Tag: holidays

Let’s Have A 21st Century Christmas!

Let’s Have A 21st Century Christmas!

Dennis
A festive spoiler warning graphic.

Spoiler Warning: There are minor spoilers for several of the titles discussed below.

Have you ever noticed that *most* of the films and TV specials that we like to watch at this time of year are… kinda old? Even if you don’t go for a real old-school classic like It’s A Wonderful Life or Miracle on 34th Street, most of the festive entertainment that I see being talked about – at least among my peers and folks of a similar age to me – originated before the turn of the millennium.

Think about it: Die Hard came out in 1988. Home Alone is from 1990. A Christmas Story was 1983. The Santa Clause was released in 1994. The Nightmare Before Christmas? That was 1993. The Muppet Christmas Carol came out in 1992.

So where’s the 21st Century in our holiday traditions? That’s a wrong we’re going to right today!

Still frame from Miracle on 34th Street (1947) showing Santa Claus.
Many of our “Christmas classics” are from the 20th Century, like Miracle on 34th Street.

I have really fond memories of this time of year, including watching the likes of 1982’s The Snowman, Mickey’s Christmas Carol from 1983, and the 1996 so-bad-it’s-good classic Jingle All The Way! But there are some wonderful films and TV specials which premiered in the first quarter of the 21st Century that I think some of us can occasionally overlook. And look, I get it: some of these still feel brand-new, even if they’re approaching their 20th or even 25th anniversaries! But Christmas, while a time of tradition and returning to things we’ve enjoyed in the past, still has room for newer and more modern touches.

If you’re British (or if you remember an earlier edition of my annual festive playlist), you might associate the term “21st Century Christmas” with the song of the same name by Cliff Richard! That’s where I got the title of this piece from. And the song itself is well worth a listen, even if Cliff’s idea of “the 21st Century” seems dated already, with lyrics talking of DVDs and faxes! But I think we’ve drifted off-topic…

The cover of Cliff Richard's 2006 CD single "21st Century Christmas".
In the immortal words of Cliff Richard, let’s have a 21st Century Christmas!

What I’ve done today is put together a short list of five films and TV specials from the 21st Century that I think are well worth checking out at this time of year. If you missed them when they were new, or haven’t seen them since they premiered… maybe check them out in 2025. We’re almost a quarter of the way through the century, if you can believe that. And I’m still trying to adjust to writing dates where the year begins with a “2!”

My usual caveats apply: everything we’re going to talk about is the entirely subjective, not objective, opinion of one person only. If I highlight something you hate or miss out something you thought would be a shoo-in for a list like this… *that’s okay!* There are loads of fun Christmas specials and films, and I’ve only picked out a handful this time. They’re listed below in the order they were originally released, and I included any Christmassy or Christmas-adjacent film or TV special released after the 1st of January 2001 on my long list of titles under consideration!

With all of that out of the way… let’s have a 21st Century Christmas!

Number One:
The Polar Express
(2004)

Still frame from The Polar Express (2004) showing the titular train on an icy lake.
The titular Polar Express.

Can you believe that The Polar Express is more than 20 years old already? The film has – in my view – aged remarkably well, shaking off a somewhat controversial start to become a true festive classic. When The Polar Express was released, I can clearly remember a colleague of mine telling me that their young children were frightened of the film and its “creepy” CGI. But as we’ve gotten more used to computer animation in the two decades since, I think that particular criticism of The Polar Express has well and truly fallen away.

This is a fun twist on the classic “does Santa really exist” dilemma that many kids face. And it’s a bold choice for a Christmas film to tackle that question head-on, not simply hand-waving away the young boy’s doubts. Instead, The Polar Express leans into this idea of doubt to tell a really engaging and just plain *fun* narrative that I’m sure continues to resonate really strongly with kids today.

Still frame from The Polar Express (2004) showing the conductor, the kids, and a crowd of elves at the North Pole.
The conductor with some of the kids.

I love a good steam train, and The Polar Express brought a wonderful engine to life with its CGI. Trains are kind of related to Christmas – especially toy trains – so that’s on theme. And there’s a wonderful musical sequence as well as a great score. The theme from The Polar Express has become a classic Christmas track in its own right!

I wrote up a longer piece on The Polar Express last year to mark the film’s twentieth anniversary, and you can find it by clicking or tapping here. I’d be really curious to know what kids who’ve grown up since 2004 – and thus remember The Polar Express as just another old Christmas film – make of it nowadays!

Number Two:
Phineas and Ferb: Christmas Vacation
(2009)

Still frame from Phineas and Ferb: Christmas Vacation showing Phineas and Ferb aboard a Christmassy steam train.
The boys on a train.

I’m a big fan of Phineas and Ferb, so I was pleased to see the series resurrected this year for a fifth season! The show’s big Christmas special, from back in 2009, is one of the absolute best episodes for me, and it puts a distinctively “Phineas and Ferb” spin on a classic holiday premise. When Christmas is endangered (by the nefarious Dr Doofenshmirtz, naturally), someone has to step up and save the day – and that task falls to Phineas, Ferb, Candace, and their friends.

Christmas Vacation also has an incredible soundtrack. Phineas and Ferb is well-known for its songs and musical numbers, but Christmas Vacation packed several great festive tracks into its runtime. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s song Christmas is Starting Now, which plays at the climax of the story, might be the pick of the pops, but really, all of the songs are just fantastic. Several of them are on my festive playlist!

Still frame from Phineas and Ferb: Christmas Vacation showing Perry the Platypus and a magic, sentient snowman.
Perry and a magic snowman.

I’m an absolute sucker for the whole “Christmas is in danger, so someone has to fix it” story trope, and Phineas and Ferb executes it so well. We get some fantastic buildup, with the kids excitedly decorating the entire town as part of their “thank-you letter” to Santa Claus, Doofenshmirtz gets a cute conflicted backstory about his ambivalence towards the holidays, and it all culminates on Christmas Eve with the kids having to do what they do best… with a little help from the North Pole.

Phineas and Ferb: Christmas Vacation is the only Christmas special or movie that I watch, without fail, at least once every festive season. I have done since I first saw it, I think, and it’s become a tradition that I plan to continue for as many Christmases as I’ve got left! Last year, to mark the special’s fifteenth anniversary, I wrote a longer piece about it, which you can find by clicking or tapping here.

Number Three:
Family Guy: Road to the North Pole
(2010)

Still frame from Family Guy: Road to the North Pole showing the Griffin family and their house.
The song at the beginning of the special.

Family Guy had a good thing going for a few years with its “Road To…” special episodes, and the format was perfect for this Christmas special. Stewie and Brian take off on a wild adventure to find Santa after a run-in with a fake Santa at the local shopping mall. This kicks off a ridiculous quest that takes several dark turns… but one that has a surprisingly poignant message about consumerism and overconsumption.

Road to the North Pole kicks off with one of Family Guy’s best-ever songs, too: All I Really Want For Christmas, which sees most of the show’s main and secondary characters sharing their silly Christmas wants and wishes. The musical number is fantastic, well-animated, and pretty darn funny, too. I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that Family Guy – like The Simpsons before it – has declined in quality over the years, so maybe Road to the North Pole is one of the last truly good stories.

Still frame from Family Guy: Road to the North Pole showing Brian and Stewie piloting the sleigh.
Brian and Stewie on Santa’s sleigh.

Aside from the song – which is hilarious – I think what people remember the most about Road to the North Pole is its depiction of a weak Santa Claus, wasting away, beaten down by the incessant demands of consumerism. And that’s the core message of the special: that people are asking for (or demanding) too much at Christmas instead of being satisfied with smaller gifts, spending time with family, or just what they already have. Though presented in a weird, grotesque, and typically “Family Guy” way, that message is a good one – and a timeless one, too.

What I enjoy most, though, about Road to the North Pole is the road trip itself. Starting at their New England home, Brian and Stewie trek through the United States and Canada, under the Northern Lights, before making it to Santa’s workshop. Though not the biggest part of the special, there’s something about this kind of adventure that’s always captured my imagination.

Number Four:
Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor
(2013)

Still frame from Doctor Who showing the planet Trenzalore.
The village of Christmas.


Speaking as we were of a show’s “last hurrah” before descending into mediocrity… here’s Doctor Who! Joking aside, The Time of the Doctor, which came along just after the show’s wonderful fiftieth anniversary special earlier in 2013, is probably the final genuinely good episode of the revival. As much as I adore Peter Capaldi and his take on the ancient time-traveller, his tenure in the Tardis marked a decline in quality from which the show has simply not recovered.

But that’s not what we’re here to talk about!

The Time of the Doctor sees Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor battling alone, for decades, against the Daleks and a variety of other enemies, all in defence of a town named Christmas. There’s some snow, some cute Christmas imagery, and a pretty fun and emotional story as this incarnation of the Doctor reaches the end of his life.

Still frame from Doctor Who showing the 11th Doctor in the snow.
Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor.

Doctor Who has done a number of Christmas specials since its revival – and not all of them feel as “Christmassy” as The Time of the Doctor. While it’s still very much the culmination of a multi-story arc, and some of that context *does* add a lot to the final act in particular, I still think it’s something that can be watched and enjoyed on its own merit. I haven’t seen Season 7 of the revived Doctor Who since it was on the air back in 2012/13, but The Time of the Doctor is still fun to return to.

I’ve always found stories about doomed last stands to be intense and emotional, and I think that’s a big part of what makes The Time of the Doctor work so well. It’s a tale of a man caught between two impossible extremes – and his only friend trying to reach him. The stakes are high… but also very personal. It’s a great special – and maybe, in hindsight, it should’ve brought the revived series to an end.

