Bobby's Favorite Seasonal Tunes

Here's What I'm listening to this holiday season to get me in the festive mood!


"Baby, It's Cold Outside"
versions: Jim Hanft and Samantha Yonack; June Carter Cash and Homer & Jethro; Zooey Deschanel and Leone Redbone
Hanft and Yonack bring a contemporary, modern edge to the now-classic song. It's fun and light. But not as fun and light as June Carter Cash and Homer & Jethro singing the song, mixing the words to add a drunken humorous quality. "I'll take your hair, your hat looks swell." And of course, Zooey Deschanel and Leone Redbone singing the song from the Elf soundtrack is rich in distinctive vocals.

"Here We Come A-Wassailing"
Kate Rusby
Kate Rusby's version of this song is probably the best I've ever heard. The soft, ethereal voice matches perfectly the Celtic-tinged folk tune.

"A Christmas Duel"
Cyndi Lauper and the Hives
I love this, edgy, rock song, almost the opposite of "The Twist of Magii." Cyndi Lauper's vocals add a definitive flare that makes the song stand out to other holiday songs. And it's rather dirty.

"It's Christmas So We'll Stop"
Frightened Rabbit
Very Frightened Rabbity. I love my Scottish rock bands. There's no reason you can't listen to this all year round either.

"Christmas Songs"
Foxes!
An interesting way to combine all elements of traditional Christmas songs. Definitely worth checking out.

"Frosty's Beach Party"
Barbary Coasters
I love this throwback to the 60's/70's, recreating the Beach Boys and other surfer bands. I'm a fan of fun holiday songs, and this is definitely one of the most fun. Don't fret, readers; Frosty's beach party will not cause him to melt because it's in winter.

"Silent Night"
Glasvegas
I love Glasvegas. That is all.

"Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis"
Neko Case
I love Neko Case, and, really, how can you not love a song entitled this????

"Deck the Halls"
version by Beverley Mahood
Former member of the country group Lace, which covered "The Christmas Shoes" beautifully, released a country Christmas album, and this is highlight, with intricate soft vocals and a flute. Strange, but it works.

"O Holy Night"
Theoretical Girl
I absolutely love this version, the harmonies are soft and airy, unlike most versions where vocalists show off their powerful voices. It's a nice change of pace.

"Auld Lang Syne"
versions by Mairi Campbell and Dave Francis
I found it odd that this was in the Sex and the City movie. It just doesn't seem to fit, as this song is very traditonally Scottish. I don't hear many recorded versions these days that use the traditional Scots-English language that Burns write it as. Rather many artists modernize it. Maybe it's my love of the Scots-English language and traditional folk tunes, but I love this one, and it appeals to all audiences with a soft angelic melody.

Holiday Albums by Patty Loveless (Bluegrass & White Snow); Rhonda Vincent (Beautiful Star); SHeDAISY (Brand New Year); Tori Amos (Midwinter Graces); Enya (And Winter Came); Loreena McKennitt (A Midwinter Night's Dream)