Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #xmasmusic, aggregated by home.social.
...and if you want something seasonal to listen to in the interim, we direct you back to our very own #ChristmasVortex from 2021, 100 minutes of fine holiday tunes, some you'll know and some you definitely won't hear anywhere else...
https://hearthis.at/Q6VgqDJX/christmasvortex/
(download / stream links on the page)
Enjoy!
Have yourself a merry little christmas by Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane, played by me.
This one's for those of us alone for the holidays
Winter Wonderland by Felix Barnard and Richard Smith, played by me
You'll get another tomorrow probably
24/24
Today’s choice is from my favourite seasonal album Tinsel & Lights by Tracey Thorn (2012). This captures everything I love about the season: it’s wistful and downbeat, but celebrates how we take comfort together in the darkest months of the year. It never fails to make me mist up a little.
From my home to yours, merry Xmas.
Joy by Tracey Thorn
[see pinned post for details of the full Xmas playlist]
👻 Christmas Eve is a time for telling ghost stories. Listen to Malady of the Mind by Speckled Band 👉 https://youtu.be/02DyGcamKco?si=NIj6juVf4SIr-x8P
#XmasEve #scrooge #xmas #xmasmusic #dickens #ghosts #supernatural
23/24
Xmas wouldn’t be complete without the arrival of Sandy Claw….
Spence was a Bahamian guitar legend, but here, he sounds like a muppet sketch with a passing familiarity with the song. I’m here for it. I love the way he leaps into the choruses like a drowning man for a life ring, but he doesn’t know them either.
Joseph Spence - Santa Claus is Coming to Town
[see pinned post for details of the full Xmas playlist]
22/24
Another one of those songs that doesn’t directly mention Xmas, but is clearly set in the (damn) season. It’s also another one of those wistful ones about the life you might have led.
Forget the hype and the $$$ (haters gonna hate), this song is pure poetry and I love it.
“To leave the warmest bed I’ve ever known now”… 😢
Taylor Swift - ‘Tis the Damn Season
[see pinned post for details of the full Xmas playlist]
If you've been assaulted with weeks of insufferably schmaltzy and cloying #ChristmasMusic, and you need a "fix", I invite you to check out:
#AmyEngelhardt channeling the Virgin Mary in "#HowDidThisThingGetInMe?"
https://audiomack.com/twanky-records/song/how-did-this-thing-get-in-me-live-at-largo
The sublime #JudithOwen w/ the #GentlemanCallers doing covers of
#BackDoorSanta https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSBsUEp3uRU
#SantaBaby https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhRuQ8bU9B8
#MerryChristmasBaby https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZh65lZrQd4
#bluesyChristmas #NewOrleansChristmas #xmasMusic (but cool) @MusiqueNow
Here's a track I made years ago to get thru the holiday season. Hope you enjoy these days more than I do.
#HolidayMusic #ChristmasMusic #XmasMusic #Christmas2025
https://youtu.be/lWFBQqO750M
21/24
I’m always on the lookout for new, original seasonal albums and not just covers of the same standards. 2011 was a bumper year and “Funny Looking Angels” is a fantastic collection. This song in particular never fails to make me misty-eyed, with its mix of nostalgia, family and a bit of (sadly still relevant) politics.
Smith & Burrows - When the Thames Froze
[see pinned post for details of the full Xmas playlist]
20/24
I could have picked anything off this soundtrack. I love this film: Michael Caine is superb as Scrooge and the film is oddly close to the original Dickens, both in spirit & script. I do love the Marleys, though. No Xmas playlist is complete without some rattling chains and moaning.
Today’s song is “Marley and Marley” by the muppets. Ooooooh!
[see pinned post for details of the full Xmas playlist]
19/24
Another song that isn’t about Christmas directly, but does summon the spirit of the season in a snowy landscape. Plus, you surely can’t beat the drama conjured up by this singer. I’m not sure you’d make an album like this today celebrating Russian folk songs, but this is from 2003. Different times.
Today’s song is Heart on Snow by Marc Almond.
[see pinned post for details of the full Xmas playlist]
18/24
Today is another delicate, ethereal number. Just a voice and piano. Stark, simple and beautiful.
It’s a Randy Newman song, here covered by Harry Nilsson. Snow.
If you haven’t already worked out by now that the album “Tinsel and Lights” by Tracey Thorn is worth having, there’s a splendid cover of this on there too!
[see pinned post for details of the full Xmas playlist]
17/24
I’m not sure this is especially obscure, given that it’s by one of the most celebrated musical artists that we have, but this little melancholy beauty is a cracker.