Number Five:
That Christmas
(2024)

Still frame from That Christmas showing the Beccles' house.
Waking up to a snowy Christmas.

Richard Curtis, who also penned the festive favourite Love Actually, wrote this charming and distinctly British animated Christmas flick for Netflix just last year. And you know what? It’s fantastic. There are definitely echoes of Love Actually, with the film’s cast of characters spread out into different groups, whose stories are all connected in some way. And there’s plenty of the awe and wonder that Christmas time inspires thanks to Santa Claus, a blizzard, and the magic of Christmas Eve.

When you’ve got so many characters, it can be difficult to find enough time to give all of them personalities and motivations, but That Christmas never feels like it has that issue. With the caveat that a few of the adults seem particularly incompetent, everyone involved feels well-rounded and real, and given that the film’s only got a nintey-minute runtime, that’s pretty special.

Still frame from That Christmas (2024) showing the lighthouse.
The town’s lighthouse on Christmas Eve.

The main song from That Christmas – Ed Sheeran’s Under The Tree – wasn’t my favourite at first, but the slow, almost haunting track has grown on me a lot since I first heard it, and it’s now a mainstay on my festive playlist. It’s the perfect melancholic track for one part of the film – but don’t worry, there’s bound to be a happy ending! After all, it’s Christmas.

That Christmas hadn’t been on my radar last year, but I’m really glad I checked it out. If you liked Love Actually, I think there’s a lot to love here, as the same kind of style is on show. Maybe it’s a bit early to hail That Christmas as a “classic,” but having seen it just last year, it’s already on my “watch again” list. If you missed it in 2024, definitely check it out. And if you want to read my full review, which I wrote last December, you can find it by clicking or tapping here.

So that’s it… for now!

A stock photo of a London street with Christmas lights, a Routemaster bus, and a black cab.
London’s Christmas lights.

I’ve already thought of *at least* five more 21st Century Christmas films and TV specials, so maybe this is an idea I’ll revisit next December. I don’t wanna play all of my cards at once, after all! But I hope this has been a bit of fun, and maybe I’ve highlighted a modern Christmas film or special that you missed or haven’t seen since it was new. If I’ve helped even one person find one thing to watch this festive season, I reckon I’ve done a good job!

A few days ago, I updated my annual festive playlist with twelve Christmassy songs – click or tap here to check that out, if you haven’t already! And between now and the big day, I have a few other pieces in my writing pile that I hope to get to. And coming up at the end of the month will be my End-of-Year Awards, so I hope you’ll join me as I hand out some imaginary trophies and statuettes to some of my favourite productions of 2025.

Until then… I hope you’re having a fantastic December!

All titles discussed above are the copyright of their respective studio, publisher, broadcaster, distributor, etc. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.

A Festive Playlist To Get You In The Holiday Spirit!

A Festive Playlist To Get You In The Holiday Spirit!

Dennis

Welcome to the sixth edition of my festive playlist! This is an annual tradition here at Trekking with Dennis, as I love to jump-start the holiday season by sharing a few of my favourite Christmas tracks.

I’ve been a collector of Christmas music and albums for… well, too long, let’s just say! I started my collection with cassettes and CDs, I made my own mixtapes of my favourite festive songs, and in recent years I’ve gone digital with MP3s and FLAC! I love uncovering new Christmas albums, either by artists I’m familiar with or by people I’ve never even heard of. There are so many great Christmas songs out there, be they new takes on classic tracks or brand-new compositions. Every year, I go through the charts and lists of new releases, trying out new Christmas albums and songs… and adding to my ever-growing festive playlist!

Photo of a house adorned with many Christmas lights and ornaments.
There’s a house like this in every town, right?

As I’ve done for the past few years, I want to share a few of these tracks with you today. And if you missed them in years gone by, be sure to check out the earlier editions of my festive playlist. Pick your favourite songs, or just add them all together and you’ll be all set for your Christmas party! Here’s last year’s edition, click or tap here to listen to 2023’s edition, here comes the 2022 edition, and the 2021 edition, and finally, the first edition from 2020. Right! Let’s get the important bits out of the way then we can listen to some songs!

All of the songs below are embedded via YouTube. However, if one or more won’t play for you in your part of the world, check other streaming platforms, as I daresay *most* of these songs will be accessible somehow. And if you feel like I’ve missed one of the big festive hits, check out those earlier editions of this playlist, because I may have already covered them in the past. Finally, if you hate all of the songs I’ve chosen… *that’s okay!* There are plenty of wonderful Christmas songs in all kinds of genres to enjoy at this time of year, and we won’t always agree on which ones are the best. I share my selections with you in the spirit of the season.

Stock photo of a little girl lying down under a Christmas tree.
Have you put up your Christmas tree yet?

For the last five years, we’ve managed to dodge both Wham! and Mariah Carey. But… can we keep that up indefinitely? Or have the (jingle) bells finally begun to toll for us? Scroll down to find out!

Underneath each embedded video, I’ve written a couple of paragraphs about each song, sharing my thoughts, how I encountered them, their recording histories, and such like. I hope this playlist will be a bit of festive fun now that December has arrived.

Without any further ado, let’s fire up the gramophone and listen to some Christmas songs!

Track #1:
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year – Andy Williams (1963)

Let’s start with a bona fide Christmas classic this year! Andy Williams was a hugely popular American entertainer, both as a singer and as the host of his self-titled TV show, and he recorded this track for his first Christmas album in 1963. It wasn’t released as a single back then, but The Andy Williams Christmas Album topped the charts that year (and for two years afterwards, too) and was certified gold in the United States in 1964.

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year has, in recent years, been a mainstay on the singles chart thanks to digital downloads and streaming. A CD single was issued in the UK in 2007, after the song picked up traction, and it hasn’t dropped out of the charts at Christmas time since then. It’s a wonderful trad-pop song of the kind that Williams was known for, and I can see why it became an instant Christmas classic! It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year has also spawned many cover versions, including recordings by Amy Grant, Johnny Mathis, and even Kylie Minogue.

Track #2:
Wonderful Christmastime – Christina Perri (2023)

We covered Paul McCartney’s original festive hit Wonderful Christmastime on an earlier edition of this playlist, but pop/rock singer Christina Perri put a totally unique spin on the track. And I happen to really like it! Perri’s version is shorter, clocking in at just under two minutes as opposed to the original’s three-and-a-half, which is an interesting choice – but the song doesn’t feel like it’s missing anything. The slowed tempo and simple instrumentation also give the song a gentler, almost haunting feel, emphasising the beauty of the lyrics and composition.

Christina Perri’s album Songs for Christmas was released in 2023, and as far as I can tell it didn’t chart. So this cover version seems to have flown under the radar, because I don’t think it was released as a single. But if you missed this new take on Wonderful Christmastime… give it a try. I really think it’s something special.

Track #3:
Wonderful Dream (Holidays Are Coming) – Melanie Thornton (2001)

Chances are, you know this song already – or at least a version of it! Wonderful Dream (Holidays Are Coming) is the Coca-Cola Christmas advert song, though that version is shorter and has some altered lyrics. This version of the song is longer, and while it isn’t *explicitly* about Christmas, the association is there and I’ve had it on my festive playlist for years as a result! The longer version of the song doesn’t mention Coke, so this isn’t just an overblown jingle; it’s a beautiful song well worth listening to in its own right.

The story surrounding Wonderful Dream (Holidays Are Coming) is actually rather sad. Melanie Thornton passed away just days before the song’s release, having only recorded one solo album after leaving the group La Bouche a year or so earlier. The song proved to be a hit in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, coming close to topping the charts in all three countries in 2001. It also regularly returns to the charts in those countries at this time of year, thanks to digital downloads and streaming – and was eventually certified platinum in Germany.

Track #4:
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – John Denver (1975)

Honestly, we could make an entire John Denver Christmas playlist! The country-folk singer recorded plenty of Christmas songs during his career, but I’m choosing this version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer this year. Don’t confuse the 1975 recording for his later 1990 recording of the same track, as they’re quite different! Both are good, but they’re quite different in tone and instrumentation.

Despite being released at what was arguably the pinnacle of his fame, John Denver’s first Christmas album – 1975’s Rocky Mountain Christmas – didn’t storm the charts. This version of Rudolph wasn’t released as a single, either. There was a TV special hosted by John Denver in 1975, also called Rocky Mountain Christmas, though, and from what I can tell it was well-received by viewers at the time. In any case, I enjoy this version of a festive classic!

Track #5:
Love This Christmas – Rick Astley (2020)

’80s pop star – and original internet meme – Rick Astley returned in 2020 with an unexpected Christmas song! And you know what? It was pretty darn good. The song has the feel of festive hits from years gone by, reminding me a little of songs like I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday. Backed up by a video that also leans into that style… I really enjoyed what Rick Astley created, and the song has been on my festive playlist for the last five Christmases already!

However, Love This Christmas didn’t make a splash on the charts, failing to graze even the lower reaches of the charts in the UK or anywhere else! A bit of a shame, but perhaps not totally unexpected for an artist who might not unfairly be called a “one-hit wonder” nowadays. Still, Love This Christmas is, in my humble opinion, a modern-day festive classic, and well worth listening to if you missed it back in 2020. And given everything that happened that year… I wouldn’t blame you if you were a bit busy!

Track #6:
My Favourite Time of Year – The Florin Street Band (2010)

I agree with The Florin Street Band: Christmas really *is* my favourite time of year! And this song really encapsulates that feeling; a gentle love letter to the festive season and all it brings. It’s got a British edge to it, too, with references to carol singing, and the video leans into a Victorian Christmastime aesthetic that reminds me of A Christmas Carol. It’s a beautiful song, but the video also adds a lot, making My Favourite Time of Year a real multi-sensory experience!

