Tag: xmas

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 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.

Five “Christmas” Films To Watch In December… Or Any Time Of Year, Really

Five “Christmas” Films To Watch In December… Or Any Time Of Year, Really

Dennis

Spoiler Warning: Beware of minor spoilers for some of the films on this list.

I love Christmas – it’s the most wonderful time of the year, don’t you know! And there are some absolutely phenomenal Christmas films that are on everyone’s must-watch list every single year. You know the ones: films that we’ve watched at this time of year for almost as long as we can remember; films that have come to define every aspect of the word “Christmas.”

And I thought it could be fun to take a look at five of them and explain why they’re not really Christmas films!

That’s right, it’s time for a little bit of festive controversy as I pick out five “Christmas” films that aren’t really Christmas films! Instead, I would argue that these films are in other genres entirely, or are only tangentially related to Christmas either by being set at that time of year or even just by association.

Father Christmas is indisputably a Christmas film – which is why it won’t be on the list below!

Before we get into the list, an important caveat: this is just for fun! I don’t think the debate around what is or isn’t a “Christmas” film is something that needs to be taken seriously at all, and I’m making this list with tongue firmly embedded in cheek. It’s also one person’s entirely subjective opinion – so please try not to get too upset if I call out your favourite Christmas film!

I enjoy all of the films on this list, and regularly watch them at this time of year. But for reasons I’ll try my best to explain, I don’t necessarily consider them to be true “Christmas” films in every sense of the phrase. Definitions of what constitutes a Christmas film may vary – and it might be enough to say that a film set at Christmas, released at Christmas, or that has developed an association with Christmas over the years counts. But I’m going to argue that those reasons are not enough – for a film to truly be a Christmas film its plot has to be directly tied up with Christmas!

So let’s jump into the list, shall we?

Film #1:
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Jack Skellington.

Wait, this film literally has the word “Christmas” in its name! Not only that, but it sees protagonist Jack Skellington take the reins of Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve… so how can it possibly not be a Christmas film? Well, that’s simple: it’s a Halloween film best enjoyed in the autumn.

Most of the action in The Nightmare Before Christmas takes place in Halloween Town, and practically all of the principal characters are Halloween Town residents who are inspired by the monsters and ghouls of horror fiction and folklore. Although the plot touches on Christmas and sees characters visit Christmas Town, those scenes and sequences are told from the point of view of the denizens of Halloween Town – and their take on Christmas is very much a spooky one!

The film is largely told from the perspective of Halloween Town residents.

For that reason, The Nightmare Before Christmas is a great film to watch in between Halloween and Christmas – say, in the middle of November! But as Christmas gets closer, we should really be leaving Halloween behind to focus on what lies ahead. For me, The Nightmare Before Christmas is too strongly rooted in Halloween, and decked out with the trappings of that holiday, to truly be considered a Christmas film.

That being said, I love how the film shows Halloween Town characters discovering Christmas for the first time, and how they work to save Christmas – after putting it in danger! There are some fun moments amidst the frights and scares… but it’s still very much a film that’s best enjoyed before Christmas time fully arrives!

Film #2:
Love Actually (2003)

Lost in translation lovebirds!

This is simple: Love Actually is a film set at Christmas, not a Christmas film. Are we clear on that? Good! Wait, what do you mean I have to fill three-and-a-half more paragraphs? D’oh!

As stated, Love Actually may be set at Christmas, but setting alone does not – in my view – make for a Christmas film! Many of this romantic comedy’s storylines have nothing whatsoever to do with Christmas, and the simple fact that they play out in front of an occasionally festive backdrop doesn’t magically make the entire film a Christmas film!

It’s the Prime Minister!

Because of Love Actually’s narrative structure, some of its storylines and characters arguably have more to do with Christmas than others. Billy Mack, for instance, is desperately chasing the Christmas number one single, and the kids are taking part in a school’s nativity play. But other characters really don’t do anything Christmassy at all during their time on screen, with their stories taking them in different directions.

I enjoyed Love Actually when it was released – and to think it’s celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year makes me feel old! But I must confess that I was surprised to see it hailed as a “Christmas” film in the years after its release. To me, it has much more in common with writer Richard Curtis’ other rom-coms like Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill than it does with bona fide Christmas films.

Film #3:
Frozen (2013)

Let It Go!

Frozen just isn’t a Christmas film, okay? It’s set in the middle of summer! And the princesses of the magical kingdom of Arendelle may not even celebrate Christmas for all we know; the holiday isn’t mentioned once!

A lot of people seem to associate Frozen with Christmas for two reasons: it was originally released shortly before Christmas, and it’s full of ice and snow thanks to Elsa’s magical powers. But there’s more to a Christmas film than a magical blizzard – and while Frozen may have a cute winter aesthetic going for it, as well as some well-animated snow, that’s not enough to make me believe it’s truly a Christmas film. And I say that with sincere apologies to everyone under the age of ten!

Snow and ice do not automatically make a film Christmassy.

The story of Frozen is set in the summer time; it’s only Elsa’s magic that causes Arendelle to freeze over. And the snow and ice is presented as a genuine danger to the kingdom’s inhabitants – hardly the carefree presentation of a white Christmas that we’d expect to see in a proper Christmas film! Many films use ice, snow, and blizzards to great effect – but we don’t call all of them “Christmas” films, and with good reason!

As more of the kids who grew up watching Frozen come of age, I expect its status as a “Christmas” film will only be further cemented. We’ve already seen songs like Do You Want To Build A Snowman showing up on Christmas compilation albums and playlists… so this idea of Frozen as a Christmas film clearly isn’t going away any time soon.

Film #4:
Die Hard (1988)

John McClane is fed up with this debate!

Uh oh, now we’re really getting into some controversial territory! Look, here’s the way I see it: I don’t dispute that Die Hard is set at Christmas and has some of the visual and musical trappings of the holiday season. That’s indisputable. But Die Hard is an action film set at Christmas time – not a Christmas film.

A couple of years ago, I saw somewhere online a homemade Christmas ornament featuring protagonist John McClane crawling through the ventilation ducts at Nakatomi Plaza. That was creative and cute – but the action movie trope of sneaking around in a crawlspace isn’t exactly something that screams “Christmas” to me!