Today’s song, direct from the Best Little Whorehouse in Texas soundtrack, is Hard Candy Christmas by Dolly Parton
Hat tip too for the tremendous version by Tracey Thorn.
[see pinned post for details of the full Xmas playlist]
16/24
It’s long been clear to me that what Christmas music has really been missing is a wild contribution from the phenomenon that is Jon Spencer Blues Explosion.
I said, YAY-AH!
Today’s advent selection is….
- High Gear by Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
[see pinned post for details of the full Xmas playlist]
Both of these, btw, amply fill my personal musical criteria of being thoroughly miserable too!
15/24
Two absolute classics you’re not likely to hear in the supermarket in September today.
- Little Girl Blue by Nina Simone
Echoes of Good King Wenceslas power this classic from 1958.
- River by Joni Mitchell
Driven by the melody of Jingle Bells, this is a bona-fide classic. I’m not sure it counts as lesser heard, but it’s beautiful.
[see pinned post for details of the full Xmas playlist]
Imagine if the world's militaries just did stuff like this. The world would be so much better.
‘‘Tis the season - community ukulele orchestra at Lake Forest Park holiday market #seattle #xmasMusic
14/24
Today’s song is “Joseph (better you than me)” by the Killers featuring
Elton John and Neil Tennant.
I’m not a religious man, but there is something about this song that really gets me every time. He’s a maker, a creator, not just somebody’s dad….
This band has a long track record of excellent seasonal songs and I urge you to check out the album. It’s a joy.
[see pinned post for details of the full Xmas playlist]
13/24
The best songs about the season are, for me, the ones that hint at the pagan elements of the winter solstice - the rising of the sun and the running of the deer and all that. This song has that in absolute spades and I love it. We’re nearly at the turning point of the year and it’s always darkest just before the dawn.
The Unthanks - Dark December.
[see pinned post for details of the full Xmas playlist]
12/24
Amazingly enough, some people spend December trying to avoid this guy’s Xmas song. Not me, which is just as well as I heard it on 1st December. As we have discussed (@DJDarren), it’s a banger and raises £££ for charity every year. But today isn’t that song, it’s another one. Just as good, I reckon.
George Michael - December Song (I dreamed of Christmas)
https://youtu.be/l-xzyD00_fI?si=ip_RmQ6Q8vQk7QbJ
[see pinned post for details of the full Xmas playlist]
"My Favorite Things" is emphatically not a Christmas song, but I really like hearing it so much around Christmas.
The version that tickles me the most is Tony Bennett's because A) it sounds more like a Bond theme than a holiday tune, and B) he randomly shouts "MUSIC" in the middle of the song, and it makes me laugh every time 😆
#XmasMusic (but not really)
11/24
My wife always tells me that I like depressing music, which I deny… But I am drawn to the downbeat, and my taste in seasonal music is no different. I mean, it’s hard to deny when Joni always features highly.
Today’s choice is reflective and quietly emotional and I absolutely love it. Depressing? No!
Your song today is 25th December by Everything But The Girl.
[see pinned post for details of the full Xmas playlist]
10/24
Another twofer today. Two genres of music desperately underrepresented in seasonal music are Tijuana brass and surf guitar….. so, I bring you:
- Hark the Herald Angels Sing by the Torero Band
- Jingle Bells by The Ventures.
Now don’t say I don’t spoil you.
[see pinned post for details of the full Xmas playlist]
9/24
A Tori Amos double today.
First up is Winter, a song about love, childhood and mittens.
Next up is Candle - Coventry Carol. A somewhat more traditional seasonal song in that it’s essentially medieval, and what says Christmas more than a song about Herod’s slaughter of the innocents?
Both songs capture the season perfectly.
[see pinned post for details of the full Xmas playlist]
8/24
Some more reggae today. Jacob Miller’s Natty Christmas is an album I commend to you all, but my favourite track on it is a delightful version of an Xmas classic, hoping that “Natty J” brings you great tidings for an Irie Christmas (and a dancehall New Year.)
Jacob Miller and Ray I - We Wish You A Merry Christmas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMPoWKyrDQk
[see pinned post for details of the full Xmas playlist]
7/24
This artist has a solid history in producing original seasonal mixes, but this one of my favourite: a beautiful lament on seasonal depression and the joy that Christmas brings.
Sister Winter by Sufjan Stevens
(Hat tip to the excellent cover by Tracey Thorn too)
[see pinned post for details of the full Xmas playlist]
6/24
Christmas is often a time when we head back to our childhood homes and think about the lives we might have led and the things we left unsaid. There’s another one of these coming up later on, but today’s song is all about unresolved feelings on meeting an old friend who might have been more.