The Florin Street Band was put together to make My Favourite Time of Year, as the creator wanted to bring back some “Christmas magic” to the music scene. The song didn’t chart, but it has raised money for charity, been covered by school choirs and bands across the UK, and even headlined ITV’s “Text Santa” appeal a few years ago. The Florin Street Band is back, though, in 2025, with a new song and video scheduled to premiere later this month.

Track #7:
Merry & Happy – TWICE (2017)

2025 has been the year of K-pop for me! Well, not really – but I did enjoy the film KPop Demon Hunters, which features music by Korean girl group TWICE. That sent me down a rabbit hole of listening to some of their other music – including this Christmassy number from 2017! I can’t understand the lyrics, of course… but I like it. It’s a cute, upbeat Christmas song, with some jingling bells in the chorus… and that’s all I need, really!

I confess that I know very little about TWICE. But I can tell you that Merry & Happy was an addition to their first album when it was re-issued in 2017, and it charted in Korea, Japan, and on the Billboard World chart in the United States. I wouldn’t have come to listen to it but for KPop Demon Hunters, but I’m glad I did – and it will join my festive playlist from here on out!

Track #8:
So Near To Christmas – Alvin Stardust (1984)

I am unashamedly an Alvin Stardust fan! My Coo Ca Choo and Jealous Mind are just perfect ’70s glam rock songs, in my opinion. And yeah, hearing them on my dad’s old record player when I was a kid is probably the reason why I think so! In 1984, though, after the peak of his career, Alvin Stardust came back with this beautiful slow-paced Christmas track. It reminds me a little of Mud’s Lonely This Christmas, which we talked about on an earlier edition of the playlist.

So Near To Christmas peaked at number 29 on the UK charts in 1984, and did a bit better in Ireland, where it reached a creditable place at number 15. It would be Alvin Stardust’s last notable single, as subsequent releases didn’t chart. In the ’90s, Alvin Stardust had a recurring role on Hollyoaks, a British soap opera, and continued touring and performing on TV through the 2000s and into the 2010s.

Track #9:
The First Noel – Mark and Maggie O’Connor (2025)

Representing the country music genre, we have married couple Mark and Maggie O’Connor, with their version of the traditional carol The First Noel. Their album, A Christmas Duo, was released not long ago, and contained this really beautiful take on one of my favourite carols. Using only fiddle and guitar, and with Maggie O’Connor taking the lead vocal part, this new version has the feel of something much older… almost timeless.

Mark O’Connor has won three Grammys in a long career, and I think I’m right in saying that this isn’t his first Christmas album – though it is his first as a duet. A Christmas Duo hasn’t charted yet, but at least one track (The Holly and the Ivy) has been picking up some attention. Sometimes, what I need is a gentle, classic take on a traditional carol – and that’s exactly what this version of The First Noel delivers.

Track #10:
Another Bloomin’ Christmas – Mel Smith (1991)

A couple of years ago, I wrote about the animated Christmas special Father Christmas, which aired here in the UK in 1991. I can vividly remember watching it on Channel 4 that year, and it’s been a part of my personal festive celebrations ever since! Included in the special was this song, sung by comedian Mel Smith in his guise as this version of Father Christmas – a.k.a. Santa Claus! And it’s a lot of fun. I definitely encourage you to watch the special if you haven’t seen it already, as it adds a lot of context for the song, and you can read my full thoughts on Father Christmas by clicking or tapping here.

The song was released as a standalone single in 1991, with cassette, vinyl, and even CD versions being made available. Despite the popularity of the TV special, however, it only peaked at a lowly 59th position that year. Mel Smith’s other festive hit – a cover of Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree, which was a collaboration with singer Kim Wilde – had landed at a much more respectable third place a few years earlier! For more on that track, see last year’s edition of the festive playlist.

Track #11:
Little Drummer Boy – The Baseballs (2012)

I had the incredibly good fortune to see The Baseballs play live once, and the German rock ‘n’ roll group is one of the few acts I’ve seen live who sound basically no different to their studio recordings. I think I included their cover of Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree on an earlier edition of my festive playlist, but this year I’m choosing their upbeat, rock ‘n’ roll take on Little Drummer Boy – because it’s just great fun!

The Baseballs always struck me as a unique act, with their musical style and even their clothes harkening back to the dawn of rock ‘n’ roll in the 1950s. I’ve collected most of their albums at this stage, most of which contain cover versions of more modern tracks, reimagined in that old school rock ‘n’ roll style. This version of Little Drummer Boy wasn’t released as a single so didn’t chart independently, but the album it’s taken from – Good Ol’ Christmas – did reasonably well in Germany, Austria, and Scandinavia back in 2012.

Track #12:
I Love Christmastime – The Gleeman (2022)

I confess that I don’t know very much about The Gleeman, but his festive song I Love Christmastime is a beautiful celebration of this time of year. 2022 was The Gleeman’s debut, with his first album dropping earlier in the year before this festive release. It’s another track that feels timeless, like it could’ve been recorded years ago and been part of our celebrations for a long time. I like the composition, the choice of instruments, and the gentle, celebratory lyrics.

I Love Christmastime was reissued in 2023 as a charity single in support of War Child, and was tipped as a potential Christmas number one that year. I’m sure the song raised a lot of money for charity, and it seems to have been downloaded quite a few times on iTunes, but it didn’t make it to the official UK charts that year. Still, it’s a great festive track, and one I’ve really come to enjoy.

So that’s it… till Christmas 2026!

Vintage photo of a snowy, Christmassy scene in Norway.
A very Christmassy scene!

I hope this has been an enjoyable playlist. If I’ve helped even one person find one new Christmas song that they’ll enjoy at this time of year, I reckon I’ve done a good job! And in any case, it’s always a lot of fun to dig through my playlist and find more festive favourites to talk about. It’s a nice way to jump-start the festive season now that we’re into December.

And hey, would you look at that? We’ve managed to hide from both Mariah Carey and Wham! for the sixth year in a row. But surely, *surely*, we’re running out of holiday hits by now… right? You’ll have to join me next year to see if we can keep the streak going!

Stock photo of a model Christmas village.
Such a cute Christmas village!

I have a few more Christmassy ideas which may (or may not, time depending) make their way onto the website before the big day. And later in the month, I hope you’ll join me for my annual End-of-Year Awards, in which I’ll hand out some imaginary trophies and statuettes to some of my favourite entertainment experiences of 2025. But before all that, there’s still an entire month to get through!

Whatever you’ve got planned for December, and whether you’re celebrating with friends, family, or alone, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas. And please check back from time to time, as I’m always finding new things to talk about here on the website! Hopefully this playlist has given you one or two ideas for what to listen to as you hang up the lights and decorate the tree, or for your next Christmas party. Cheers, and happy holidays!

All songs on the playlist above are the copyright of their respective record company, studio, distributor, composer, etc. All videos courtesy of YouTube. Videos are merely embedded here, and are not hosted on Trekking with Dennis. For copyright or other legal purposes, please contact YouTube directly. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.

A Festive Review: That Christmas

A Festive Review: That Christmas

Dennis

The first part of this review is free from major plot spoilers. The end of the spoiler-free section is clearly indicated.

With Christmas approaching, I like to enjoy a festive film or two! And after That Christmas had been recommended to be by a family member, I thought it would be worth re-subscribing to Netflix for a month or two in order to check it out. And you know what? I’m glad I did – That Christmas is one of the sweetest and most fun Christmas films that I’ve seen in years!

That Christmas is a film with heart, populated by a really great cast of characters. A story that brings different groups of characters together for one big Christmas mission always hits me right in the feels – and that’s what That Christmas delivers. It’s a film for kids, sure – but there’s a lot for adults to enjoy, too.

Still frame from That Christmas showing Santa dangling upside down from a rooftop.
Santa Claus in That Christmas.

There’s some fantastic animation work present in That Christmas. I’ve talked before about how snow can be difficult to get right in animation, but That Christmas really nails the look and feel of both snowfall and deep snow lying on the ground. Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without snow – and as both a playground for some of the younger characters and an obstacle for the adults, the snow serves both a narrative function and manages to look fantastic, setting the tone of the film.

Voice acting is stellar across the board – even for younger characters. That Christmas features some well-known names – Doctor Who’s Jodie Whittaker, Brian Cox, and Bill Nighy all play big roles. But there are also some newer performers and younger voice actors with whom I wasn’t familiar, and they all did a fantastic job of bringing their characters to life.

Still frame from That Christmas showing kids in a mini-bus.
Several of the film’s younger characters.

That Christmas also has a great soundtrack. There are a couple of familiar festive hits in there, and one brand-new song: Under The Tree by Ed Sheeran. Earlier in the year, Under The Tree was being talked up as a potential Christmas number one; it didn’t get there, peaking at a lowly number 92 in the charts a couple of weeks ago. But for my money it’s a sweet song – and it plays at a particularly emotional moment in the film. To land a songwriter of Ed Sheeran’s calibre is a coup for That Christmas, even if the song didn’t storm the charts on its own!

That Christmas was based on a book: That Christmas and Other Stories by Richard Curtis, which released earlier in 2024. Curtis is a great writer and scriptwriter, being known for co-writing the likes of Mr Bean, Blackadder, and perennial festive favourite Love Actually. I actually felt echoes of the latter in That Christmas, particularly in the way the film started off with different character pairs and groups, but gradually weaved their stories together. That Christmas is much more overtly about the holiday than Love Actually, though!