Alan Rickman as terrorist leader Hans Gruber.

One of the best tests of whether something can truly be considered a Christmas film is this: can you comfortably watch it outside of the Christmas season? I’d have no issue watching Die Hard in the middle of summer – because its plot doesn’t hinge on Christmas, its characters aren’t interested in Christmas, and fundamentally, nothing about the film would change if its office Christmas party was instead a birthday party or a Fourth of July celebration.

And that’s the key to understanding Die Hard’s place on this list. It’s an action film with a few incidental Christmas trappings, and it’s been hyped up by fans as a “Christmas” film on the internet in recent years – but it isn’t. Being set at Christmas does not automatically make for a Christmas film!

Film #5:
Trading Places (1983)

An ’80s Christmas classic – but rightly so?

I’ve only seen the comedy film Trading Places a couple of times; I think it’s more popular in the United States than it is over here. But it’s a film that’s often discussed in a Christmas context – and seems to be on many people’s list of Christmas favourites!

As with Die Hard above, though, Trading Places is definitely a film set at Christmas time… but that doesn’t necessarily make it a true Christmas film. It’s a comedy, it’s a wacky adventure, and it’s a film that calls out and criticises racism as well as the weird excesses of wealth and capitalism. And those are all good things; Trading Places is funny! But again, that doesn’t make it a Christmas film.

A happy ending!

The Christmas setting and the film’s annual airings on television in December have combined to make it a film that a lot of folks associate with the holidays. If you grew up watching Trading Places every year, there’s no doubt it’s become a part of your household’s festive tradition! We all have our own little Christmas traditions that we stick to – and that’s totally okay.

But for me, Trading Places is another film that can really be watched and enjoyed at any time of year. Nothing in its story is exclusive to the festive period – and that’s actually a good thing! It means Trading Places is a film that can be enjoyed on its own merit year-round.

So that’s it!

A festive cat!

We’ve picked out five not-really-Christmas films! But I can already think of several more… so come back next December to see which other so-called “Christmas” films are going to be targeted!

As I said at the beginning, I hope you’ve taken this list in the spirit of festive fun. It’s meant to be a bit of silliness as the big day approaches – and while I will make the case for all five of these films not really being 100% Christmassy, I’m not about to die on that hill – or get into a massive argument about it!

So I hope this has brought you a bit of light-hearted festive cheer as Christmas draws nearer. The big day will be upon us before we realise it! I have a couple of other festive ideas that may (or may not) make their way onto the website before then, so please stay tuned! And Merry Christmas!

All of the films discussed above are the copyright of their respective studio, distributor, company, 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

For the fourth year in a row, my festive playlist is here. This is becoming the closest thing that Trekking with Dennis has to an annual tradition!

I absolutely love Christmas music, and I’ve been a collector of Christmas albums and songs for a long time. Every year there are new festive albums and singles, and although there are a lot of samey arrangements of a handful of “traditional holiday favourites,” there are some real gems in the mix, too. These can be new songs or simply interesting takes on classic tunes.

For me, Christmas is a holiday all about traditions and nostalgia! And Christmas music is part of that; I have very fond memories of listening to some of these Christmas songs on my father’s old record turntable before we’d even made the switch to cassette tapes! Part of what makes Christmas time feel like Christmas time is hearing some of these songs on repeat. When I used to work in a shop, I admit that sometimes I did roll my eyes when Wham! or Mariah Carey started playing on the radio for the fifth time in the space of one shift! But even then, the music was just part of what made it Christmas.

Merry Christmas, puss!

Memories are funny things, and perhaps on another occasion we’ll have to dig a bit deeper into my Christmas recollections! But for now, suffice to say that hearing some of these Christmas tunes evokes memories of going Christmas shopping after dark, with the city’s array of Christmas lights and decorations glittering on a winter’s evening.

If you missed the earlier editions of my festive playlist, you can find them here:

The videos below are all hosted on YouTube, and some may be unavailable or blocked depending on where you are in the world. However, all of the songs should be available via your streaming method of choice if you can’t listen to them here.

So let’s get started, shall we?

Track 1:
Medley: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, O Come All Ye Faithful, The First Noel – Steve Wariner (1990)

This medley took me forever to track down! I owned a CD in the mid-1990s called something like “A Country Christmas” – which was a mix of Christmas songs by different country music artists – and this was one of the tracks. When I converted my CDs to digital I didn’t know who all of the individual artists were, so it’s been on my computer forever just under the name “Various Artists.” It was only when I decided that I wanted to add it to this year’s edition of the Christmas playlist that I belatedly learned that the singer is one Steve Wariner.

I confess that I don’t know much about Mr Wariner – other than that he has recorded several other Christmas albums! This medley, though, brings together three classic Christmas carols in a gentle country style, and the blend works incredibly well. It’s been a fixture on my festive playlists ever since I owned that CD, and I’m glad I can finally put the artist’s name to such a beautiful arrangement.

Track 2:
Christmas Dirtbag – Wheatus (2023)

Do you remember the song Teenage Dirtbag? Wheatus were a one-hit wonder with the song in the year 2000, and I remember hearing it on the radio seemingly incessantly at the time! It was a good song, though: a kind of alt-pop/pop-punk tale of teen rebellion and feeling left out at school. Well… to my utter shock, Wheatus have reworked the track with some clearly tongue-in-cheek Christmas lyrics. And every time I listen to it I get a big stupid grin on my face!

This is a song that might trigger a very specific kind of nostalgia for millennials and Gen X-ers, and you know what? I hope it makes a stir on the charts! Christmas is a time when novelty songs can often find an audience, and this thoroughly bizarre version of Teenage Dirtbag deserves all the love it can find. If you’d told me a Christmas version of Teenage Dirtbag would be in any way worth listening to I’d have laughed out loud… but then I heard it. If you aren’t convinced, just give it a listen. It only took me one go around to be absolutely hooked!

