The Ultimate Third Party Holiday Playlist
During the holiday season, no issue creates more debate and general consternation than music. To be fair to holiday music, it surely adds some measure of joy and flavor to the season. But questions — questions that can schism families, dissolve friendships, and destabilize entire nations — abound 1:
-
When is the correct time to start playing holiday music?
After Thanksgiving, 12 days before Christmas, all year long 2? -
What are the best Christmas songs?
Should you go with the classics, opt for a Michael Buble Christmas “album”, or choose a collection of parody songs that dissect the consumerism of the season? -
Should Jimmy Buffet’s “Christmas Island” 3 be considered as an option?
Should it be the only option?
At Southern Energy Management, we don’t claim to have the answers to these age-old questions. We do strongly feel that, despite the uncertainty music creates, some form of rocking around the Christmas tree is the essential to fully enjoying the holiday season. So, to help solve family feuds and long holiday drive debates (“PLAY CHRISTMAS IN THE CARIBBEAN AGAIN”), we’ve created this playlist. This playlist was compiled from our team’s favorites and has no overarching themes, unity, or quality filters. As such, it’s the perfect independent third-party holiday music compilation to quell disputes and keep the party rocking. 4
This season, when family and friends become gridlocked over what song to play next, just pull this playlist out of your back pocket and say “let’s crank up that holiday playlist from Southern Energy Management”.5 Suddenly you’ll be back enjoying the moment and creating lifelong memories while we shoulder the burden of DJing the festivities.
[1] While there is a lot to debate about holiday music, we can all agree that “Baby It’s Cold Outside” is infinitely creepy and should slowly fade out of the holiday season’s musical lexicon.
[2] Let’s be honest, before Thanksgiving is too soon.
[3] The author feels that this is the greatest holiday album of all time and it’s not even close.
[4] The term “perfect” should be taken with a large block of salt. In the authors opinion, there were some incredibly weak song choices that, out of respect for the democratic process, were begrudgingly included in the list.
[5] #letscrankupthatholidayplaylistfromSouthernEnergyManagement
Meet the DJs Behind This Wintry Mix
If, in addition to music, you’re looking for holiday tradition inspiration, here are some of our team’s favorite holiday rituals. Feel free to repurpose them (no attribution required) or completely disregard if you think they’re too strange/bizarre/boring/pointless.
Carie
Favorite Holiday Song
Silver Bells by Bing Crosby
Holiday Tradition
Finding the Pickle on the Christmas Tree. (This means an extra gift to the finder)
Brandon
Favorite Holiday Song
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Holiday Tradition
Eating homemade biscuits and gravy on Christmas morning at Grandma’s house. The tradition has been taken over by me since Grandama died.
April
Favorite Holiday Song
Grown Up Christmas List by Amy Grant
Holiday Tradition
Enjoying my Mom’s Christmas cookies
WIll B.
Favorite Holiday Song
Snoopy’s Christmas by The Royal Guardsmen
Holiday Tradition
Watching the Disney Christmas Parade
John
Favorite Holiday Song
You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch
Holiday Tradition
Making Christmas fudge with my kids
Kyle
Favorite Holiday Song
White Christmas by The Drifters
Holiday Tradition
Opening presents
Jacob H.
Favorite Holiday Song
Oak Ridge Boys – Santa’s Song
Holiday Tradition
Feeding the reindeer when they came!
Grant
Favorite Holiday Song
The Hanukkah song – Adam Sandler
Holiday Tradition
Making homemade peppermint pudding
Randy
Favorite Holiday Song
Come on! Let’s Boogey to the Elf Dance! by Sufjan Stevens
Holiday Tradition
Christmas morning monkey bread, mmmmmm
Jenny
Favorite Holiday Song
O Tannenbaum – Vice Guaraldi Trio (A Charlie Brown Christmas)
Holiday Tradition
My family always has an extra present under the tree that we call the Pickle Present. Its a German tradition that has been in the family for years. My dad would hide the pickle ornament in the tree and us kids would line up in a completely different room until we’re given the signal to go look for it. Elbows are thrown, others pushed into walls, and feet tripped to be the first one at the tree to find the GREEN pickle in the GREEN tree. I think I’ve only found it once, but its always competitive family fun!
Jamie H.
Favorite Holiday Song
You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch – Thurl Ravenscroft
Holiday Tradition
Each person gets to choose one person to give one gift to the night before; And you can’t choose the same person, so it evens out. I think my Brother started as a compromise to not opening all of the gifts on the eve 🙂
Sara C.
Favorite Holiday Song
Christmas Must be Tonight by The Band; O Come O Com Emanuel by Sufjan Stevens (I have two favorite songs!)
Holiday Tradition
Grandma Caliendo’s Italian Christmas Feast
Laurie
Favorite Holiday Song
Gene Autry; Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
Holiday Tradition
Pickle on the tree
Rachel
Favorite Holiday Song
River by Joni Mitchell
Holiday Tradition
Decorating the tree.
Mike
Favorite Holiday Song
Carolina Christmas by Squirrel Nut Zippers
Holiday Tradition
Undetermined
Alejandro
Favorite Holiday Song
Feliz Navidad, Jose Feliciano
Holiday Tradition
Excess amounts of fireworks (Bolivian Tradition)
Alyssa
Favorite Holiday Song
Blue Christmas (Elvis Presley)
Holiday Tradition
Scattering reindeer food (glitter and popcorn) out on the lawn on Christmas Eve
Gregory
Favorite Holiday Song
12 Days of Christmas by Straight No Chaser
Holiday Tradition
Picking a gift to open on Christmas Eve.
Kelley
Favorite Holiday Song
Happy Christmas – John Lennon
Holiday Tradition
Santa coming to Grandma/pa on Christmas eve to hand out presents AND yes EVERYBODY has to sit on Santa’s lap when he gives the first present
Liz
Favorite Holiday Song
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by Barenaked Ladies & Sarah McLachlan
Holiday Tradition
Looking at lights & baking cookies for neighbors.
Will E.
Favorite Holiday Song
Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses
Holiday Tradition
Eating lots of shrimp on christmas morning; Reading the beautifully illustrated and written “Santa Cows” by Cooper Eden.
Bob
Favorite Holiday Song
Up On the Rooftop
Holiday Tradition
Making biscotti and chex mix.
Kathryn
Favorite Holiday Song
Happy Chrismas by Lenon/Oko
Holiday Tradition
Seeing what present is wrapped with the 20 year old seablue/ green glittery wrapping paper.
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