Photo of Richard Curtis and Simon Otto at an animation festival in front of a Netflix-branded banner.
Writer Richard Curtis (left) with director Simon Otto at an animation festival earlier in 2024.
Photo Credit: Netflix

So I think I’ve said as much as I can without getting into story spoilers. If you just want to know whether or not I recommend That Christmas, the answer is an emphatic “yes!” It’s a fantastic holiday film, one that will almost certainly be hailed in the years to come as a classic. I know that I’ll be returning to it next Christmas – and every Christmas thereafter for as long as I’m still alive and kicking!

Now we’re going to talk in a bit more detail about a few of the storylines. Nothing in That Christmas is earth-shattering, but if you want to watch the film completely un-spoiled, this is your opportunity to jump ship. If you want to come back after you’ve seen it to get my full thoughts, that would be great, too!

Still frame from That Christmas showing Santa on his sleigh at the end of the film.
A spoiler warning graphic (featuring Santa Claus, of course!)

This is the end of the spoiler-free section of the review. Expect story spoilers for That Christmas from here on out!

I absolutely love a story about Santa Claus. I’ve talked about this before, but for me, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without Santa and that mysterious magical quality that he brings. In That Christmas, Santa’s role is really interesting, as he gives other characters in the story a bit of a push in the right direction – through the medium of gift-giving.

Santa’s defining trait in every story are the presents he delivers on Christmas Eve. But in That Christmas, these presents become integral to the plot, with all of the children receiving gifts that help some other part of the story. Using Santa Claus in this way – instead of just delivering generic toys to the good children – was really creative and fun. It presents Santa as being a kind of omniscient observer, and someone who wants to do good, but who doesn’t get actively involved. We don’t see Santa join in the search for the missing Evie at the climax of the story, but the gifts he provided to some of the kids gave them the boost they needed to aid in the search on their own terms.

Still frame from That Christmas showing the search party from above.
The search party setting out to look for Evie.

I also liked the visual presentation of Santa, Dasher, and particularly the sack full of presents! Something that can be hard to depict in Christmas stories is Santa’s sack – how could he possibly fit presents for all of the world’s children in one sack? Some films simply show an incredibly large sack on an oversized sleigh, but That Christmas kept things smaller and much more in line with visual depictions of Santa in popular culture. The answer to this apparent contradiction was simple: a blue-tinted magical glow inside Santa’s sack.

We didn’t ever get to see inside the sack, but it was implied through this neat little visual effect that there’s bona fide Christmas magic at work – and that’s how Santa is able to carry the sack and deliver all of the gifts. I really liked this idea, and I think it added to the magical feel of the character.

Still frame from That Christmas showing Santa Claus reaching into his sack.
Santa’s magical sack.

As to the reindeer, though… I suspect the reason only one reindeer was included was to make the sequences easier to animate, as well as perhaps to limit the number of speaking roles. I’m not sure I would’ve chosen Dasher as the only reindeer – Rudolph is surely much more associated with Christmas! But I really liked Dasher’s personality, which was brought to life thanks to a wonderful vocal performance from Guz Khan.

That Christmas found many ways to tug at the heartstrings, but no more so than with the aloof, strict, and apparently very lonely school teacher Ms Trapper. I think many of us can remember having a teacher that we found to be unpleasant or overly strict; it’s an almost universal childhood memory! Ms Trapper reminded me, at first, of Miss Trunchbull – from Roald Dahl’s Matilda. I certainly felt echoes of that character in Fiona Shaw’s performance. But it soon turned out that Ms Trapper – while being strict – was an ultimately caring character with a tragic side.

Still frame from That Christmas showing Danny and Ms Trapper building an igloo.
Danny with Ms Trapper.

Pairing her up with the young Danny Williams made for one of That Christmas’s most emotional and sweet stories. The lonely teacher and the boy feeling abandoned made great foils for one another, both during the town’s snow day and later, as they teamed up to make Danny’s mum’s Christmas special and then setting out to aid in the rescue of the stranded adults in the mini-bus. There were some adorable moments between the two as Danny came to appreciate his teacher and Ms Trapper’s strict facade started to show some cracks.

Also on the Williams side of the story was a relatable conversation about healthcare – and Britain’s overworked NHS in particular. Mrs Williams was a nurse, and was called into action repeatedly at Christmas time, sacrificing time with her family in order to be there for her patients. During the pandemic, we celebrated NHS workers. But with the service under increasing pressure, it’s worth drawing our attention to the real heroes who continue to work there and continue to provide care for people who need it the most.

Still frame from That Christmas showing Mrs Williams looking at her phone in the snow.
There was a surprisingly realistic portrayal of life as an NHS nurse.

I’m always gonna love a sweet story about a “bad” but ultimately reformable character – and we got that with the Beccles twins. After realising her misbehaviour had caught up to her, Charlie made the ultimate sacrifice to give the Christmas presents back to her sister after Santa – deliberately, surely! – put them on her side of the room. This led to the revelation that Charlie’s actions were all intended to make Sam smile, further adding to the adorableness of this storyline!

The twins were great characters, and their contrasting personalities made for entertaining viewing. Unlike in some stories, I always got the sense that the sisters really enjoyed each other’s company – even though they had wildly different perspectives on practically everything. This set up Charlie’s big act of kindness and the later revelation perfectly; it would have been harder to pull off if we’d seen the twins fighting or arguing with one another.

Still frame from That Christmas showing the Beccles twins with their gifts.
The twins on Christmas morning.

The blended family – The McNutts, Forrests, and Muljis – were an interesting bunch. I felt the adults here were a little too incompetent, perhaps… getting stranded very easily and being unable to get themselves out of the situation by, y’know, walking a few metres. But that can be a trope of kids’ fiction, and it kept the adults out of the way so that the kids could have their version of a “perfect Christmas,” free from the oppressive traditions forced upon them by their parents. As the setup for a fun story, I think it worked well enough.

The standout character here was Bernadette – the eldest of the children and the designated babysitter for her siblings and cousins. There was a duality to her characterisation: she both took a lead role in caring for the kids and giving them a wonderful and memorable Christmas – all the while keeping them distracted while their parents were missing – and then later realised her own limitations when Evie went missing. There’s a story here about growing up too fast, and how even the most mature kids are still just kids, at the end of the day.

Still frame from That Christmas showing Bernadette, Evie, and their mother.
Bernadette with Evie and her mother.

The climactic search effort to save Evie was fantastic. It brought everyone together and gave the kids a starring role, while still including all of the adult characters, too. A toddler lost in the snow was a plotline that had genuine stakes – and seemed to put into context all of the other conflicts, arguments, and problems that the characters had been facing. The threat to little Evie, as she wandered off into the cold night, led everyone to put their issues aside and step up to help. It was brilliantly done, well-written, and a wonderfully engaging storyline.

Evie’s disappearance had a huge impact on Bernadette, as she blamed herself for what happened. But no-one else blamed her – even her parents – and the way everyone in the community came together to help was fantastic. I also really liked the visual effect of text messages being sent across Wellington-on-Sea, represented by little text boxes above everyone’s homes. It was a very creative way to show the community spreading the word and leaping into action.

Still frame from That Christmas showing text messages about Evie going missing.
This was a very creative and powerful visual effect.

With every story in That Christmas being connected and serving a purpose, the escaped turkeys ultimately led to Evie being found – and the planning that went into every aspect of the film’s narrative was on full display. As the characters came together to celebrate finding the lost girl, I really felt how well-scripted and well-planned the entire story had been. Even aspects that seemed less interesting at first – like the over-the-top presentation of the unpleasant farmer – had all been in service of a cleverly-woven narrative, and it really was fantastic to see it all come together.

So if you’ve watched your usual festive favourites too many times this December, and you need something new… give That Christmas a chance. I really think it’s one of the best, most creative, and just plain fun Christmas films that I’ve seen in a while! And if I’m still here next Christmas – which, touch wood, I will be – I’ll definitely be firing it up again.

Still frame from That Christmas showing Danny and Ms Trapper on a quad bike.
Merry Christmas!

I really had a great time with That Christmas. It’s clever, funny, and dramatic in different places, with a great cast of young and older characters who all feel real and whose motivations seem genuine. It’s also distinctly British in its tone and setting, reminding me in more ways than one of Christmases when I was younger, as well as harkening back to perennial festive favourites like 1991’s Father Chrismas as well as Richard Curtis’ own Love Actually. If you enjoyed either of those, I daresay you’ll find a lot to love in That Christmas, too.

I’m glad this was recommended to me – and now, in turn, I pass the recommendation on to you and yours this Christmas! With a couple of days left to go before the big day, there’s still time to jump in and give That Christmas a watch. With so little on TV this Christmas, it could even be your big Christmas Day film; I think That Christmas would be fantastic in that role.

Until next time – and Merry Christmas!

That Christmas is available to stream now on Netflix. That Christmas is the copyright of Netflix and/or Locksmith Animation. This review contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.

The Polar Express: Twenty Years Later

The Polar Express: Twenty Years Later

Dennis
A Christmassy spoiler warning graphic.

Spoiler Warning: Beware of spoilers for The Polar Express and the book upon which it’s based.

It’s astonishing to me that the “brand-new” film The Polar Express – which I feel I’ve only just begun to incorporate into my Christmas celebrations – is turning twenty years old this year! To mark this milestone anniversary, I thought it could be fun to re-watch the film and talk about its successes and its legacy.

I’ll start by telling you up-front that I’m a fan of The Polar Express and I have been since it premiered in 2004. So this isn’t going to be a tear-down of the film; it’s become one of my festive favourites and I’ve returned to it many times during the holiday season. I’d even go so far as to call it a Christmas classic; a film that has understandably become one of the most-replayed at this time of year.

Still frame from The Polar Express showing the conductor and the Hero Boy.
All aboard!

