Every year from October onwards we start receiving Christmas songs, and we collect these into a playlist that we put out on Christmas Eve. Here Marina Florance is here to take you through her highlights…
Here we go again, it’s Christmassssss!
For Fresh On The Netters that are familiar with this seasonal playlist I have an announcement to make… “There will be no dad jokes this year”, (True story, I had to put my joke book away… Del) BUT what we do have is grand jingly, tinkly, tinsel crinkly, music! The FOTN Christmas playlist never fails to deliver the full force of the season. From Christmas in Las Vegas to Christmas in Hawaii, from dystopian to folk, from singing elves to Country, sound a-likes to originals and Gospel. Buckle up, get your favourite seat on Santas sleigh and let’s take a ride.
My thoughts this year… Christmas songs are as hard to write as any songs, the best ones shine out right from the moment the first notes play. There’s a reason why we love hearing the same old tracks every Christmas, not because we’ve heard them over and over, although that plays its part, it’s because they’re just very good songs with staying power.
This year’s FOTN Xmas Playlist gifts us a majority of brand-new Christmas songs, sprinkled with a few covers and surprisingly, two artists with the same cover of something I’ve never heard before and put in Del’s, FOTN main man, own words “there are two versions of Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis (there’s a sentence I never thought I’d type.)”
I would love to write something about every track as they are all good in some way or other. I have picked out a few that stood out for me, what stands out for you? Feel free to add a comment and support independent music, it needs you! There’s no doubt you will find something for your Christmas playlists. Unwrap yourself from your usual Christmas tune box, throw off the familiar ribbons and tinsel, pin back your ears and listen.
Those that caught my attention:
Nova Soon – Cosmos in December: Just listen, simply put its spectacular and will further adorn the tinsel playlists you hold dear to your heart.
Love At Christmas – S.O.M. Mobile Disco: Superbly perceptive track that’s warm, loving and has all the ability to welcome you in with sincere loving arms. It feels like it’s been around forever.
The Bitter Mass – I Will Wrap You: With the full lyric “but when you cry, I will wrap you”, what a skilfully placed lyric for a Christmas song.
Tereia Griffin – Here’s To Life: All this needs is a fireside, a glass of your favourite drink, a deep soft sofa, if you haven’t got any of those, no problem just lay back and absorb yourself in the vocals, the piano and the performance.
Chris Cleverley: The Ringing Of Bells a grand duet (I don’t know who the female voice is but it is sublime) with so much that makes you feel Christmassy it almost hurts
Have to mention the amazing vocals of Jaelee Small: All I Want For Xmas Is You!
I could go on and on! There’s Rooue, MADITRONIQUE, Jasmine Thakral, lovepoint, Daisy Mae, Ellie Walker and The Folly, drjpresents…
Oh tbh, it’s just too difficult, with each listen I hear something else. As I said earlier pick your own and please support them by playing over and over this Christmas!
BENNY BELLAMACINA – FEELS LIKE CHRISTMAS IN OUR HOUSE
RU MUSIC – Home In Your Heart
THE LIONS – It’s The Time Of Year
PORTIA – It’s Christmas
BRETT GADBOIS – Christmas In Vegas
DAVID BLAIZE – This Christmas
MXXA – It’s Christmas After All
DAISY MAE – Waiting For Christmas Day
ROE – Christmas Once Again
CHRIS CLEVERLEY (FEAT. KELLY OLIVER) – The Ringing Of Bells
SHARLEE – Does Your Secret Santa Know
MELANIE CREW AND ROSS PALMER – Decembers Past
WINTERVAL – Christmas Without You
ELLIE WALKER & THE FOLLY – This Christmas Morning
CRAWL TOWN – If You’re Alone This Christmas
KIM RALLS – The Ivy And The Holly
FLECKS – Hold Me Darling (This Christmas Time)
DR. J – Immanuel (God With Us)
TUGBOAT CAPTAIN – Christmas Commercial Song
Celestial Skies – The Gender Agenda
THE BITTER MASS – I Will Wrap You
LOVEPOINT – Turn The Car Around (A Christmas Song)[Acoustic]
S.O.M. MOBILE DISCO – Love At Christmas
RHIAN! & RAEWYN GUERRERO – If Every Christmas
JAELEE SMALL – All I Want For Xmas Is YOU!
THE IMAGINEERS – Christmas (Happy As Can Be)
PENFRIEND – Our Last Christmas
JAMES VAN DRAECK – Hawaiian Country Christmas
NOVA SOON – Cosmos In December
ROOUE – Rain Turns To Snow
EUAN BLACKMAN – Christmas Lights
ZAHRA DELJOUI & STILL IN THE BANK WITH ZAC WARE – Come Home For Christmas
WILLIAM FLEMING – Home By Christmas Day
ZACHARY FRIEDERICH – Christmastime Is Here
THE CHALK GIANTS – A Christmas Affair
ATLANTIC ZIPWIRE – The Ghosts Of Christmas Past
I AM THE UNICORN HEAD – The Last Christmas On Earth
JON WOODE – Romancing On Christmas Day
TIM MCCINNES- Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis
EVELYN LAURIE – Decembers
FAITHFUL JOHANNES – Nostalgia For Now Noel
SLENDER PINS – White Christmas
DA – I`m Dreaming Of A Radioactive Christmas
MICHAEL KOURTOULOU – The Christmas Card (Stuff You)
ALEXYS – Santa Stepped Out
THE BIG GREY MAN – Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis
MADITRONIQUE – Take Away The Lights
ZAC WARE FEAT SOPHIE BICKERDIKE, ZAHRA DELJOUI & STILL IN THE BANK – Elf On A Shelf
FROG – Did Santa Come?
JASMINE THACKRAL – I (Don’t Really) Like Christmas
MARK STANLEY – One More Sleep
PINEY GIR – Reindeer
JOSEPH ROTUNDI – A Christmas To Remember
THE MOTOR SHOW – Yuletide On The Pony Express
CHRIS SIMMONS – A Cold December
ORANJ SON – Don’t Leave Me Dying Alone (On Christmas Day)
ALEXANDER CARSON – Did I Make You Cry On Christmas Day? (Well You Deserved It
TERISA GRIFFIN – Here’s To Life
TERRY NAYLOR – Christmas In New York
