Christmas music for guitar

November 9, 2005 8:26 AM

Alternative, interesting Xmas songs needed for a performance. Must be playable on guitar with one voice accompaniment.

Last year I sang Elvis' version of Blue Christmas for our company holiday performance extravaganza. This year I've been asked to perform again but I'm at a loss to find something interesting and different to perform. I don't want to do any of the standard carols, as someone else will be covering those. Any ideas for different xmas songs that can be played on a solo acoustic guitar? PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO MY CRITERIA AS I AM NOT FREAKIN SEGOVIA:

- No more than 3 to 4 minutes long
- Easily playable with chords or unsophisticated arppegiation
- Not so completely obscure that no one will know what I'm singing
- Energetic or rockin or eerily pretty
- No vocal gymnastics required...pretty basic range
- Readily available chord charts/lyrics/guitar tab

Thanks!

posted by spicynuts to Media & Arts (20 answers total)

Wham - Last Christmas. Sounds good acoustic and is dead simple.
posted by fire&wings at 8:38 AM on November 9, 2005

If it's allowed to be... err... vulgar (to say the least) allow me to suggest Kevin 'Bloody' Wilson's Hey Santa Claus....
posted by PenDevil at 8:41 AM on November 9, 2005

There is a beautiful song that is becoming something of a Christmas standard in some circles in the South. It's called The Saturday Night Before Christmas. If you can find a version of it, it would serve you well.
posted by wsg at 8:44 AM on November 9, 2005

There's a .wav of The Saturday Night Before Christmas on this page.The Saturday Night Before Christmas
posted by wsg at 8:46 AM on November 9, 2005

that was weird.
posted by wsg at 8:48 AM on November 9, 2005

How about 'You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch'? it's certainly entertaining.
posted by Alison at 8:50 AM on November 9, 2005

Response by poster:
How about 'You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch'? it's certainly entertaining.

HOT DAMN!!! I never thought that would be do-able on guitar. I would LOVE to do that. Keep the suggestions coming though.

I'm also thinking "Baby, It's Cold Outside" but again...do-able on guitar??
posted by spicynuts at 8:56 AM on November 9, 2005

"Nothing But A Child" by Steve Earle is a great Christmas song.
posted by essexjan at 9:01 AM on November 9, 2005

When I was a kid we had a record of Bing Crosby and his family singing Christmas songs. They sang an excellent reworking of "Jingle Bells." There's also an element of tragedy to that record as two of the funny precocious sons were destined for suicide and that whole family was just kind of generally messed up.
posted by Sara Anne at 9:42 AM on November 9, 2005

"Father Christmas" by the Kinks.

or "Here Comes Santa's Pussy" by the Frogs.
posted by jtron at 9:53 AM on November 9, 2005

What about "Santa Baby"? Eschew the Madonna version for the one done by Eartha Kitt or Everclear. Searching google brought up a bunch of guitar tabs for it as well.
posted by sarahnade at 10:25 AM on November 9, 2005

If you work someplace where you can get away with all the cursing, there's always "Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues. But the Grinch song is really a terrific idea!
posted by scody at 10:28 AM on November 9, 2005

Oooh! Oooh! Pick me. Pick me: The Insight - Please come home for Christmas. The best Christmas song ever written and, if transposed to acoustic and one voice, strangely moving. (Sez me.)
posted by Jofus at 10:51 AM on November 9, 2005

Response by poster:
What about "Santa Baby"?

I'm a guy. I'm not singing Santa Baby. It loses any appeal it has when not sung in that Earth Kitt sex kitten half whisper.
posted by spicynuts at 11:06 AM on November 9, 2005

Emerson, Lake, and Palmer - "I Believe in Father Christmas". The Who - "Christmas" (not sure of the title, but the one from Tommy). The Ramones - "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want to Fight Tonight)".
posted by dilettante at 1:11 PM on November 9, 2005

Santa Put the Hurt on You. by Benny Grunch

(Scroll down for the lyrics)

No I have no idea where one would get the sheet music but it's a great song that I do not get to mention enough.
posted by Danf at 3:38 PM on November 9, 2005

Hey Lord by Suicide.

No, really, it's great.
posted by klangklangston at 6:15 PM on November 9, 2005

I like to listen to Horny Holidays, by Mojo Nixon & the Toadliquors every xmas season. It consists of exceptionally drunk renditions of chrismas favorites - you could easily take some inspiration from his version of J.B.'s "Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto".
posted by sluggo at 10:18 AM on November 10, 2005

Shouldn't Have Given Him a Gun For Christmas by Wall of Voodoo. It won't matter that it's kinda obscure, as it's totally awesome and will have everyone rolling.
posted by klangklangston at 10:03 AM on November 14, 2005

If you're looking to get fired, I recommend "Kiss Me, Son Of God" by They Might Be Giants.
posted by mykescipark at 1:20 PM on November 29, 2005