But it didn’t always seem that way. In fact, in 2004 you would’ve found many people who didn’t like The Polar Express. Film critics, fans of animation, parents… it seemed for a time as if The Polar Express was catching flak from several angles. And despite its reputation today as one of the best Christmas animated films… ever, there was a time when I felt it was going to be maligned and forgotten.

Most criticisms of The Polar Express in 2004 centred around the art and animation style. The semi-realistic CGI – particularly characters’ faces – was described as being “creepy,” and I distinctly remember a colleague of mine at the time telling me their young children were in tears and refused to watch the “frightening” film. I don’t remember the term “uncanny valley” being in use at the time, but that’s basically what critics were talking about. Faces used for human characters in the film felt not quite real enough… leading to people calling the whole aesthetic “creepy” or “weird-looking.”

Still frame from The Polar Express showing the hobo.
CGI in The Polar Express was criticised in 2004.

That’s one area where I think the passage of time has been kind to The Polar Express! We’ve gotten more used to 3D computer animation both in films and on TV over the last twenty years, and if the film had been released today I daresay no one would bat an eye at the way its characters and their faces look. In 2004, The Polar Express was the first film to pioneer facial capture technology, but this has become commonplace in animation in the years since.

There’s also something a little charming about the look of the world of The Polar Express. There are some undeniably beautiful shots of things like the northern lights or the central square at the North Pole. But twenty years’ worth of hindsight and improvements in animation also show, on a return to the film, where 2004’s CGI wasn’t quite realistic enough. To me at least, these things just add to the personality and unique aesthetic on display.

Still frame from The Polar Express showing the conductor, the northern lights, and the north pole.
The northern lights over the North Pole.

To pick on one example: for a film made twenty years ago, the snow that coats the train and the whole world around it looks fantastic! But when you compare scenes in deep snow to a title like Disney’s Frozen, you can see The Polar Express coming up short. Far from being a problem, though, I find these little weaknesses to be charming. The Polar Express wouldn’t be the same if its animation was “perfect,” after all!

It may have taken a while for some folks in 2004 to get over the film’s art style, but hiding under the surface is an incredibly sweet tale of a young boy re-discovering his belief in Santa Claus and Christmas. The Polar Express is based on a 1985 children’s book of the same name (I had no idea that was the case until researching this article; oops) but it expands on that original story to add more dimension to some of its characters and give them a bit of an extended and exciting adventure. The book is still in print, by the way, and could make a cute Christmas present for a young child (or an adult fan of the film!)

Scan of the original illustration of the sleigh bell from The Polar Express book.
The all-important sleigh bell as it appeared in the original book.

Since we’re talking about other media, it’s worth briefly commenting on the video game adaptation of The Polar Express. This phenomenon has mostly died out in the 2020s, but in 2004 it was pretty common for a big-budget film to get a video game adaptation, and The Polar Express was no exception. The game was released for GameCube, PC, and PlayStation 2 in November 2004, with a GameBoy Advance version also arriving that same month.

I confess that I haven’t played any of these games – I didn’t in 2004 and I haven’t since. But having checked out some gameplay online, I think the console and PC versions look more or less like what you’d expect. 3D adventure games with some platforming and puzzles – not uncommon for 2004. The GameBoy Advance, being a much less powerful system, naturally got the worst version of the game, which is something reflected in reviews at the time. There’s less of a focus on the core story in the game adaptations, which is a bit of a shame in some ways. But I’m sure a lot of kids enjoyed receiving a copy from Santa Claus in 2004!

Screenshot of The Polar Express video game showing the main character on the train roof.
There’s a video game adaptation of The Polar Express from 2004.

When I was a kid, there may have been one or two Christmases when I was very young where I believed in Santa Claus. But my family didn’t do the whole “all of your gifts come from Santa” thing, so I guess in that sense I don’t have the same memory of learning about Santa and coming to terms with that revelation – not in the same way as it’s presented in The Polar Express, in any case. As an aside, one of my earliest Christmas-adjacent memories is being forced by my parents to write thank-you letters to family members for the gifts I’d received!

But this idea of questioning one’s belief in Santa Claus is at the core of The Polar Express, and while it’s a little outside of my own personal experience, I daresay it’s something many people can relate to. For the film’s intended audience, its core theme may resonate particularly strongly.

Still frame from The Polar Express showing Santa Claus.
Belief in Santa Claus was a central part of the film’s narrative.

Though The Polar Express isn’t the only festive story or film to deal with this theme of doubt, it’s one of the only big blockbusters aimed at kids to really call into question Santa’s existence. For children of a certain age, where they’re having their own doubts about Santa Claus and what Christmas is really all about, I daresay there’s something relatable. And for adults, doubting one’s beliefs – albeit not a belief in Santa Claus specifically – is also something that many people have experience with. I know I do!

Lots of Christmas films – especially those aimed at younger children – present Santa Claus as a totally real person, with no acknowledgement made of the questions or doubts that kids can have. And that’s a good thing; I think there’s a real sense of “magic” present in the holiday season that would be lost if the legend of Santa Claus were to disappear. But for kids who have their doubts and who feel uncertain, a story like the one told in The Polar Express can be cathartic.

Still frame from The Polar Express showing Santa on his sleigh.
Santa on his sleigh toward the end of the film.

If we take belief in Santa Claus as a marker of childhood, part of the film’s message is about choosing to hang on to one’s youth – or at least to aspects of it. The Polar Express, being told from the perspective of young children, has a sense of mystery and wonder; the protagonist and his friends don’t really know how everything works. And it successfully conveys that sensation even to an adult audience – which isn’t the easiest thing to do! Making me as a viewer see things from a child’s point of view is a real challenge, but it’s one that The Polar Express tackles with ease.

Christmas is a holiday for the little ones first and foremost, so a message or metaphor about retaining at least some part of one’s youth and childhood is incredibly relevant at this time of year. And for older kids who may be wavering in their belief… I guess the film’s final act could go a long way to reinforcing the legend of Santa Claus, at least for one more Christmas!

Still frame from The Polar Express showing the train in the snow.
The titular train.

I have a similar story to share, and perhaps that’s why I feel this side of The Polar Express hitting so strongly. When I was in my late teens, I was dating a girl who had a younger sibling. Their sibling was either ten or eleven years old – precisely the age when one’s belief in Santa Claus might start to wane. As Christmas time approached, I was excitedly talking to them about Santa, but I could tell it wasn’t really getting through. So I told them about how Norad (which I explained was the US government and air force) tracks Santa’s flight every Christmas Eve.

Norad’s Santa Tracker had just got its own website, and showing them “proof” of Santa from an official source seemed to delight them and reinforce their belief. I’m sure it only lasted for that Christmas; my girlfriend and I had broken up by the next year, so I never got to see if that had become a part of their family’s festive traditions. But I still remember how it felt a quarter of a century later to bring just a tiny fraction of that Christmas magic to someone… and that’s how The Polar Express makes me feel, too.

Screen grab of the Norad Tracks Santa website from 2000.
The Norad Tracks Santa website as it appeared in the year 2000.

Sorry for the diversion, but I hope you can see why it’s related!

To get back on topic, The Polar Express isn’t just about one kid and their feelings about Santa Claus. It’s also a film that shows how Christmas can be different for different families, and how the magic of Christmas can mean so much to someone who has missed out on it. The character of Billy – the only named child in the whole film – represents the poorer, less well-off kids who, at this time of year, can feel especially left out.

It’s heartbreaking to hear a young child saying that Christmas “never works out” for them, but it’s also incredibly sweet to see how their friends come together to help them have a great Christmas… most likely the first really enjoyable Christmas they’ve ever had. There’s some really heartwarming stuff on this side of the story – tales of friendship between the “hero” characters and Billy intertwine with the more heavy themes of belief and the action-packed adventurous sequences set aboard the train.

Still frame from The Polar Express showing the three kids singing the song Believe.
Billy with the two unnamed kids.

Speaking of trains, I do so love a good old-fashioned steam locomotive! The one depicted in The Polar Express is actually based on a real engine from the 1920s; one of which still survives as a museum piece. Steam trains have long had an association with Christmas time, so the choice of vehicle doesn’t come out of nowhere! But the titular train is another place where I feel the CGI really works and makes things come alive.

The detail on the train – the locomotive in particular – is fantastic, and if you’ve ever had the good fortune to step up onto the footplate of a steam locomotive, I daresay you’d recognise many of the components. The brake, the throttle, the furnace… all of it’s there and rendered in incredible detail. There was a lot of love put into animating the train, the way its wheels move, and the action taking place at the front. It’s wonderful to see as an old train fanatic!

Still frame from The Polar Express showing the kids in the locomotive cab.
The cab of the locomotive was brought to life in detail.

The soundtrack to The Polar Express is fantastic, and the film’s main theme has become a recognisable piece of Christmas music in its own right. I’ve even seen other arrangements of it cropping up on set-lists around this time of year. The film also brings a couple of solid songs to the table, including the Grammy Award-winning Believe. I also quite enjoy the Hot Chocolate song – though that’s more the overall sequence with dancing and spinning seats rather than just the song on its own.

It’s also worth talking about The Polar Express in terms of the performance of one actor in particular: Tom Hanks. There are some great vocal and mo-cap performances from others, of course. Daryl Sabara (of Spy Kids fame) voiced Hero Boy, and Nona Gaye voiced Hero Girl, and both were exceptional. But The Polar Express is a Tom Hanks project first and foremost; the veteran performer plays six different roles, and manages to make each one feel distinct.