Track 3:
Step Into Christmas – Elton John (1973)

The same year that Wizzard and Slade were battling for the Christmas number one spot, Elton John also recorded and released a Christmas classic! Gosh, what a great year for Christmas songs 1973 was. Elton’s offering didn’t make much of an impression on the charts that year, though, peaking at a lowly 24th position – but it’s found a lot more love in the years since, and is now a mainstay on the radio at this time of year.

I’m a bit of an Elton fan, and this pop track is definitely up there with his other hits in terms of quality. It’s been a festive staple for as long as I can remember, really – and it wouldn’t feel like Christmas if I didn’t hear Step Into Christmas at least half a dozen times before the big day!

Track 4:
Auld Lang Syne – Dougie MacLean (1995)

I lost a close relative on New Year’s Eve 2003, and perhaps it’s for that reason that I’m not the biggest New Year’s fan. I don’t hate the holiday, but it’s one that brings up memories of that person – and of others who are no longer around. New Year is a reminder of the onward march of time, too – something that’s catching up to me! Hearing Auld Lang Syne can feel bittersweet, then, as a new year is rung in.

It’s in that spirit that I share this particular rendition of Auld Lang Syne by Scottish folk singer Dougie MacLean. I was fortunate enough to see him perform live once, and it was a truly incredible performance that remains to this day one of the best I’ve ever seen. You might know Dougie MacLean from his song Caledonia, which is often called Scotland’s “other national anthem.”

This version of Auld Lang Syne is hauntingly beautiful; a slowed-down take with traditional instruments that really encapsulates the way I feel about New Year. It might not be something you want to listen to every day – and it certainly clashes with some of the more upbeat Christmas songs on this playlist – but when I’m in the mood for it, it’s one of those pieces of music that’s emotional, nostalgic, haunting, and incredible all at the same time.

Track 5:
Stay Another Day – East 17 (1994)

Stay Another Day is one of those songs that’s become a Christmas anthem… for no other reason than it happened to be released at this time of year! Boyband East 17 leaned into the wintertime theme in the song’s music video, and a Christmas classic was born. Stay Another Day is a perfectly enjoyable ’90s pop song – and became the Christmas number one in 1994, beating All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey in the process – but it’s not necessarily one I’d have expected to become a mainstay of Christmas playlists!

That being said… it *is* on my Christmas playlist, so East 17 clearly did something right! Stay Another Day is just one of those songs that developed an association with Christmas, and while I might’ve been surprised when it started coming back Christmas after Christmas… it’s no less Christmassy that a lot of other songs that are popular at this time of year! If you’re hearing it for the very first time, I get why it might not seem like a typical Christmas song. But for us Brits, it’s just another of our inexplicable Christmas traditions!

Track 6:
Fairytale of New York – Ed Sheeran and Anne-Marie (2017)

I included the original version of this Christmas classic on the first edition of my festive playlist back in 2020, and I can absolutely understand why people would say that Shane MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl’s vocal deliveries can’t be beaten! This version, recorded live for Radio 1 here in the UK back in 2017, is different from the original, no question. Ed Sheeran has a much softer voice than the late great Shane MacGowan – who passed away earlier this week – and that definitely changes the tone of the song. This version also makes a couple of changes to the most offensive lyrics from the original, further toning things down.

All that being said, while this cover of Fairytale of New York is certainly different… I don’t think that makes it worse. It’s just a different take on the song by two incredibly talented performers, and there should always be room for covers of even the most beloved classics! As far as I can tell, this cover version – which was performed live and never officially “released” – has never charted. But the original Fairytale of New York has returned to the top five around Christmas every year for the past few years – and in light of the recent passing of Shane MacGowan, could even be a surprise contender for this year’s number one.

Track 7:
What Christmas Means To Me – John Legend (2018)

I confess I’m not especially familiar with John Legend, but as an avid collector of Christmas albums I picked up his offering – titled A Legendary Christmas – in 2018. The album contains eight covers and a whopping six original compositions. This song is a cover of Stevie Wonder’s 1967 hit, and Wonder himself returns to play harmonica alongside John Legend, which was a nice touch!

I like the up-tempo song and jazz instrumentation, and even though I can’t remember hearing Stevie Wonder’s original version before, it’s sweet of him to join in for a collaboration on a new version of one of his hits. There are other great tracks on John Legend’s Christmas album – but this has always felt like one of the best to me, so it makes the cut on this occasion!

Track 8:
Here Comes Santa Claus – Elvis Presley (1957)

Ten years after Gene Autry wrote Here Comes Santa Claus, Elvis covered the track for his first Christmas album. Elvis’ version of the song is one that I can remember my father playing on his turntable in the run-up to Christmas; that must be one of my earliest memories of listening to Christmas music! My father had been a big fan of Elvis’ earlier albums, and may even have picked up Elvis’ Christmas Album the year it was released.

So it’s not unfair to say that there are strong nostalgic feelings and memories attached to this song in particular! But it’s a great cover version in its own right; a song well-suited to Elvis Presley’s distinctive voice. There’s also a version of this song featuring new instrumentation by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, recorded in 2017 as part of their album Christmas with Elvis and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Though I prefer the original, that version adds a lot to the track.

Track 9:
DJ Play A Christmas Song – Cher (2023)

The second brand-new track from 2023 to make this list comes from Cher’s first-ever Christmas album. I know what you’re thinking, because I thought it too: Cher hadn’t made a Christmas album till now? That doesn’t seem right! But it’s true, and her 2023 offering – simply titled Christmas – is her first foray into the holiday music genre.

Cher is a fantastic performer, and I can already tell that this new offering is going to become a mainstay on my Christmas playlist – for as many Christmases as I have left! When DJ Play A Christmas Song reached the number-one spot on the Billboard Dance/Electronic chart in the United States, it made Cher the first performer ever to have a number one song in seven consecutive decades! The song has also charted in the UK in recent weeks – and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it rise beyond its 30th place peak as Christmas gets nearer.

Track 10:
It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas – Maddie and Tae (2023)

In 2015, after the tongue-in-cheek Girl In A Country Song had been a big hit, it seemed as if Maddie and Tae were about to take the country music world by storm. They were even hailed in some corners as “the new Taylor Swift!” That didn’t quite happen for the duo, unfortunately, but they’re still performing and recording music together – and this year Maddie and Tae have released an extended version of their Christmas EP, containing this cover version of It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas among other tracks.

