The Best Non-Traditional Christmas Songs

I love Christmas music.

I love the traditional carols, like Silent Night and It Came Upon the Midnight Clear. I love the classical pieces like The Messiah and Amahl and the Night Visitors. I love music from holiday specials like Silver and Gold from "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and Linus and Lucy from "A Charlie Brown Christmas." I love many pop artists' Christmas hits from years past, like Eartha Kitt's Santa Baby and Josh Groban's Believe (although very much NOT Paul McCartney's Wonderful Christmastime or Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You). 

But sometimes I long for something a little different. Something a little off the beaten path. Something I don't hear twice an hour all December long. So these are a few of the lesser-known songs I like to break out when I need to listen to something fresh.

Please Daddy, Don't Get Drunk This Christmas by John Denver

Growing up, my dad was a big John Denver fan, so his "Rocky Mountain Christmas" album (on vinyl, of course) was constantly playing in our house throughout December. As a little 6-year-old, I would happily march around the living room, belting out lyrics like, "Just last year when I was only seven - Now I'm almost eight, as you can see - You came home a quarter past eleven and fell down underneath our Christmas tree," with absolutely no idea what they meant. Eventually I figured it out and was vaguely mortified, but this song is still firmly ensconced in my brain as the Christmassiest of Christmas music, so it's at the top of my list of offbeat Christmas favorites. 

The Twelve Days of Christmas by John Denver and the Muppets

Yup, had this one on vinyl too. There is something unbelievably wholesome about the image of the whole cast of Muppets, dressed in cozy Victorian garb, gathered around Denver (with wee Robin perched adorably on his shoulder). It's so good that there are multiple versions of the song, including the version in the video linked above, from the Muppets' 1979 Christmas special, in which Fozzie hilariously forgets his line multiple times, and the recorded version on the album, which includes Beaker's hilarious "MEEMEE MEEMEEMEEMEE" verse. I also find Denver's pronunciation of the word "paaaahtridge" in both versions to be incredibly endearing. 

'Zat You, Santa Claus? by Louis Armstrong and the Commanders

If you like jazz, big bands, Louis Armstrong, or Santa, you'll love this jazz-tacular Christmas song. You can hear Satch smiling as he sings, and you can imagine him leaning back and dancing and snapping along with the band during the instrumental breaks. Modern cover versions by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Buster Poindexter and His Banshees of Blue are worth a listen (and Poindexter's video is deliciously cheesy), but nothing beats the original.  

The Baby Boy by Harry Belafonte

Although not a Christmas album, Harry Belafonte's "Jump Up Calypso" got a lot of play in our house, and one of the most beautiful tracks is actually a Christmas song. Baby Boy is a simple, slow melody, backed with minimal, simple harmonies and accompaniment. Belafonte's rich, smooth voice brings such expression to the lyrics. A perfect song to listen to while sipping a mug of hot cocoa in front of the fire, with the Christmas tree lights twinkling in the background.

Mary Mild by the Kingston Trio

It was not easy for me to choose just one song from this album, which is probably my favorite Christmas album in the whole world. Although contenders included Last Night of the Year, The White Snows of Winter, and Go Where I Send Thee, I opted for Mary Mild because of its sweet story of a child Jesus aching to play with the neighbor's children, but their parents call them home in fear when Jesus builds them "a bridge from the beams of the sun, so they would play with me." The string bass/acoustic guitar/banjo accompaniment and tight harmonies capture the quintessential Kingston Trio sound that's halfway between a lullaby and a folk song.

(It Must've Been) Ol' Santa by Harry Connick, Jr.

Connick's album "When My Heart Finds Christmas" contains a mix of covers of Christmas songs from multiple genres, like Ave Maria and Sleigh Ride, along with a few originals, including this laid-back jazzy number, which features Connick at the keyboard and the band singing along as well as playing. It makes me want to put on a cozy sweater and sit by the fire right next to Harry. It's comfort food for the soul.

Christmas Eve by Blackmore's Night

Blackmore's Night could be described as a "neo-renaissance band," much like Mannheim Steamroller. Co-founded by former Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and vocalist/lyricist Candice Night, this track features marvelous acoustic guitar work by Blackmore along with smooth, sweet vocals by Night.

'Til the Season Comes 'Round Again by Amy Grant

Another album of mixed covers and original pieces, one of the loveliest songs from "A Christmas to Remember" is the poignant 'Til the Season Comes 'Round Again, in which Grant's smooth alto begs us to carry the peace of Christmas throughout the year. Another perfect fireside listen, not just this song but the whole album - and Grant's whole Christmas collection, for that matter. 

Cool Yule by Bette Midler

There have been quite a few covers of this song over the years, but I find the Divine Miss M's to be far and above the best. Jazzy piano riffs, brass licks, and of course sleigh bells bring a brightness to this jazz classic, not to mention Midler's delightful vocals. Good background music for wrapping presents!

Let's Start the New Year Right by Bing Crosby

I'll wrap up this list by looking ahead to New Year's Eve with Bing crooning about watching "the old year die with a fond goodbye, and our hopes as high as a kite". Couldn't we all use a little optimism as we look forward to the start of a new year? 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you! Happy listening!