Behind-the-scenes still frame from The Polar Express showing Tom Hanks in motion-capture.
Tom Hanks performing motion-capture for The Polar Express.
Image Credit: IMDB

So that’s all for now, I think. All that’s left to say is this: Happy Anniversary to The Polar Express! I don’t know if I have another twenty Christmases in me, but if I do I’ll be watching this film every time. It’s a sweet, heartwarming, and adventurous tale of a trip to the North Pole. There are messages for kids about keeping the Christmas magic alive and making friends, some fun action-packed scenes aboard an old steam train, and plenty of Christmas spirit! And, of course, some animation that, in my view anyway, has aged exceptionally well.

I always enjoy firing up The Polar Express at this time of year. And I thought it was particularly appropriate this year, on the occasion of its twentieth anniversary, to celebrate the film, its art style, and its place in the top tier of Christmas films.

The Polar Express is out now on DVD, Blu-Ray, and on-demand streaming platforms. The Polar Express is the copyright of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Playtone, Shangri-La Entertainment, and/or Castle Rock entertainment. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.

A Festive Playlist To Get You In The Holiday Spirit!

A Festive Playlist To Get You In The Holiday Spirit!

Dennis

This is now the fifth year in a row that I’ve published my festive playlist – so let’s celebrate a half-decade of Christmas songs in style!

I’m a big fan of Christmas and this time of year; it’s my favourite holiday. There’s so much to love about Christmas from the food to the decorations, and music is also a huge part of that. I’ve been a collector of Christmas albums for years, since well before my music collection was digital! And in that time, I’ve discovered more than a few favourites that I welcome back at this time of year.

A photograph of a snow-covered road through some trees, with fairy lights on a fence on one side.
I hope you’re having a wonderful start to the festive season!

This festive playlist is really “part five” – and you can find the first four parts linked below. If you think a particularly famous track is missing… try checking out those earlier editions of my festive playlist. If it’s nowhere to be found, then I guess you’ll have to come back next Christmas! Is that the first time you’ve seen someone mention Christmas 2025?

Here are the previous playlists for you to enjoy:

2020’s Edition, 2021’s Edition, 2022’s Edition, and 2023’s Edition!

A photograph showing a horse (or perhaps a reindeer) pulling a sleigh through a snowy forest.
Dashing through the snow…

All of the songs linked below are hosted on YouTube. If for some reason one track or another is unavailable in your part of the world, I daresay you’ll be able to find it on another streaming platform. Take a listen to all of these songs in turn, or add them together with the playlists linked above and you’ll be all set for your next Christmas party or holiday event!

Let’s jump into this year’s edition of the playlist!

Track 1:
Buy Me Presents – Sabrina Carpenter (2023)

2024 has been, without question, Sabrina Carpenter’s year! The pop star has been riding high with tracks like Taste and Espresso, as well as headlining a world tour. But just last year, Carpenter released her first Christmas EP: Fruitcake. The track I enjoyed the most is Buy Me Presents: a tongue-in-cheek Christmas song with more than a few festive puns and double-entendres!

Buy Me Presents wasn’t released as a single, so it hasn’t charted on its own. But Fruitcake grazed the lower reaches of America’s Billboard 200, and also peaked at number 63 on the UK charts last year. The entire EP is well worth a listen, but if (like me) you find your festive playlist is getting over-stuffed and you only have room for one track, go with Buy Me Presents. It’s a ton of fun!

Track 2:
Baby, It’s Cold Outside – Jimmy Buffett feat. Nadirah Shakoor (2016)

Despite lyrics that have been controversial in recent years, I gotta confess that I love Baby, It’s Cold Outside. It’s a Christmas classic… but this version inverts the male and female lyrics, making for a very interesting and unique presentation. By “gender-bending” the lyrics, the tone of the song feels completely different to any other version I’ve heard, and when you add into the mix Buffett’s vocals and some tropical rock instrumentation, I think it makes for a really fun take on a song that many different artists have covered.

I’m not the world’s biggest Jimmy Buffett fan, but his two Christmas albums have both had fun takes on traditional and modern festive hits. This version of Baby, It’s Cold Outside wasn’t released as a single and didn’t chart – but the album ‘Tis the SeaSon, from which it’s taken, peaked at number 6 on both Billboard’s Country and Rock charts.

Track 3:
Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town – Bruce Springsteen (1975)

Bruce Springsteen and his E-Street Band recorded a live version of the Christmas classic Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town way back in the mid-1970s… and it’s been a mainstay on the radio seemingly ever since! I first encountered this version when I was living in the United States, but it’s not uncommon to hear it here in the UK, too. It’s a great cover, with Springsteen’s distinctive vocals bringing the song to life.

The live recording is best-known, perhaps, for Bruce Springsteen struggling to keep his composure! Santa’s refrain of “ho ho ho!” in the background seems to send Springsteen into fits of laughter – but that just adds to the fun, light-hearted nature of this recording. This version regularly re-enters the charts thanks to streaming and airplay, and is certified platinum in the US and UK.

Track 4:
Deck the Halls – André Rieu (2012)

I don’t know if you do this too, but I tend to keep instrumental tracks in separate playlists from songs with lyrics. But if I’m in the mood for a stirring rendition of one of a number of traditional Christmas carols, I often turn to André Rieu. The Dutch conductor and violinist has put together several Christmas albums over the years, including 2012’s December Lights.

I’m drawn to this particular arrangement because of how traditional it feels. I love different takes on the classics, don’t get me wrong, and there’s a time and a place for experimentation – as you’ll have already seen on my festive playlists so far! But sometimes what I want is a classic, up-tempo, orchestral arrangement of a traditional carol – and Rieu delivers.

Track 5:
Santa Baby – Michael Bublé (2011)

Michael Bublé is a singer who, not unlike Mariah Carey, has become synonymous with Christmas for a lot of folks! And it’s true that his 2011 festive album, simply titled Christmas, has a lot of excellent songs – but I don’t consider him to be a one-hit wonder (or a one-season wonder, I guess) because I’ve also enjoyed some of his other trad-pop hits over the years. But this version of Santa Baby? Oh boy, is it something different!

I cannot properly express in words how ridiculous it is to hear lines like “I’ve been an awful good guy,” and “Santa Buddy” as Bublé awkwardly tries to change the words. It’s done with tongue firmly embedded in cheek and a healthy dose of self-awareness – at least, I hope so – and it really is a ton of fun. Santa Baby is a song written for a woman (the original version was performed by Eartha Kitt in the ’50s) and its lyrics really don’t work so well for a male singer! Somehow, however, Bublé’s silly and awkward changes just… make the song so much more enjoyable for me. If you haven’t heard it, give it a try!

Track 6:
Christmas Alphabet – Dickie Valentine (1955)

Here’s a trivia question for your next pub quiz: what was the first Christmas-themed song to be number one on the UK chart at Christmas? The answer: Christmas Alphabet by Dickie Valentine all the way back in 1955! In those days, collecting information about record sales wasn’t straightforward, but it’s generally agreed that we have solid data from 1952 onwards. The first few songs to top the charts at Christmas weren’t Christmassy – but then along came Dickie Valentine!

Christmas Alphabet was Valentie’s second and final UK number one, though he remained active as both a singer and TV host well into the 1960s. Although this isn’t my favourite festive hit – and it’s one I don’t remember hearing in my childhood – I think it’s a neat little piece of history, and a pleasant traditional pop song from an artist of the pre-rock and roll era that I’m happy to listen to at this time of year.

Track 7:
Santa Tell Me – Ariana Grande (2014)

Ariana Grande is currently riding high at the cinema, starring in the film adaptation of Wicked! Ten years ago, though, her festive song Santa Tell Me was going platinum all over the world. I can’t believe it’s been ten years, because to me this is another of the “new” Christmas songs that I feel I’ve only just started listening to! But time is funny like that, I guess, especially at this time of year.

Santa Tell Me isn’t actually Ariana Grande’s biggest hit. It wasn’t 2014’s Christmas number one in the UK (it peaked at number 8 the week before Christmas) and the only chart it topped was Billboard’s Holiday 100 in the USA. But Santa Tell Me has re-entered the charts every year since its release thanks to streaming, and is a mainstay on playlists like this one! For my money, the track is fun, light-hearted, and festive, and I’m happy to return to it every holiday season.

Track 8:
You’re Christmas To Me – Sam Ryder (2023)

You’re Christmas To Me is up there with Ed Sheeran and Elton John’s Merry Christmas as one of my absolute favourite festive tracks from the last few years. It’s a pop-rock anthem that doesn’t feel a million miles away from the mega-hits of artists like Slade and Wizzard, and I firmly expect to see it as a mainstay on everyone’s festive playlists from this point on!

It’s such a shame that You’re Christmas To Me didn’t make it to the top of the charts. It was pipped to the post last year by Wham!’s Last Christmas surging as the big day approached… and I fear that Sam Ryder was screwed over by his exclusivity deal with Amazon Music. Had the song been more widely available, I genuinely think it could’ve been last year’s number one. Live and learn, eh? Maybe this year, with the exclusivity gone and the song available on other platforms, it’ll get a second chance?

Track 9:
Christmas In England – The Woodenheads (2008)

This track is… a bit of an oddity, to be honest with you. I bought the digital download of this song the year it was released, and it’s been part of my festive playlist going back to 2008. But I can’t find any information about the song or the band that created it. The YouTube channel for “The Woodenheads” only has this one song, and as far as I can tell the band never recorded nor released any other music. There is a different band called Woodenhead, but it’s based in the United States and the two are – as best as I can tell, anyway – completely unrelated.

Despite never charting, Christmas In England is a pleasant, somewhat nostalgic track. It recounts a typical English Christmas; the kind I remember from my youth. The lyrics talk of a grey, wet Christmas spent at home with the family and a bit too much roast turkey. Maybe The Woodenheads will be pleased to know that at least one person out there still remembers the song and listens to it with fondness every Christmas.