I find this up-tempo version of the festive classic to be charming, and not too “country” if you’re not a huge fan of the genre. The duo’s vocals are a great fit for the track, and it’s always nice to get a new take on a Christmas classic. There are plenty of versions of It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas out there – and I featured Michael Bublé’s take on it as part of the festive playlist a couple of years ago – but this version is something just a little different.

Track 11:
Ring Out, Solstice Bells – Jethro Tull (1976)

Prog rock band Jethro Tull recorded Ring Out, Solstice Bells in 1976 – and it’s become a perennial festive favourite ever since! I’m loathe to call it a “Christmas” song, because the title and lyrics are deliberately non-Christian and even pagan, celebrating the winter solstice rather than Christmas itself. But that doesn’t stop Ring Out, Solstice Bells being a great song and one that’s well worth listening to at this time of year.

This is another track that I can picture my parents listening to in one of those early Christmastime memories! I think my father must’ve owned Jethro Tull’s 1977 album Songs from the Wood, on which the track was featured after its original release. I can’t remember, though… but I know this was a song that we listened to at Christmas time! It’s another one of those strangely nostalgic songs that reminds me of those childhood Christmases.

Track 12:
Underneath the Tree – Kelly Clarkson (2013)

I still consider this track to be a “new” Christmas song… even though it’s celebrating its tenth anniversary this year! Shows how old I’m getting, eh? In 2013, American popstar Kelly Clarkson released her first Christmas album, and along with a handful of up-tempo versions of holiday classics was this original composition. It’s a great song and has been rightly hailed as a modern festive classic!

Underneath the Tree peaked at number 12 on the charts here in the UK, but was a chart-topper in the USA and Canada. I’ve seen it on multiple Christmas compilation albums and playlists in the years since, and it’s been a mainstay on my own Christmas playlist since I bought Kelly Clarkson’s album that same year.

So that’s it for another year!

Decorating the tree!

I’m proud to say that, once again, we’ve managed to stay hidden from both Wham! and Mariah Carey… but as we begin to run out of top-tier festive hits, will we be able to keep that up next year? I guess you’ll have to come back in December 2024 to find out!

I hope this playlist has given you a little bit of festive inspiration, at any rate. In my admittedly foggy memories of childhood, my parents would pop on a Christmas record when we were getting the decorations out of storage in mid-December. It was great fun to dig through the boxes, finding little ornaments and pieces of tinsel that we hadn’t seen in almost a year all the while some festive songs were playing in the background. I’m sure I’m romanticising those memories; looking back with red-and-gold-tinted glasses! But memory is a funny thing, and my recollections of Christmas are a big part of why I love the holiday season so much.

I hope you’ll stay tuned, because I have a couple of other festive ideas that may (or may not, time depending) make their way to the website before the big day. All that remains to say is this: Merry Christmas!

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.

When are you “allowed” to decorate for Christmas?

When are you “allowed” to decorate for Christmas?

Dennis

I love Christmas! And I don’t think it’s too early to say so. In fact, it was when I was beginning to put up my modest array of Christmas decorations that I began to think about how silly this conversation is about “Christmas creep” and the expanding holiday season. I decided to write down how I feel about it if for no other reason than to get my thoughts in order!

Not everyone likes Christmas – and across the world, billions of people don’t celebrate. That’s totally okay with me, and I’d never tell anyone that they should feel the same way about any holiday or time of year as I do. I’m not especially interested in Valentine’s Day or Easter, for example, and I really don’t like my birthday – I tend not to share my date of birth with people nor celebrate in any way. But Christmas is 100% my jam; this is the holiday I care the most about, and the time of year that I’m always looking forward to and happily welcome back.

A festive street light.

As with so many things online, the “debate” around Christmas and when it’s okay to start celebrating started out pretty casually and light-heartedly. But some folks seem to have started to take it unnecessarily seriously, with some even suggesting that people who put up their Christmas decorations before they deem it appropriate are somehow committing a horrible moral sin or doing something unacceptable.

I’ll share my two cents on decorating and you can see whether we’re close to being on the same page. Here in the UK, we celebrate Bonfire Night on the 5th of November – something you might remember from the film adaptation of V for Vendetta, if for no other reason! Bonfire Night doesn’t bring with it any decorations, but there are fireworks and – naturally – bonfires. Bonfire Night is the last noteworthy holiday/event (in my life as an English atheist, at any rate) before Christmas – so I consider any time after Bonfire Night to be “fair game” for putting up my Christmas decorations.

Decorating for Christmas.

I like to decorate my home. It’s fun to have something to look at, both inside and out, and I take any opportunity I can get to put up a string of fairy lights, banners, streamers, or really any kind of decorative items. With my Halloween decorations coming down in early November, there’s a bit of a void… and I like to fill that void by getting started on my Christmas decorations.

Maybe we’re getting a little philosophical or even psychological… but I’m someone who doesn’t like conflict, and I like to “live and let live.” If someone disagrees with me, even on a topic I care greatly about, I’d rather move the conversation along than get into an argument. I’m also the kind of person who’d never tell anyone that they’re doing something wrong – not unless it was literally a life-or-death kind of situation! “You do you, friend” is something I’ll often say – even if I vehemently disagree!

All aboard the Christmas Express!

So with all of that in mind, I’d never want to tell someone that the way they’re decorating their own home is somehow wrong or inappropriate. Some people begin to prepare for Halloween months in advance because they love that holiday a lot more than I do – and that’s fine. I’ve dated people who wanted to go all-out for Valentine’s Day, and even though it’s really not my favourite holiday, I was happy to go along with it for their sake. I guess I don’t really understand why so many people feel the need to butt in and give their totally unsolicited and uninvited opinions on Christmas decorating.

