Nog Ya Head: SD's Christmas Playlist
Christmas would be a lot more fun if every wreath came with a cut-out of James Brown. (Author's Note: I have the gift of prophecy. Or death. I fear my power. And I deeply regret never seeing JB in concert.) Christmas would also be a lot more fun if every day I ate a giant satchel of chocolate-covered coffee beans LIKE I JUST DID. I'm wicked hyper. My coworkers are going to stab me. Ho, ho, ho, suckas.
Here's a killer Christmas playlist I threw together a few weeks ago. Enjoy.
1. Soulful Christmas -- James Brown
2. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) -- Death Cab for Cutie
3. Back Door Santa -- B.B. King
4. Christmas Is the Time to Say "I Love You" -- Billy Squier
5. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus -- John Mellencamp
6. That Spirit of Christmas -- Ray Charles
7. Santa Claus Is Back in Town -- Elvis Presley
8. Jingle Bells -- Brian Setzer Orchestra
9. The Happy Elf -- Harry Connick Jr.
10. Jingle Bell Rock -- the Ventures
11. White Christmas -- Darlene Love
12. Merry Christmas Baby -- Charles Brown
13. River -- Joni Mitchell
14. Home on Christmas Day -- Cyndi Lauper
15. Linus and Lucy -- Vince Guaraldi
16. Winter Wonderland -- Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
17. Shake Hands With Santa -- Louis Prima
18. Blue Christmas -- Chris Isaak
19. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! -- Dean Martin
20. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas -- Frank Sinatra
Sean Daly is the pop music critic for the St. Petersburg Times. His CD collection -- from Journey to Dylan, Prince to U2, Public Enemy to Stan Getz -- is much bigger and better than yours.
You call that a Christmas mix, Sean?
Where's Bruce? His version of Santa Claus is Coming to Town is a classic.
What's with Death Cab for Cutie? U2 sings circles around them in their version of the song.
As for Joni Mitchell's "River"? Bah, Humbug. Her version is only the third-best, behind those of Aimee Mann and Sarah Mclachlin.
Given your weakness for the tween set (see Montana, Hannah) how about some love for '80s tweens and Wham's "Last Christmas"? 'Course, those tweens are now old enough to be your lover.
Where's Band Aid's "Do They Know it's Christmas"? How can you ignore drought-ridden Africa?
Posted by: Bad Santa | December 22, 2006 at 02:27 PM
Yeah, 'cause no one's sick of Springsteen singing that.
Keep working on the most cliched Christmas playlist of all time. You're almost there.
Posted by: Sean Daly | December 22, 2006 at 03:07 PM
Did you really pick that list, Sean, or are you just pandering to the demographics of Florida?
Other than Death Cab and possibly Connick, Jr, is there anyone under 50 on this AARP-centric playlist?
Nice work, old man.
Posted by: Generation Y | December 22, 2006 at 08:21 PM
Hey, age ain't nothing but a number.
Seeing as how you're probably living in your parents' basement, just walk upstairs. They'll tell you the same thing.
Posted by: Sean Daly | December 23, 2006 at 02:13 AM
I'm shocked by the absence of Amy Grant.
Posted by: sparky | December 23, 2006 at 12:00 PM
You put out this list, and James Brown dies. It's all your fault. Or the crack's. One of the two. Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Mike T | December 25, 2006 at 02:21 PM
Holly Jolly Christmas performed by Burl Ives
Is a tragic omission, just ask any walkin' talkin' singin' struttin' two year old.
Posted by: | December 29, 2006 at 10:03 PM