Track 10:
Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – John Lennon and Yoko Ono (1971)

Only a year after the break-up of the Beatles, John Lennon very nearly topped the charts with this perennial festive favourite. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) was actually beaten to the number one spot in Christmas week by a novelty song: Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West) by Benny Hill. That’s a trend that seems to continue to this day; in what other country would five songs about sausage rolls top the charts at Christmas time?

Of the big festive hits from the ’70s, I confess that Happy Xmas (War Is Over) probably isn’t my favourite. But it’s one of those nostalgic tracks that plays on repeat in faded memories of decorating the Christmas tree while my dad’s old record player blasted out Christmas hits! Themes of peace and joy are important at this time of year, too, and that’s something John and Yoko delivered with this track.

Track 11:
Sleigh Ride – Jewel (2013)

I’ve been a fan of Jewel since the ’90s, when her debut album Pieces of You introduced me to her incredible songwriting and vocals. Since then, Jewel has released two Christmas records, both of which are comprised primarily of new arrangements of traditional festive favourites. Both records are worth listening to in their entirety – but on this occasion I’ve picked out Jewel’s rendition of Sleigh Ride.

Sleigh Ride was first published in sheet music form in the late 1940s, and there are several versions that can all claim to be the “original” recording! There have been many takes on the cute festive track over the years, but for me, it feels especially well-suited to Jewel’s vocal style and folky presentation. This version wasn’t released as a single, but the album Let It Snow: A Holiday Collection made it into 2013’s top 20 holiday albums in the United States.

Track 12:
Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree – Mel & Kim (1987)

Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree is a great song – but if you’re British and in your forties (or younger, I guess) chances are it’s this version by Mel Smith and Kim Wilde that’s the most memorable! This version was recorded to raise money for the charity Comic Relief. The song and video both have comedic moments as a result – and even the name “Mel & Kim” is a parody of another popular act of the late ’80s.

In 1987, there was some stiff competition on the charts! The indomitable Fairytale of New York by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl was that year’s number two – the number one spot went to Always On My Mind by the Pet Shop Boys… a much less Christmassy number! That left Mel & Kim to claim the less-impressive Christmas number three spot, but the song has been a favourite of mine since I heard it as a kid. I recall my parents – my father especially – didn’t like this version of the song, but I think it’s clever, funny, and oh so nostalgic!

So that’s it… until next Christmas!

A photograph of an illuminated stall at the Christmas Market in Frankfurt.
Are you going to a Christmas market this year?

Another set of tracks has been added to the ever-growing festive playlist… and there are more on the horizon. I’m especially looking forward to Ed Sheeran’s upcoming single Under The Tree – which is part of the soundtrack to the Netflix film That Christmas – and will be released in just a few days’ time. Ed Sheeran was fantastic a couple of years ago with his collaboration with Elton John, so I have high hopes for that one!

We’ve also managed to avoid Mariah Carey and Wham! for the fifth year in a row! I don’t hate those songs; Last Christmas is definitely the better of the two for my money, but both are enjoyable enough at this time of year. But I feel they’re so over-played and feature on way too many playlists like this! Besides, it’s become a Trekking with Dennis tradition to skip both of those songs… so let’s see how long we can keep it up, eh?

Two of the original illustrations from Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

This is just the start of the festive season, and I have a few other Christmassy ideas that may (or may not, time and procrastination depending) make their way to the website before the big day. So stay tuned for that!

All that remains to say is this: Merry Christmas! Whatever you’re doing, wherever you’ll be, and whoever you’ll be celebrating with, I hope you have a wonderful and festive Christmas this year.

All songs on the playlist above are the copyright of their respective record company, studio, distributor, composer, etc. All videos courtesy of YouTube. Videos are merely embedded here, and are not hosted on Trekking with Dennis. For copyright or other legal purposes, please contact YouTube directly. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Dennis

Just a short one today. This year has been strange and disappointing for many of us, to put it mildly. When I began to create this website a little over a year ago, I had no idea that 2020 would have seen such misery on an unprecedented scale. It’s times like these where we need to close the door on the outside world and enjoy some wonderful escapism.

As someone with a varied (and growing) set of health problems, I do that a lot. Even pre-pandemic, disability greatly restricted what I was able to do and how far I was able to travel. My youngest sister is due to get married in the spring, and even travelling an hour to get to the wedding venue seems difficult – if not outright impossible. From a purely selfish point of view I haven’t lost as much of my freedom this year – because I’d already lost it gradually over the last decade.

You are not alone this Christmas.

I sympathise with everyone who’s not enjoying the holidays. As a kid I remember big Christmases with my parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles. We could easily have twelve or more people together on Christmas Day. And later, when I lived in the United States for a year, I had fourteen people over for Christmas, fellow foreigners who likewise had nowhere to go for the holidays. Cooking Christmas dinner that year was exhausting! This year is, of course, very different. And like many of you, I don’t have anyone to share Christmas with in person; stricter lockdown rules are in place in the UK this year.

Though it’s become a cliché over the last year, none of us are really alone. We have the best communication tool humanity has ever devised literally at our fingertips or in our pockets, and even just by reading this you’re interacting with me. And I wish you a very Merry Christmas – or Happy Holidays if you prefer.

Merry Christmas!

I’m not a religious person, but Christmas has always felt like an enjoyable time of year. The bright lights, beautiful decorations, and sense of community that comes out has always been appealing. I decorate my home as best I can, and even managed to put up some outdoor lights this year. It meant so much to me when a neighbour of mine sent me a Christmas card and told me how she and her kids had been enjoying the lights on their way to and from school the last few weeks. Even when we don’t see one another, this time of year can bring us together – just not quite in the same way as usual.

Loneliness is something that takes some getting used to, and for people who are especially sociable, that’s going to be difficult. If you’re missing people you can’t be with this year, there is small comfort in knowing that the creation of vaccines should mean next Christmas – or even this coming Easter – has a high chance of seeing normal service resume.

Vaccines are coming!

Until then, let’s find a nice film series or television show to binge-watch as we count down the last days of 2020. Pick up a nostalgic favourite or something new you’ve been wanting to try, grab some nice snacks and a cold drink (or a mug of hot chocolate) and escape this world for a short while. Whether you’re visiting the distant future, a galaxy far, far away, or a fantastical realm, getting out of your own head and revelling in something different is no bad thing. It might just take the edge off.

Though there are many great festive classics to enjoy, if you want to skip this Christmas altogether I wouldn’t blame you. The Expanse is an underrated science fiction series that you can find on Amazon Prime Video, or perhaps something like last year’s The Witcher on Netflix if you’re in a fantasy mood. There’s always Star Trek – Star Trek: Picard Season 1 was great, and you can find that on Amazon Prime Video too if you missed it earlier in the year. The Mandalorian Season 2 has just wrapped up over on Disney+, and The Lord of the Rings film trilogy has just been re-released in 4K on Blu-ray.

Star Trek: Picard premiered in January.

If you’re looking for something different, perhaps something under-appreciated or off the beaten path, I could recommend a sci-fi show from the 1990s called Space Precinct, which is a fun mix of space adventure and police procedural. Then let’s see… Fortitude is an engaging thriller series set in the arctic – perfect for this time of year! The first season of horror-anthology series The Terror is similarly set in the icy north, and is a riveting watch with some absolutely outstanding performances.

On the film front, one of this year’s few big releases Tenet is already available to stream or get on Blu-ray. The Sonic the Hedgehog film from earlier in the year managed to be a surprisingly fun time as well. I’ll always heartily recommend Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Star Trek: Generations – the latter even features a Christmassy sequence. If you have access to the internet you aren’t short of options for things to watch!

Star Trek: The Motion Picture is fantastic.

You could try Fall Guys, the fun obstacle course video game that was released earlier in the year. It’s hard not to have a fun time with that cute indie game – even though it can be frustrating at times! Star Wars: Squadrons lets you pilot your own TIE Fighter or X-Wing, and if you want something gentle, Animal Crossing: New Horizons on the Nintendo Switch has weeks’ worth of fun.

Although it’s a crappy Christmas for a lot of us, there’s still plenty to watch and play to take our minds off it. And if you’re struggling, aside from telling you that you aren’t alone and you’ll get through it, all I can really do is recommend a few interesting options to watch or play. As somebody who lives alone with few friends or relatives nearby, I’m often in this position even in better years. For me, entertainment like television and film can take the edge off. We all need good distraction sometimes.

Wherever you are, however you’re celebrating, and whatever you wish you could’ve done instead, I truly hope you have a Merry Christmas.

All titles mentioned above are the copyright of their respective studio, broadcaster, distributor, publisher, etc. Stock photos courtesy of Unsplash. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.

A festive playlist to get you in the holiday spirit!

A festive playlist to get you in the holiday spirit!

Dennis

Last year in the run-up to Christmas, I put together a list of films and television specials to enjoy over the holidays. If you missed it, you can find that list by clicking or tapping here. As part of the festive season this year, I thought it could be fun to listen to a few Christmas songs together.

I’ll hold up my hands right now and say I’m an unashamed collector of Christmas albums. Having initially started with cassettes and CDs, my collection is now digital, consisting of MP3s – I have yet to fully make the transition to music streaming! Practically every Christmas album I own has at least one track worth listening to, but many modern ones consists of the same handful of “traditional holiday favourites,” and artists, in an attempt to distinguish their version from the myriad others, have a tendency to over-sing some of these great Christmas tunes.

This playlist entirely consists of YouTube videos, and for copyright/legal reasons, I can’t be 100% certain that every track will be available in your country. I know in Germany, for example, there are stricter copyright requirements that often block music on YouTube. If any of the tracks are unavailable, don’t despair. I daresay you can find them on your streaming platform of choice.