I saw a web comic once, a few years ago now, that said something to the effect of “some people don’t get a lot of joy or pleasure in life… so why try to rob them of it when they do find it?” And that’s kind of how I feel about this silly “debate” around decorating for Christmas. Some of the trappings of Christmas – the snacks, the decorations, and the twinkling lights – give me a small amount of pleasure at this time of year. And if someone wants to decorate for Christmas in August… why should you or I care? Why should we tell them that they’re being silly or childish? It seems mean… it feels almost like bullying.

Lights and baubles on a Christmas tree.

On an individual level, making a one-off remark about it being “too early” might seem inoffensive enough. But we have to try to keep in mind that, especially when we’re communicating online, the chances are that these comments have been made and seen before… time after time after time. And although it may seem harmless… that kind of thing wears you down after a while.

Christmas isn’t always the most fun time of year. I have memories of someone close to me who passed away in between Christmas and New Year that always come to the surface, and I know I won’t be alone in that. Christmas can, for people like myself who live alone, also be a very lonely time of year. When you don’t have anyone close to share your life with, holidays like Christmas can really feel like they’re rubbing it in sometimes! And those feelings impact me, too.

Children decorating a Christmas tree.

But in a way, that’s why decorating is so important to me. It helps me to remind myself of Christmases gone by, and to seek pleasure in the small things. I’m not going to have a big family Christmas this year – most of my close family members are gone, and others live too far away to visit on or around the big day. But I can still find things to enjoy about Christmas time: Christmas music, festive snacks, and of course, my decorations.

I’ve said before in totally different contexts that we should all try to be careful with our words when we hop online – and this is another one of those times. It’s totally okay to not enjoy Christmas, not to celebrate Christmas, and even to get irritated and annoyed if you see people getting ready for the holidays “too soon.” But there’s no need to call out someone for seeking a bit of joy and pleasure at this time of year – and since none of us can really know what anyone else might be feeling or going through, doing so could really upset someone or push them over the edge.

On behalf of people who like to put up their Christmas decorations before December: we get it! Some people think it’s “too early” and it shouldn’t be done. But how I choose to decorate my home – and how I choose to live – really isn’t anyone else’s business, is it?

Happy decorating… and a nice, early Merry Christmas from me to you!

Some images used above 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

For the third year in a row I’m putting together a playlist of some of my favourite Christmas tunes! This playlist will perfectly complement the playlists I published in 2020 and 2021, so be sure to check out both of those to see even more holiday favourites!

I love this time of year, and revelling in Christmas music is one way to enjoy the season. Over the years I’ve amassed a collection of Christmas albums and singles, spanning a range of musical genres and styles. A lot of more modern albums seem to be comprised of the same handful of “traditional holiday favourites,” but every once in a while there’s a real gem amongst them – be that an original song or a great cover.

Christmas will soon be upon us once again!

Last year we were treated to Ed Sheeran and Elton John’s instant Christmas classic Merry Christmas, and that song will be a permanent fixture on my holiday playlist from now on! There are still original Christmassy songs composed, then, even if the charts have been dominated in recent years by talent show winners and novelty songs.

This playlist is really “part three” – following on from the playlists I’ve published over the past couple of years. So please go back and check out my first playlist, which you can find by clicking or tapping here. And don’t forget part two, which you can find by clicking or tapping here! Put all three together – or just pluck out your personal faves – and you’ll be set to go for your Christmas party!

The videos below are all hosted on YouTube, and some may be region-blocked. However, all of the songs should be available via your streaming method of choice if you can’t listen to them here. Let’s jump into the playlist!

Track 1:
Wonderful Christmastime – Paul McCartney (1979)

Was the ’70s the golden age of pop-rock Christmas songs… or is that just the nostalgia talking? After the likes of Slade, John Lennon, Mud, and Wizzard all put out songs that have become perennial favourites, Paul McCartney closed out the decade with Wonderful Christmastime. And apparently he hates it – or rather, he’s come to dislike the song after hearing it every Christmas season for more than forty years!

What’s fascinating about Wonderful Christmastime is that Paul McCartney composed the song, sings it, and also plays every single instrument you hear on the recording. His band at the time, Wings, wasn’t involved in the song at all (though members of the band do appear in the video). Whatever you may think of the song – and it’s definitely a love-it-or-hate-it Christmas track – a lot of work and talent went into its recording.

Track 2:
Up On The Housetop – The Jackson 5 (1970)

Up On The Housetop is one of those Christmas classics that seems to have been recorded by a wide range of performers! Originally composed in the mid-19th Century, the song tells a timeless tale of the arrival of Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. The Corporation, who produced many of the Jackson 5’s early hits, adapted the song for the group, adding in new lines for the Jackson family.

As an R&B/funk arrangement, the up-tempo adaptation of the song is pitch-perfect, and the extra lines add a little dash of humour. It’s not a straight cover of this Christmas classic – but there are many other arrangements of Up On The Housetop that stay true to its original composition. For my money, the Jackson 5 version is one of the better ones, and certainly one of the most unique.

Track 3:
21st Century Christmas – Cliff Richard (2006)

21st Century Christmas was Sir Cliff Richard’s last real effort to score a number one hit in the UK. If he’d succeeded, he would’ve been the first and only artist to reach the number one spot in six different decades, after achieving the milestone at least once in every decade from the ’50s to the ’90s. 21st Century Christmas managed to sell more CDs than any other song – but was pipped to the post by Take That in the week before Christmas and by X Factor winner Leona Lewis in Christmas week. Both artists achieved their positions thanks to downloads, which were newly-incorporated into the charts at the time.

Despite not quite hitting the top spot, 21st Century Christmas is a nice song, and it’s been a fixture on my Christmas playlist. I bought the CD single in 2006, and I bought the song again as an mp3 a few years later. Some of the lyrics feel rather dated as Sir Cliff’s idea of a 21st Century Christmas involves faxes and DVDs… but hey, they were modern and hip at the time! And it wouldn’t be Christmas without one of Sir Cliff’s songs!

Track 4:
Christmas Is All Around – Love Actually OST (2003)

Rom-com Love Actually didn’t really feel like a typical Christmas film when I first saw it, but it’s certainly become a perennial Christmas favourite over the past couple of decades! One of the film’s story threads followed ageing rock star Billy Mack – played by Bill Nighy – as he chases one last chance at stardom by scoring a Christmas number one with a Christmas version of Love Is All Around.

