Upbeat energetic Christmas music
December 8, 2016 5:04 PM Subscribe
I'm looking for happy, peppy, upbeat, and energetic Christmas music!
Traditional Christmas songs are great, but if you know any original songs that would be fantastic too! Nothing slow and solemn here, I want to rock this Christmas! I'm already familiar with A Very Bootie Christmas, and I like about half their songs enough to listen to a lot.
I am specifically not looking for sad songs - as upbeat as "Last Christmas" may sound in some covers, it feels depressing to me.
I would really, really love a peppy version of Do You Hear What I Hear if anyone can find one!
Traditional Christmas songs are great, but if you know any original songs that would be fantastic too! Nothing slow and solemn here, I want to rock this Christmas! I'm already familiar with A Very Bootie Christmas, and I like about half their songs enough to listen to a lot.
I am specifically not looking for sad songs - as upbeat as "Last Christmas" may sound in some covers, it feels depressing to me.
I would really, really love a peppy version of Do You Hear What I Hear if anyone can find one!
This isn't very specific, but I ended up searching for big band or jazz band christmas music on youtube and had some success. Very upbeat and lively for sure.
posted by littlesq at 5:29 PM on December 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by littlesq at 5:29 PM on December 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Boney M Mary's Boy Child
John Denver & The Muppets Little St Nick
Mariah Carey All I Want for Christmas is You
posted by bunderful at 5:44 PM on December 8, 2016
John Denver & The Muppets Little St Nick
Mariah Carey All I Want for Christmas is You
posted by bunderful at 5:44 PM on December 8, 2016
The Beach Boys did a version of "Little St. Nick" too which is mad fun.
Barbara Streisand's cover of "Jingle Bells" made me giggle as a child and is just so very VERY Barbara Streisand.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:18 PM on December 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Barbara Streisand's cover of "Jingle Bells" made me giggle as a child and is just so very VERY Barbara Streisand.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:18 PM on December 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Are muppets ok? From the Muppet Christmas Carol It feels like Christmas.
posted by ghost phoneme at 6:24 PM on December 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by ghost phoneme at 6:24 PM on December 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Can't link it from here, but Jingle Bells by Barenaked Ladies is fantastic.
posted by Prof Iterole at 6:28 PM on December 8, 2016
posted by Prof Iterole at 6:28 PM on December 8, 2016
Must have been old Santa Claus by Harry Connick Jr
posted by Ftsqg at 6:33 PM on December 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Ftsqg at 6:33 PM on December 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
You might also like "Silent Nightclub", an album by Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine.
posted by Prof Iterole at 6:33 PM on December 8, 2016
posted by Prof Iterole at 6:33 PM on December 8, 2016
Lou Ann Barton's cover of Rockin Around the Christmas Tree is my go-to happy holiday song.
Some of the this album might work for you too: Austin Rhythm & Blues Christmas
posted by SuperSquirrel at 6:47 PM on December 8, 2016
Some of the this album might work for you too: Austin Rhythm & Blues Christmas
posted by SuperSquirrel at 6:47 PM on December 8, 2016
My favorite Christmas rap song: "Christmas Is" by Run DMC!
posted by sucre at 6:51 PM on December 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by sucre at 6:51 PM on December 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
The Andrews Sisters' Christmas stuff is a great, upbeat subset of traditional-secular-Christmas music. (Their "Jingle Bells" with Bing Crosby is a good example.)
posted by Polycarp at 6:54 PM on December 8, 2016
posted by Polycarp at 6:54 PM on December 8, 2016
To get me into the Christmukkah spirit, my first choice is always the Trans-Siberian Orchestra's rendition of Carol of the Bells.
posted by Hermione Granger at 7:00 PM on December 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Hermione Granger at 7:00 PM on December 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
For me it's not Christmas without Christmas Wrapping by the Waitresses.
posted by ejs at 7:22 PM on December 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by ejs at 7:22 PM on December 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
Ay ay ay it's Christmas - Ricky Martin
Met and angel on Christmas day - Celine Dion
What Christmas means to me - Paul Young
Rocking around the Christmas Tree - Darlene Love and Ronnie Spector
Sleigh Bells - Debbie Gibson
The album A Very Special Christmas 2 is my fave of all time and has lots of awesome upbeat songs.
posted by Youremyworld at 7:35 PM on December 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Met and angel on Christmas day - Celine Dion
What Christmas means to me - Paul Young
Rocking around the Christmas Tree - Darlene Love and Ronnie Spector
Sleigh Bells - Debbie Gibson
The album A Very Special Christmas 2 is my fave of all time and has lots of awesome upbeat songs.
posted by Youremyworld at 7:35 PM on December 8, 2016 [1 favorite]
Jingle Bells and Santa Claus Came in the Spring, both by Benny Goodman
posted by ChuraChura at 7:43 PM on December 8, 2016
posted by ChuraChura at 7:43 PM on December 8, 2016
"Untraditional holiday songs" is one of my favorite niche genres, so of course I had to dig into my library a bit...