Without further ado, let’s jump into the list!

Track 1:
Merry Xmas Everybody – Slade (1973)

In 1973, when British rock band Slade were at the height of their success, they released Merry Xmas Everybody. It would go on to be their best-remembered hit – as well as their final UK number one.

Though arguably eclipsed in recent years by Fairytale of New York (which we’ll look at in a moment) Slade’s Merry Xmas Everybody was, for a long time, the most-played and most-loved Christmas song in the UK, and still routinely appears on Christmas compilations and playlists.

Noddy Holder, Slade’s lead singer, has often told the story of how peculiar it was recording the music video in New York in the summer of 1973 – one of the hottest summers on record at the time. The fake snow and festive tone of the song completely clashed with the band’s surroundings, yet the simple video has become iconic – as has Holder’s semi-screamed line “it’s Christmas!”

Track 2:
Christmas Time (Don’t Let The Bells End) – The Darkness (2003)

Seventeen years after Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End) missed out on the Christmas number one spot, I’m still mad! It was locked in a close race to the coveted spot at the top of the UK charts against, of all things, Mad World (from the Donnie Darko soundtrack). It was the first new Christmas-themed song that was any good that I’d heard in years, and I bought it on CD in the hopes of helping the band top the charts that Christmas.

The Darkness are otherwise known as a one-hit wonder for the 2003 song I Believe in a Thing Called Love and for winning several Brit awards the following year. Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End) seemed to have rapidly faded into obscurity after missing out in 2003; disappearing as quickly as The Darkness themselves. But recent years have seen the song receive a renewed appreciation at this time of year, and it now gets played regularly in December. It may have taken a while, but the song has become a modern-day Christmas favourite.

Track 3:
You Make It Feel Like Christmas – Gwen Stefani feat. Blake Shelton (2017)

I don’t follow the ins and outs of celebrity gossip, nor do I watch reality television. But even I couldn’t avoid hearing the drama that emerged from The Voice when it became public knowledge that judges Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton had become a couple. After a couple of years of dating, Shelton – better known for his career in country music – joined Stefani on the lead track from her Christmas album.

The result was a great song; a cute duet by a couple very much in love. It’s since become a feature on my festive playlist; a blend of country, rock, and pop stylings in a single, truly enjoyable up-tempo hit.

The song was released in the UK, but failed to chart. The best performance it managed worldwide (according to Wikipedia) was in Canada, reaching the number two spot in 2017. Regardless, it’s a great tune that should be on everyone’s festive playlist!

Track 4:
I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday – Wizzard (1973)

Slade’s Merry Xmas Everybody – that we looked at above – beat Wizzard to the Christmas number one spot in 1973; a great year for Christmas songs here in the UK, apparently! Roy Wood, formerly of the band Electric Light Orchestra, founded Wizzard in 1972. This song would be their only major hit, and has been replayed at Christmas in the UK ever since.

The song was re-recorded in 1981, after it was discovered the original master tapes had been lost. As a result there are two versions of the song out there, each featuring a different children’s choir accompanying Wood’s glam rock band.

As a kid this was one of my favourite Christmas tunes, and I have fond memories of getting the record out to play on my dad’s old turntable as we decorated the Christmas tree and as the big day approached. Perhaps my parents didn’t appreciate that – but I did!

Track 5:
Fairytale of New York – The Pogues feat. Kirsty MacColl (1987)

The song regularly called “Britain’s favourite Christmas song” could hardly be absent from this playlist! Fairytale of New York is an odd, bloody-minded choice for that title, as it tells the story of a dysfunctional couple having a truly awful Christmas in New York. However, something about the track resonated with a lot of people, and in 2020 it’s not unfair to call it The Pogues’ best-known song.

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year for many people, but as Fairytale of New York reminds us, that isn’t the case for everyone. The song touches on homelessness, domestic abuse, and brings home to everyone who hears it that the world isn’t just Christmas parties and waiting for Santa. Is that a grown-up take, or just being “edgy” for the sake of it? Whatever you may think, the haunting folk-rock melody is beautiful.

Track 6:
Once in Royal David’s City – Mary Chapin Carpenter (2008)

An understated, country-style version of this Christmas carol is oddly timeless. Mary Chapin Carpenter has released a number of great albums over the years, and is one of my favourite artists of the genre, so I was thrilled to learn she was releasing a Christmas album in 2008. However, the album itself was rather mediocre aside from this song and one other (The Longest Night of the Year).

A diamond in the rough, then. Once in Royal David’s City wasn’t released as a single, as indeed none of the songs from Come Darkness, Come Light were. It’s the standout track of the album for me, though, and the arrangement suits Carpenter’s vocals perfectly.

Track 7:
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree – The Baseballs (2012)

German rock n’ roll outfit The Baseballs rose to fame by releasing 50s-style covers of contemporary pop songs, and by 2012 were ready to put their unique spin on Christmas songs. Their entire Christmas album is well worth a listen, jam-packed with great covers. But if I had to pick just one, the one which works best with their style is Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.

I’d been a fan of The Baseballs since their first album in 2009, and had the good fortune to see them play live once. They’re one of the few bands I’ve seen that were just as good live as they are on record!

Track 8:
Merry Christmas Everyone – Shakin’ Stevens (1985)

1985’s Christmas number one has become a classic, a frequent presence on playlists and compilations at this time of year. Originally planned to be released for the 1984 Christmas season, having been recorded that year, Stevens and record label Epic opted to delay Merry Christmas Everyone by an entire year to avoid clashing with Do They Know It’s Christmas? – the charity single by Band Aid.

When it finally released, the Welsh singer took the charts by storm, and the song was no worse for having had to wait. I once sang this song at a karaoke night – after a little too much to drink! It’s probably fair to say Stevens’ original version is better, though!

Track 9:
Christmas Tree Farm – Taylor Swift (2019)

Having been a big Taylor Swift fan during her country days, I’d fallen out of love with the superstar after she made her move to pop. Her pop albums have been – in my opinion – rather bland and uninspired, so I wasn’t particularly interested in learning she was releasing a Christmas single last year. But I should’ve been! Christmas Tree Farm is touching and deeply personal – as much of her work is. It’s a great song, and when I booted up my Christmas playlist this year, I was glad to see it return.

The song recounts Swift’s early life growing up on a Christmas tree farm, and has a unique charm. Christmas is a time for nostalgia and remembering childhood, and that’s exactly what the track is about. Though one of her least-successful singles in terms of chart performance, I’m happy to have added Christmas Tree Farm to my festive playlist, and I’m sure to be listening to it at Christmas for many years to come.

Track 10:
The First Noel – John Denver (1990)

One of my favourite artists sings one of my favourite Christmas carols. What could be better than that? Taken from his third (and final) Christmas album, Denver’s take on The First Noel is beautiful.

The song wasn’t released as a single, simply as one track among thirteen on the album, but it’s one of my favourites from Christmas, Like a Lullaby. There have been some great covers of The First Noel over the years, but this version is understated, slow, and keeps it simple. Denver doesn’t overcomplicate the tune with excessive instrumentation or by trying to over-stress every note. It’s just a sweet version of a classic carol.

Track 11:
Little Town – Amy Grant (1983)

If John Denver’s The First Noel was an understated version of a classic, American contemporary Christian artist Amy Grant’s adaptation of the Christmas carol O Little Town of Bethlehem is the complete opposite! The carol is given a faster tempo, modern instruments, and a pop makeover, transforming it almost entirely into something new. Yet it retains the original lyrics in an odd blend of styles, but one that truly works.

This version of the classic carol was originally recorded by British singer Cliff Richard – more on him in a moment. His version is decent, but for my money Grant’s version just has something more that elevates it, and makes it a truly enjoyable listen. As someone who isn’t religious, I wouldn’t seek out a musician like Amy Grant at any other time of year. But Little Town has been a part of my Christmas playlist for decades, and I always enjoy it.

Track 12:
Mistletoe and Wine – Cliff Richard (1988)

Mistletoe and Wine gets an unfairly bad rap, in my opinion, as does Sir Cliff Richard himself. There’s nothing wrong with this orchestral-pop song, which Richard adapted for Christmas in 1988. It would go on to be the first of three consecutive Christmas number ones for the singer; he also topped the charts with Band Aid II in 1989, and again as a solo artist with Saviour’s Day in 1990.

It’s become popular in recent years for folks to look down their noses at Sir Cliff and his middle-of-the-road, inoffensive style of pop music. I don’t really know why, because he’s had some great records over the years. When it comes to Christmas, it would be remiss not to include Mistletoe and Wine – or any of his other Christmassy singles.

So that’s it. An eclectic mix, I’m sure you’ll agree. And neither a Wham! nor a Mariah Carey in sight! One of the things I enjoy most about this time of year is the music, and there are many more songs and albums I could have talked about here. This playlist was already growing long, though, so we’ll have to settle for twelve! Maybe next Christmas I’ll add a few more.

2020 has been a crap year, and it’s years like this where Christmas time matters all the more to a lot of folks. Take some time to unwind if you can. For me, listening to Christmas music – both lifelong favourites and brand-new classics – is a great way to do that. Hopefully some of these songs will be to your taste too.

There’s more Christmas-themed content to come before we get to the big day, so stay tuned!

All songs on the playlist above are the copyright of their respective record company, studio, distributor, composer, etc. All videos courtesy of YouTube. Videos are merely embedded here, and are not hosted on Trekking with Dennis. For copyright claims, please contact YouTube directly. This article contains the thoughts and opinions of one person only and is not intended to cause any offence.