The song is deliberately silly, with some slightly awkward moments as the words don’t quite fit in time to the beat! But as a parody and pastiche of novelty Christmas songs, it’s absolutely perfect. And the end result is a perfectly creditable Christmas song in its own right – one that has managed to find a place on my Christmas playlist!

Track 5:
Santa’s Coming For Us – Sia (2017)

Australian pop superstar Sia released her first Christmas album in 2017 – and as a collector of Christmas albums, I snapped it up as soon as it was available! The lead single from a Christmas album that was made up mostly of new compositions was Santa’s Coming For Us, and it’s a fantastic modern Christmas song.

Santa’s Coming For Us topped the charts in Canada… but nowhere else, reaching a distant 17th place on the charts here in the UK. The music video features Henry Winkler (best known as Fonzie on Happy Days) as part of an all-star cast, which is kind of neat. I always like to give new songs a fair shot, and I’m definitely glad to have tried Sia’s Christmas offering.

Track 6:
O Little Town Of Bethlehem – Annie Lennox (2010)

In 2010, Annie Lennox (of Eurythmics fame) released her first Christmas album! God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – a fairly drab traditional carol – was the lead single, but for my money, Lennox’s arrangement of O Little Town Of Bethlehem is the real standout track. It wasn’t released as an independent single, though, so it never charted.

Traditional carols like O Little Town Of Bethlehem have seen many different arrangements and covers over the years. Lennox’s take is much more traditional than the Cliff Richard/Amy Grant song Little Town (which made the cut to feature on the 2020 edition of my festive playlist!) But I think there’s room to enjoy both classic and novel arrangements of the same festive favourites sometimes. Annie Lennox did a great job on O Little Town Of Bethlehem, and her version is, at least for me, one of the best.

Track 7:
Merry Christmas (Exclamation Point) – Jon Lajoie (2013)

Jon Lajoie’s song is a very light-hearted look at Christmas, and I absolutely love it! Merry Christmas (Exclamation Point) is incredibly relatable; we all have people in our lives outside of our immediate circles of family and close friends, work colleagues and casual acquaintances who we want to acknowledge over the holidays – but not in a big way! And that’s what the song is all about.

I confess that I’m not familiar with Jon Lajoie or any of his other work. I stumbled upon this Christmas song on iTunes or YouTube shortly after it was released, and I fell in love with its humourous take on the holiday season. It’s been a feature on my playlist ever since – and a song I’ve recommended to others, too!

Track 8:
Do They Know It’s Christmas? – Band Aid (1984)

Last year, I put Band Aid 20’s version of Do They Know It’s Christmas (from 2004) on my playlist, but as I said then, it’s a toss-up for me whether that version or the original from 1984 is better! So this year we’re going to add the original version! Band Aid came together very quickly in late 1984, inspired (or so the story goes) by a BBC news report on that year’s famine in Ethiopia. The song was thrown together in a matter of days by Bob Geldof and Ultravox’s Midge Ure.

Do They Know It’s Christmas? was a charity single, with all the proceeds raised going to help with famine relief in Ethiopia, and although some of the lyrics are a little on the nose, the intentions here were good. Band Aid went on to inspire the Live Aid and USA For Africa concerts in 1985 (the former of which is one of my earliest television viewing memories!) and the song itself has been re-recorded on three separate occasions now, raising more money for charity every time. And as a festive hit, Do They Know It’s Christmas? actually manages to be a good, enjoyable song.

Track 9:
Thank You Santa – Mitchel Musso (2009)

This song was featured on the Phineas and Ferb Christmas special in 2009 – specifically, it’s the song at the very end that plays while the credits roll. It’s an incredibly sweet song, and without wanting to put too fine a point on it, it’s all about saying thank you to Santa Claus!

Mitchel Musso voiced the character of Jeremy in Phineas and Ferb for all four seasons of the show (and its spin-off films), and was also a Disney Channel star, appearing in shows like Hannah Montana and Pair of Kings. This song has been a fixture on my Christmas playlist – along with several others from the same Christmas special – ever since I got the CD soundtrack!

Track 10:
Three Ships – Cyndi Lauper (1998)

Cyndi Lauper’s Christmas album in 1998 didn’t do especially well on the charts, but she brought a new style to several traditional carols. Her version of Three Ships is probably one of the more unique takes on the carol that I’ve heard, and as a lesser-known Christmas tune it’s nice to see songs like this given a new arrangement sometimes.

I Saw Three Ships is a traditional carol whose origins are lost, and speculation abounds as to what the titular three ships might have been carrying – and what their destination may have been! Regardless, the song seems to date to at least the middle ages, and although it isn’t at the top of everyone’s list, new versions and arrangements still pop up from time to time.

Track 11:
Stop The Cavalry – Jona Lewie (1980)

Stop The Cavalry is one of those songs that didn’t start out life as a Christmas song… but became one almost by default thanks to a December release! One line in the song mentions Christmas, but aside from that it’s really a protest song, an anti-war track that references the First World War but also looks to contemporary conflicts and the threat of nuclear war as well.

I’m certain that Stop The Cavalry would have reached the number one spot in December 1980 – possibly as that year’s Christmas number one – were it not for the murder of John Lennon that same month. Two of Lennon’s hits – (Just Like) Starting Over and Imagine – hit the number one spot in December and January, keeping Stop The Cavalry from topping the charts. In the years since, however, the song has become a well-known holiday favourite here in the UK.

Track 12:
To Christmas! (The Drinking Song) – Straight No Chaser (2016)

The story of acapella group Straight No Chaser is a fun one! The group was founded in 1996 by a group of students in Indiana, and they played a number of local gigs in the late 1990s before they graduated and went their separate ways. But in 2006, a video that had been recorded of their version of Twelve Days of Christmas years earlier went viral on YouTube, racking up more than twenty million views – massive numbers at the time! The band got back together and have since put out several albums.

To Christmas! (The Drinking Song) is a fun, light-hearted track taken from their 2016 Christmas album. The song races through the entire season, from the weeks leading up to Christmas right through to New Year, and it does so in a gentle and fun way, touching on topics like parties and Christmas shopping but with a neat, modern twist.

