Pandora Seed songs

December 18, 2008 9:56 PM

Pandora startup songs: Pandora has new (for me) genre stations, including selections for Holiday music. But to me the "Rocking Holiday" feed was too, too tame. Please suggest 3-4 essential songs for me to 'seed' a better "classic rock/alt rock" holiday station. I'm thinking the Kinks, Tom Petty, did The Who ever cover a holiday song? ( As an aside, I know many consider Springsteen's "Santa Claus is Coming" to be the worst of this genre, but I've always liked it. I've started with that, but need more to salt the mix.)
posted by TDIpod to Grab Bag (13 answers total)

Maybe The Waitress' X-mas Wrapping?
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 10:03 PM on December 18, 2008

The Pogues, Fairytale of New York.
posted by purenitrous at 10:26 PM on December 18, 2008

I don't know if these are on Pandora, but there's the new "Have a Metal Xmas," with the likes of Lemmy and Dio. It's probably more pop metal, except maybe for the throaty singing on Silent Night. For the most part, they actually stick close to the usual vocal melody, so it's not just a bunch of angry shouting. Depending on your tastes, it makes things more appealing, if a bit tame. But probably not as tame as the stuff you're getting now.

And Twisted Sister's version from a couple years ago. The false open on the opening track, Have Yourself a Merry Christmas, is very amusing. Both albums have irreverent, yet strangely reverent covers.

There's also Relient K, which I guess is more pop-punk.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 10:28 PM on December 18, 2008

"Sleigh Ride" by the Ronettes from A Christmas Gift For You From Phil Spector.

"Put The Lights On The Tree" by Sufjan Stevens.

"Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" by John Lennon.

Agreed on Pogues and Waitresses, too.

I'd include "We Three Kings of Orient Are" by the Beach Boys, but that's a little more, um, unconventional.
posted by ibmcginty at 11:26 PM on December 18, 2008

Alice Cooper from Nights with Alice Cooper just played some "yule-time" Led Zepplin. I didn't catch the name, but it was a medley of tunes, with some of the Zeps original tunes mixed in.
posted by philomathoholic at 11:37 PM on December 18, 2008

Well, "The St Stevens Day Murders" by Elvis Costello & The Chieftans is unexpectely and humorously dark, does that work?
posted by Good Brain at 1:05 AM on December 19, 2008

Elvis Presley or Johnny Cash doing "Blue Christmas."

Prince's "Another Lonely Christmas."

Try this list.
posted by Jaltcoh at 4:46 AM on December 19, 2008

Best answer: Check out the Soma.fm "Christmas in Frisko" stream for inspiration. It has everything.
posted by elle.jeezy at 5:02 AM on December 19, 2008

Best answer: Hey Santa - Chesterfield Kings
Christmas Tree On Fire - Holly Golightly
Merry Christmas (I don't wanna fight) - Ramones
It's Christmas Time - Yo La Tengo
Little Drummer Boy - Joan Jett or Hoodoo Gurus
Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas - Eels
Christmas Must Be Tonight - The Band
Christmas Blues - Canned Heat
posted by Sailormom at 5:44 AM on December 19, 2008

Pretenders- 2000 Miles
posted by kimdog at 6:55 AM on December 19, 2008

Lower key:

Low - Blue Christmas
Any of the Sufjan Stevens Christmas stuff
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 10:16 AM on December 19, 2008

Dominick the Italian Christmas Donkey. Um, that would be a Lou Monte song. You should watch that YouTube first to see if you dig.
posted by bilabial at 12:00 PM on December 19, 2008

The Raveonettes - Wishing You a Rave Christmas (ep)
Neko Case - Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis (Tom Waits cover)

Bad Religion has a couple of funny songs.. uh.. "God Rest Ye Jerry Mentleman"
posted by citron at 12:12 PM on December 19, 2008