Gary Glitter - Another Rock and Roll Christmas
Beck - Little Drum Machine Boy
Bing Crosby - Mele Kalikimaka
Bootsy Collins - Christmas Is 4 Ever (album)
Clarence Carter - Back Door Santa
Dickies - Silent Night (really)
The Kinks - Father Christmas
Nerf Herders - Santa Has A Mullet
large chunks of RuPaul's Ho Ho Ho (album)
this clip from The Simpsons shows up every now and then in my holiday playlist
Slade - Merry Christmas Everybody
Squirrel Nut Zippers - Santa Claus is Smoking Reefer
Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas is Coming
"James Brown's Funky Christmas" and Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings' "It's A Holiday Soul Party" are both very solid picks.
and how can I forget my favorite original holiday song possibly ever:
Eazy-E, Merry Muthaphuckkin Xmas (DEFINITELY NSFW)
posted by Vervain at 9:02 PM on December 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
Gary Glitter - Another Rock and Roll Christmas
Beck - Little Drum Machine Boy
Bing Crosby - Mele Kalikimaka
Bootsy Collins - Christmas Is 4 Ever (album)
Clarence Carter - Back Door Santa
Dickies - Silent Night (really)
The Kinks - Father Christmas
Nerf Herders - Santa Has A Mullet
large chunks of RuPaul's Ho Ho Ho (album)
this clip from The Simpsons shows up every now and then in my holiday playlist
Slade - Merry Christmas Everybody
Squirrel Nut Zippers - Santa Claus is Smoking Reefer
Vince Guaraldi Trio - Christmas is Coming
"James Brown's Funky Christmas" and Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings' "It's A Holiday Soul Party" are both very solid picks.
and how can I forget my favorite original holiday song possibly ever:
Eazy-E, Merry Muthaphuckkin Xmas (DEFINITELY NSFW)
posted by Vervain at 9:02 PM on December 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
Wizzard ~ I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
Screw you, Black Mirror /JK
posted by JulesER at 9:51 PM on December 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
Screw you, Black Mirror /JK
posted by JulesER at 9:51 PM on December 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
Also!
Blondie - We Three Kings
Twisted Sister - O Come All Ye Faithful
Lemmy Kilmister, Dave Grohl, and Bily F. Gibbons - Run Rudolph Run from the album We Wish You A Metal Xmas
Billy Idol - Jingle Bell Rock (it's no Jingle Rock Bell but still amusing)
Booker T and the MGs - Silver Bells
Jimmy Jules & the Nuclear Soul System - Xmas Done Got Funky
Kurtis Blow - Christmas Rappin'
The Jive Turkeys - Get Down Santa
Electric Jungle - Funky Funky Christmas
Soul Saints Orchestra - Santa's Got A Bag Of Soul
Universal Robot Band - Disco Christmas
Milly & Silly - Getting Down For Christmas
HE 5 - Here Comes Santa Claus
BONUS ROUND:
Peppy-ish versions of Do You Hear What I Hear? - Mahalia Jackson, Destiny's Child, Eclipse 6
posted by Vervain at 10:11 PM on December 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
Blondie - We Three Kings
Twisted Sister - O Come All Ye Faithful
Lemmy Kilmister, Dave Grohl, and Bily F. Gibbons - Run Rudolph Run from the album We Wish You A Metal Xmas
Billy Idol - Jingle Bell Rock (it's no Jingle Rock Bell but still amusing)
Booker T and the MGs - Silver Bells
Jimmy Jules & the Nuclear Soul System - Xmas Done Got Funky
Kurtis Blow - Christmas Rappin'
The Jive Turkeys - Get Down Santa
Electric Jungle - Funky Funky Christmas
Soul Saints Orchestra - Santa's Got A Bag Of Soul
Universal Robot Band - Disco Christmas
Milly & Silly - Getting Down For Christmas
HE 5 - Here Comes Santa Claus
BONUS ROUND:
Peppy-ish versions of Do You Hear What I Hear? - Mahalia Jackson, Destiny's Child, Eclipse 6
posted by Vervain at 10:11 PM on December 8, 2016 [3 favorites]
Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite.
