I’ve always loved Christmas. The season begins in October, when my mom makes the short drive to our storage unit to dig out our winter decorations (which mainly consist of snowmen) and then spends the next couple of hours switching out our fall decor with the winter one. Usually there’s cheery Christmas music blaring in the background and both of us are singing at the top of our lungs whilst struggling to untangle a strand of lights to hang up around the windows. There are so many other fond memories attached to this season, such as quiet and calm evenings sitting in the living room with a cup of hot cocoa and a blanket covering me, watching snow gently float to the ground and accumulate. More often than not I have a little dog wriggling in my lap and some kind of book propped to the side, with quiet instrumental Christmas music playing. A common thread weaving through these memories is the idea that music bolsters the already established feelings of warmth and contentment that often is associated with this time of year.
With all of the music genres that tap into the Christmas spirit like country, pop, and even indie, my personal favorite is the 80s. It gives a certain nostalgic essence to the frosty weather and makes me feel all warm inside when my nose is red and my hands are frozen. So, I’ve taken the time to curate a special Christmas playlist, consisting mostly of the old-timey 80s tunes.
First and foremost, “The Christmas Song.” This guy is probably the tune that heralds in my Christmas season. I listen to two versions: Nat King Cole’s and Luther Vandross.’ This is a common theme throughout the playlist mainly because I enjoy hearing the different ways in which artists sing them. Another example of this is with the song “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.” I have both Bing Crosby’s and Perry Como’s versions and they really make looking at Christmas lights a lot more fun. Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” calls to my mind a dream in which my future partner and I dance around our living space, putting up a tree whilst baking Christmas cookies and it really exudes the glee of what this season means to me. I have a few songs sung by the Carpenters, including “(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays,” and “Sleigh Ride.” Karen Carpenter’s voice is fairly distinctive due to her soft and clear tones. Of course, there has to be the iconic “Last Christmas” (Wham!) because Christmas just isn’t complete without it. Another artist group that is synonymous with jingle bells and cheer is Pentatonix, an acapella group that was formed in 2011 and has won numerous awards and continues to sell out tour venues worldwide. I really enjoy their renditions of the songs “I Saw Three Ships,” “Evergreen,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” and “Over The River.” The group brings a new sound to Christmas classics. The song “We Need a Little Christmas” sung by Johnny Matthis is another one of my favorites, especially now that I’m in college where I feel like I don’t get to enjoy a ton of festivities due to final papers and projects. We can’t forget the soft and crooning favorite of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” I have four versions of this song on my playlist, including the ones sung by Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, and Michael Buble. This song reminds me of a fun-filled day of Christmas joy and you realize you’re a bit tired from all the running around so you sit in your bedroom by your window and watch snowflakes drift gently to the ground while this song softly plays in the background.
So, why not grab a fluffy blanket, make yourself some hot cocoa, and settle in amongst warm fairy lights and destress with a playlist that will take you back to your younger days? Or take a walk and hear the snow crunch under your feet while the world around you is silent, save for Julie Andrews’ “In the Bleak Midwinter” playing through your headphones. Let’s try and enjoy the excitement of the holiday season even when we’re trying to finish out the semester with all the mental fortitude we have left and maybe this playlist (with a few extra songs) can help!
Link to playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QuEm5NC7tgFo9Um19Aedz?si=7258117e392142af
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.