So that’s it!

Not long to wait!

We’ve added twelve more tracks to the festive playlist, and for the third year in a row we’ve managed to dodge both Wham! and Mariah Carey. That’s no mean feat… but will we be able to keep them at bay again next year? Tune in to find out!

Here in the UK, we’re looking at the third Christmas in a row that won’t be as enjoyable as we’d want it to be. Two pandemic-disrupted years have given way to a cost-of-living catastrophe, inflation, strikes, and a general sense that we’re in for a “winter of discontent” that could rival the late 1970s. At times like these, the light escape that Christmas music can provide is incredibly important to me. Stepping away from the difficulties of the real world, if only for a moment, can be just what the doctor ordered, and for me, Christmas music can provide that. It’s in that spirit that I share this playlist with you – and I hope some of the songs provide you with a little dash of festive enjoyment to perk up your holiday season.

With just over three weeks to go until the big day, I have a couple of other Christmassy ideas that may make their way onto the website – so I hope you’ll check back for those before Santa comes. I truly hope you’re making the best of the holiday season, whatever your circumstances may be.

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.

A festive playlist to get you in the holiday spirit!

A festive playlist to get you in the holiday spirit!

Dennis

This time last year I put out my last holiday playlist. Whether this will become an annual tradition or not, who can say! But as we’re once again approaching the most wonderful time of the year I thought another playlist would be a lot of fun. There were so many songs I debated including last time but didn’t, so here’s an opportunity to talk about a few more of my festive favourites!

I’m an avid collector of Christmas albums, and I have been for years. Many albums, especially recently, seem to consist of the same handful of “traditional holiday favourites” in different variations, but every once in a while there’s a real gem amongst them. Sometimes these can be original songs, other times simply an original take on a classic Christmas tune.

Christmas is drawing near!

It’s been a long while since there was a proper race to the Christmas number one spot – at least here in the UK. Nowadays novelty songs or big hits by well-known stars dominate the charts, and the days when a truly festive Christmas song would attract a lot of attention seem to be fading! The music charts are less and less relevant, of course, as folks turn to streaming, but still it would be nice to get another year like 1973 – when Slade and Wizzard battled it out with duelling songs that were both spectacularly Christmassy!

All of the songs on the list below are embedded here courtesy of YouTube. If, for whatever reason, any of the videos are blocked in your country I daresay you can find the tracks via some other streaming service without too much difficulty. I hope you’ll take a look at last year’s playlist as well – you can find it by clicking or tapping here. You’ll find the aforementioned Slade and Wizzard Christmas hits there, as well as a few other favourites of mine. This playlist is “Part 2” – it’ll go very well with last year’s offering!

Now that the shameless plug is out of the way, let’s jump into the playlist!

Track 1:
Saviour’s Day – Cliff Richard (1990)

Saviour’s Day is the first holiday song I listen to every year. Its opening lines are the perfect way to kick off the festive season, as mainstay of British pop Cliff Richard sings “Now we have been through the harvest, winter has truly begun.” As the harvest season draws to a close, the clocks turn back, and the temperature drops, this is the first song I turn to – it perfectly encapsulates the season that lies ahead of us.

The song was Sir Cliff’s third Christmas number one in a row here in the UK – following 1988’s Mistletoe and Wine and Band Aid II’s Do They Know It’s Christmas? in 1989. The Beatles from 1963-65, the Spice Girls from 1996-98, and most recently YouTube sensation LadBaby from 2018-20 have also achieved the feat of three Christmas number one singles in a row! I’m not a religious person, so Saviour’s Day and its Christian slant wouldn’t be my usual kind of tune. But at this time of year I don’t mind a bit of religious imagery!

Track 2:
Do They Know It’s Christmas? – Band Aid 20 (2004)

So here’s a question that’s bound to generate controversy: which version of Do They Know It’s Christmas is the best? For me it comes down to a clash between the original in 1984 and the 2004 cover version, and it’s the latter that we’ll listen to on this occasion. While the original has its charms, I like the slower tempo and more modern instrumentation that Band Aid 20 used. This version of the song blends slow piano, an electric guitar solo, and even a rapped verse all into one – and it works.

Band Aid 20, like Band Aid before it, was a charity project. Raising money for people in less well-off countries is always a good cause, and the holiday season sees a lot of charitable activity. Do They Know It’s Christmas wasn’t the first charity song to top the charts, but it’s a fun song in its own right, with a short but sweet melody that has become synonymous with this time of year. Band Aid 20 produced a creditable cover version in 2004, and it’s one I’m happy to revisit at this time of year.

Track 3:
Christmas Is Starting Now – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (2009)

This was one of several Christmas songs featured on the Disney Channel special Phineas and Ferb: Christmas Vacation. It’s an amazing Christmas song in its own right, and an original track written for the show. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy are a swing band, and the song uses their style in show-stopping fashion!

The song plays at the climax of Phineas and Ferb: Christmas Vacation, and the Christmas special needed a big number to fit the excited, uplifting tone of that moment. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy delivered – but the song is so good it seems almost criminal to relegate it to one moment on the soundtrack to an animated show! It should be a permanent fixture on Christmas playlists – and it has been on mine ever since I first heard it.

Track 4:
Lonely This Christmas – Mud (1974)

A year after Slade and Wizzard had duked it out for the Christmas number one spot here in the UK, Mud came along with another record that would go on to become a Christmas classic. Unlike the upbeat tone of the two Christmas contenders in 1973, Lonely This Christmas is a slower track that perfectly fits the sombre, reflective tone of its lyrics.

Lonely This Christmas is a very relatable song – I think many folks must’ve lived through “the Christmas after the one before;” that first Christmas after a big break-up, wondering what the other person is doing and looking back at happier memories from the year before. I know I’ve been there… raise your hand if you have, too!

Track 5:
A Spaceman Came Travelling – Chris de Burgh (1976)

This one has been on my festive playlist for decades… mostly for sentimental reasons. I have fond memories of a friend who adored this slow, melodic track, and while I freely admit it isn’t my all-time Christmas favourite, it’s the time of year when it’s nice – sometimes – to wallow in fond memories.

