As a retail veteran, I am not a big fan of Christmas music. Every store I worked in pumped the holiday tunes nonstop; one of them started in October and kept it going til February. There are, however, a few exceptions to the rule:
1. "Last Christmas" by Wham! I am a sucker for some heavy synthesizer, and Wham! delivers. The video is equally great, as it showcases George Michael's amazing feathered hairdo.
2. "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" by Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band. This song combines two childhood memories: 1. waiting for Santa to deliver the goods and 2. figuring out I am attracted to Bruce Springsteen. I was a goner after seeing him dance awkwardly in the "Dancing In the Dark" video. Listening to his rugged handsomeness sing about Santa coming to town is a treat.
3. "Christmas Wrapping" by The Waitresses. Probably my all-time favorite Christmas song, because it's a bit un-conventional AND it has a horn section. You mean you forgot the cranberries, too?!
4. "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by She & Him. Admittedly, this song is a bit creepy. Whenever it played in retail hell I cringed, because every store I worked in seemed to have the same shitty version with Jessica Simpson in it. This version is refreshing, however, because the roles have been reversed and because Zooey Deschanel sings on it. Everything is better with a little Zooey.
5. "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid. SO MANY 80's STARS. More feathery-haired George Michael, Boy George (I've always had a soft spot for that Boy; say what you will, he does have some pipes), David Bowie (my dream sugar daddy), Paul Weller, and Duran Duran (gosh, John Taylor was pretty). This song holds a special distinction in my bespectacled eyes, because I actually like Bono in it! Usually I find him to be a pompous, arrogant, self-appointed messiah, but I love that iconic "well, tonight thank God it's them/instead of you!".
Hope Santa is good to everyone this year. Happy Holidays, errbody!