posted by athirstforsalt at 11:25 PM on December 8, 2016
posted by athirstforsalt at 11:25 PM on December 8, 2016
Christmas Cocktails
and
We Three Kings by the Roches
posted by sarajane at 5:54 AM on December 9, 2016
and
We Three Kings by the Roches
posted by sarajane at 5:54 AM on December 9, 2016
8bitpeoples 8Bits of Christmas posted by RobotVoodooPower
Bit Shifter's "Let it Snow" is a work of genius. So far I am the only person I've played it to who has agreed - but hey - that's Christmas songs.
Bert Kaempfert's "Jingo Jango" should be the song used to calibrate all detectory of Christmas perkiness.
"Everything's Going to be Good This Christmas". - Eels
The Brian Setzer's Orchestra's album - "Everybody's waiting for the man with the bag"
The whole Christmas album by She and Him - Christmas Waltz for example.
posted by rongorongo at 6:03 AM on December 9, 2016
Bit Shifter's "Let it Snow" is a work of genius. So far I am the only person I've played it to who has agreed - but hey - that's Christmas songs.
Bert Kaempfert's "Jingo Jango" should be the song used to calibrate all detectory of Christmas perkiness.
"Everything's Going to be Good This Christmas". - Eels
The Brian Setzer's Orchestra's album - "Everybody's waiting for the man with the bag"
The whole Christmas album by She and Him - Christmas Waltz for example.
posted by rongorongo at 6:03 AM on December 9, 2016
For something you are less likely to have heard - don't overlook songs in every other language. Haiti Joyeux Noel by Miu Haiti as one random example.
posted by rongorongo at 6:09 AM on December 9, 2016
posted by rongorongo at 6:09 AM on December 9, 2016
The cast of Spring Awakening, "O Come All Ye Faithful"
posted by mixedmetaphors at 7:54 AM on December 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by mixedmetaphors at 7:54 AM on December 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
One More Sleep - Leona Lewis
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings - Barenaked Ladies & Sarah McLachlan
posted by yawper at 9:04 AM on December 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings - Barenaked Ladies & Sarah McLachlan
posted by yawper at 9:04 AM on December 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
Relient K's 12 Days of Christmas probably qualifies.
posted by terilou at 10:36 AM on December 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by terilou at 10:36 AM on December 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
If rongorongo's Bert Kämpfert suggestion rings your chimes you'll probably also like a little Ray Conniff.
posted by Rash at 9:15 PM on December 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Rash at 9:15 PM on December 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
Christmas in Hollis - Run DMC
There Ain't No Sanity Clause - The Damned
White Christmas - Stiff Little Fingers
posted by Room 641-A at 7:52 AM on December 10, 2016
There Ain't No Sanity Clause - The Damned
White Christmas - Stiff Little Fingers
posted by Room 641-A at 7:52 AM on December 10, 2016
Kacey Musgraves new Christmas album! - Mele Kalikimaka & A Willie Nice Christmas
Sufjan Stevens - Come on! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance
Rat Pack - Christmastime All Over The World & Marshmallow World
posted by SarahElizaP at 9:40 PM on December 10, 2016
Sufjan Stevens - Come on! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance
Rat Pack - Christmastime All Over The World & Marshmallow World
posted by SarahElizaP at 9:40 PM on December 10, 2016
Here Comes Santa Claus - The Rock (wearing a holiday onesie!)
posted by Room 641-A at 9:00 AM on December 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Room 641-A at 9:00 AM on December 11, 2016 [1 favorite]
Cleveland's Ohio City Singers have 4 CD's of all-original Christmas music. While there are of course a few slower tunes, most of their work is energetic Americana/blues.
(Disclaimer of sorts - I have known and worked with all the musicians for years across a variety of projects, including this one.)
posted by soundguy99 at 11:45 PM on December 17, 2016
(Disclaimer of sorts - I have known and worked with all the musicians for years across a variety of projects, including this one.)
posted by soundguy99 at 11:45 PM on December 17, 2016
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Pearl928 at 5:26 PM on December 8, 2016 [1 favorite]