I like the lyrics of A Spaceman Came Travelling – it’s the kind of song that makes you stop and think. The premise is simple (and supposedly inspired by the 1968 pseudoscience book Chariots of the Gods) that the Star of Bethlehem was, in fact, an alien spacecraft. The benevolent alien would preach a message of peace… but presumably was misunderstood! The ’70s had quite a few of these New Age concept songs… but this one has a Christmas theme.

Track 6:
Good King Wenceslas – The Piano Guys (2013)

The Piano Guys are a YouTube musical outfit well-known for their instrumental covers of pop hits. In 2013 they put out their first Christmas album – and it’s a good one! There have been many covers of Good King Wenceslas over the years, including instrumental variations like this one. I don’t want to say this one is the “absolute best” – but it has to be up near the top!

The arrangement of the piece is beautiful, giving what can be a slow, droll Christmas carol an up-tempo reworking. The melody focuses on the piano – as you might expect – but there’s also a cello and percussion present. All in all, a wonderful and somewhat different rendition of a traditional Christmas classic.

Track 7:
364 Days To Go – Brad Paisley (2006)

Representing the country music genre we have modern country superstar Brad Paisley! In my opinion at least, the country music genre as a whole doesn’t always get it right at this time of year… too many samey covers of the same few Christmas hits! But once in a while there’s a fun original song, and Brad Paisley’s 364 Days To Go has to be among them.

The song’s premise is simple… Christmas has only just finished, and while it’s tempting to feel a little melancholic at the end of the season, if you think about it there really isn’t that long until the next one! I love this time of year, and the few weeks leading up to Christmas are beautiful – so it can feel a little sad as Christmas Day draws to a close. But Brad’s right – there’s only 364 days to go and we’ll be back here again!

Track 8:
Merry Xmas Everybody – Robbie Williams ft. Jamie Cullum (2019)

We’ve done it… this is the first cover version of a track that appeared on last year’s list! But wait, don’t skip ahead yet! I was truly surprised to enjoy a cover of Slade’s amazing Christmas hit Merry Xmas Everybody… especially a swing-inspired one! But Robbie Williams and Jamie Cullum put together a really fun rendition of the track.

This version feels different enough from the original to really feel like something new, and the swing elements fit perfectly with the up-tempo music and fun lyrics. When I saw this track on the album’s listing I almost skipped it… but I’m so glad that I didn’t. It’s well worth a place on anyone’s Christmas playlist!

Track 9:
In Dulci Jubilo – Mike Oldfield (1975)

The Piano Guys aren’t the only musicians to put together a very different instrumental version of a traditional carol! Mike Oldfield did it decades earlier, and his version of In Dulci Jubilo has become a holiday favourite. In 1975 it peaked at number four on the UK charts, but has made a comeback on compilations and holiday albums ever since.

Mike Oldfield is a multi-instrumentalist, and over the course of a long career has put together a number of instrumental pieces as well as songs. In Dulci Jubilo features an electric guitar and recorders playing the main melody, backed up by synthesisers, drums, and piano. It’s very difficult to put into words; it’s a unique piece of music, based on a traditional carol but taking it in a very different and unexpected direction.

Track 10:
Christmas Wrapping – The Waitresses (1981)

Christmas Wrapping wasn’t a rousing success for New Wave band The Waitresses either on its original 1981 release or its re-release the next year, peaking at a lowly 45th position on the UK charts. It was originally commissioned for a compilation album that likewise wasn’t a huge success in the early ’80s, but it’s been featured on a number of Christmas albums in the years since, and has seen its popularity rise as a result.

The song’s title is a pun: “wrapping” sounds a lot like “rapping,” and there had been a song a couple of years earlier called Christmas Rappin’. Lyrically, the song tells of someone with a busy life who thinks she’ll skip Christmas – only to re-encounter someone she’s interested in on Christmas Eve. If one of those corny made-for-TV Christmas movies was condensed into five minutes and twenty seconds… this is what you’d get!

Track 11:
It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas – Michael Bublé (2011)

Michael Bublé has actually only released one full Christmas album, but he seems to have acquired a reputation of late as being a Christmas artist first and foremost! His cover of the 1951 hit It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas is one of the best versions of the song that I’ve heard, sticking fairly close to the original arrangement to provide a sweet, familiar-sounding Christmas tune.

There have been many versions of It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas over the years, including a few that take the song to different musical genres. Michael Bublé’s version is great, though, and makes the perfect backdrop to any Christmas party!

Track 12:
Merry Christmas – Ed Sheeran and Elton John (2021)

I debated whether to include this one because it’s so new… but it’s been on constant repeat in my house the past couple of days so I can’t help myself! This year, popular singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has teamed up with Elton John for a Christmas single in aid of two charities. Merry Christmas is a fantastic Christmas song that draws on the very best of late 20th Century Christmas pop hits, mashing it all together into a simple, catchy tune.

The music video is hilarious, too. Featuring parodies of the likes of Walking in the Air, Shakin’ Stevens, Wizzard, and East 17’s Christmas hits – among others – it also features a number of celebrities and Christmas hitmakers of years past. Although it’s brand-new and has only been around for a couple of days at time of writing, I can already tell that Merry Christmas is going to become a permanent fixture on my Christmas playlist… staying there for as many Christmases as I have left!

So that’s it!

But don’t forget to go back and listen to last year’s playlist too – you can find it by clicking or tapping here. Once again we’ve put together a somewhat eclectic mix of different genres and styles, but I hope it’ll make the perfect backdrop to your Christmas party. For the second year in a row we’ve managed to avoid Wham! and Mariah Carey… but how long can we keep that up?

2021 has been a difficult year for all of us, and it’s years like this where we need the holiday season more than ever. Whether you’re able to spend Christmas with family and friends, or whether you’ll be chilling out alone, I hope you find some comfort and enjoyment in some of these songs. I find that listening to Christmas music can be a great way to relax and take my mind off things at this time of year.

Stay tuned for more Christmas-themed content here on the website between now and the big day!

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.