heightened stress of the season can result in adoration curdling into exasperation. This song defuses that tension quite expertly, plus it’s fun to pogo around to. That’s a stress-buster, too, remember! (The cover by Asobi Seksu is also pretty good.)

3. Mariah Carey, “All I Want For Christmas Is You”

Anytime I hear this song I’m singing along by the second verse. Fact.

2. Bruce Springsteen, “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”

It’s cheating a little bit—Springsteen didn’t originate this track, after all—but my holiday season isn’t properly started until I hear the Boss singing about people being good for goodness’ sake on a radio, or an in-mall loudspeaker, or somewhere. How have I not heard this version of “Santa” this year? Maybe that’s why I’m so off-kilter.

1. Wham!, “Last Christmas”

My George Michael fandom is a point of fact here, and the way his voice opens up to a wail on “Last”‘s bridge may be one of my most favorite sad moments in pop, holiday and non-holiday.

And before I go, I leave you with this: The Stapp family Christmas card. Hey, if that Creed reunion really happens, this’ll get even fancier next year!