Christmas is in the air, and along with it comes Christmas songs playing on every radio station and in every store.
I don’t know how many times I have already heard “All I Want for Christmas is You” this year, and I don’t even want to try to count how many times I’ll hear it this month.
Nonetheless, Christmas songs are an inevitability this time of year and will be here to stay until the end of the month, so I’ll talk about some of my favorites.
I think my all-time favorite is “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.” It’s been my favorite since I was a kid, and although I definitely would not listen to this song on repeat, it makes me think of simpler times. I am immediately transported back to my elementary school days where I am coloring pretty pictures and do not know what a final exam is, and although that is no longer my reality, I like to reminisce a little.
From a musical standpoint, the song is a simple but jaunty tune about a child who wants a hippopotamus for Christmas and goes on to argue that although the hippopotamus would not fit through the chimney, it could saunter cheerfully through the front door and no, the hippopotamus is not going to make a snack out of the family because “it is a vegetarian.” Overall, “I want a Hippopotamus” is an upbeat and unique little ditty.
Another one that I enjoy is “I’ll be Home for Christmas” by Bing Crosby. It’s a lovely ballad that truly captures Crosby’s classic Christmas sound. The lyrics are from the perspective of a World War II soldier serving overseas.
Another version that I quite enjoy is Lana Del Rey and Kacey Musgraves’ recent cover. The accompaniment is predominantly acoustic guitar, and the two singers’ voices complement each other very well. It’s very much worth a listen, but I may be biased since Musgraves is one of my favorite artists.
A final favorite of mine is “Sleigh Ride.” The original version is an instrumental by Leroy Anderson, and was covered by The Ronettes in 1963. It’s a very lively tune that suits the festive nature of the Christmas season to a T.
As you may be able to tell by the brevity of my list, I’m not really one for Christmas music. It’s not a genre I absolutely despise, but it’s not one I jam out to even when it’s that time of year.
However, these songs are my top choices for when I’m vibin’ out under the Christmas tree pretending to be the gift that I am.