Home for the Holidays by Emmy the Great and Tim Wheeler.
[see pinned post for details of the full Xmas playlist]
5/24
One of my favourite seasonal albums is the Trojan Christmas Boxset. There are loads of bangers there, but this is maybe my favourite: a Caribbean retelling of a well-worn classic, with reworked lyrics to include such gifts from Jahjah as “a garden full of sensi”.
The Twelve Days of Christmas by Peter Broggs. Enjoy.
[see pinned post for details of the full Xmas playlist]
4/24
Has anyone ever been more sincere in their declaration that this is a one night stand, but that it will be a beautiful one night stand that he’ll never forget? I also don’t hear anyone complaining (“Chestnuts roasting! Tootsies toasting!”).
Ladies and gentlemen and all in between, I give you…. Purple Snowflakes by Marvin Gaye. Who could resist?
[see pinned post for details of the full Xmas playlist]
3/24
An early lesson that not every Christmas song mentions Christmas. This is just joyful.
Uh-huh?
Uh-huh.
Sweet Gingerbread Man by Sammy Davis Jr
All tasty and tan, indeed.
[see pinned post for details of the full Xmas playlist]
1/24
Christmas music is saccharine, no? Well, let’s start of this festive music countdown with a song set the day after Christmas and selling some of your presents to pay for your teenage girlfriend’s abortion. That should do it, eh?
It’s the beautiful “Brick” by Ben Folds 5.
[see pinned post for details of the full Xmas playlist]
Ok. I’m gonna pin this over Xmas.
I like Christmas music, but hate the fact we only hear the same songs all the damn time. There are loads of good ones that you almost never hear. I’ve been compiling a playlist for a while now, and you can access it here:
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/playlist/swisslets-xmas/pl.u-XkD0jDRsk6PLJ
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6QBR5hENabzLVFwj2GaZqX?si=1Tbv8YBESeqK9-nVUvYu9w&pi=sj3XCxZIRXq6n
I’m always in the market for suggestions too, so fire away.
Neznám lepší vánoční písničku než tuhle od Run-DMC.
Klidné a požehnané Vánoce.
#XMasMusic #RunDMC
https://youtu.be/OR07r0ZMFb8
Happy Friday Night to those in N. and S. American time zones. Have a great weekend. If you’re looking for some great choral music for seasonal/holiday background, here’s a list to my extensive #YouTube playlist with 147 performances. #Music #ChoralMusic #XmasMusic #ChristmasMusic #Choir https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0iiAuVrDAzHbYzqhpmjvJ-tfkan9Z8u_&si=SuSMwJy5CxVb0Kb-
Are there any grindcore versions of Christmas songs out there?? Send me links!!
#Music #ChristmasMusic #Metal
#Grind #Grindcore #GoreGrind #XMasMusic #XMas #Christmas
Okay, I just stumbled across this version, one of the gayest things I've ever seen.
#Music #XmasMusic
#LesserKnownChristmasTunes #LGBTQIA
* Switched to YouTube link to avoid 5xx errors.
#Music #XmasMusic
#LesserKnownChristmasTunes
* Switched to YouTube link to correct 5xx errors.
I don’t know who might need a 10 hour Xmas playlist that doesn’t feature any of the songs you always hear. But if that’s you, here it is:
(Also, any recommendations, please let me know as I’m always on the lookout for more).
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6QBR5hENabzLVFwj2GaZqX?si=OsN1UQddSYS9GMYFndzBew&pi=e-NWvdTT2ETmuj
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/playlist/swisslets-xmas/pl.u-XkD0jDRsk6PLJ
Just took part in a Christmas music quiz at the pub. I’m quite proud of the fact that I have a nine hour Christmas playlist, and only one single song from it made it into the quiz (“the power of love” by Gabrielle Aplin, since you asked).
There are some horrors out there.
Cliff Richard was #2 in the charts for Xmas 1981. Can you name the song that topped the chart that year and was the biggest selling single that year and the 23rd best selling single in UK chart history?
Tony Kakko!! 😍
Your voice makes me melt 🫠💕
https://song.link/s/5FshWATdIqCL2nMO11roIK
#TonyKakko
#ChristmasMusic
#Christmas
#XmasMusic
#Metal
#PowerMetal
🎄♬ Merry December!
In my home, Handel’s Messiah is now starting heavy rotation, until Dec 25.
What are you listening to this season?
Tchaikovsky- The Nutcracker (Arthur Fieldler and the Boston Pops)
Soundtrack for putting up the Xmas tree
#vinyl @vinylrecords #classicalMusic #xmasMusic #XmasTree #NowPlaying #dogsOfMastodon
