FEATURE:
The December Playlist: New Songs and Christmas Classics
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GIVEN the fact it is a week or so until the big day…
I felt obliged to throw a selection of Christmas classics into the list. There is some cheese and crackers; some real gifts and some rather unwanted pair of socks. Among the bulk-load of Christmas ‘cheer’ there are some typically reliable downbeat and introspective track from the finest current music has to offer. That is not fair: there are plenty of rousing and spirited tracks among the pile. Among videos from Elbow and Bastille are songs from Years and Years and Crystal Fighters. Take some time to sift through the new music collection and take a dip into the Christmas honeypot. If you get fatigued, save it for another day and rejoice. At any rate; plenty to keep everyone amused until the big day – when I’m sure we won’t hear any more Christmas songs again!
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Bastille – Blame
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iys9IHmDJ1w&w=560&h=315]
Vanessa Forero - A Song for Christmas
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4PvD7-Kzu4&w=560&h=315]
SIIGHTS – At Christmas
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/298264467" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /]
Surfer Blood – Matter of Time
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om8TAKK6ai8&w=560&h=315]
PHOTO CREDIT: Paul Husband
Elbow – Magnificent (She Says)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQl5KYiiFDI&w=560&h=315]
The Melvins – Carol of the Bells
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/294463785" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /]
PHOTO CREDIT: Greer Aylece Robinson
Talmont - Reach Out, I'll Be There (The Four Tops Cover) | Ont' Sofa Live at The Crypt Studios
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzlrKgM1FD0&w=560&h=315]
The Flaming Lips – Sunrise (Eyes of the Young)
https://play.spotify.com/track/0zTMl6R69rqE8bvYT3RclL
Slaves – Hypnotised
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEoQSDFRK8g&w=560&h=315]
PHOTO CREDIT: Katia Temkin
Maggie Rogers – Dog Years
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgWC5oEuyjU&w=560&h=315]
Raleigh Ritchie – Sicko
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-PYIr07DFc&w=560&h=315]
Lola Coca – Xmas Day
https://play.spotify.com/track/0mDKUJzEL0Px7wJtzg5esu
Artificial Pleasure - I'll Make It Worth Your While
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9oJL295r90&w=560&h=315]
J. Cole – Everybody Dies
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5slZHLSnow&w=560&h=315]
Kylie - At Christmas
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8py8uqnYunI&w=560&h=315]
Gregory Porter - Don’t Lose Your Steam (Magic Radio Presents…)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyhaUYjYS9M&w=560&h=315]
De La Soul (ft. Estelle and Pete Rock) – Memory of…(Us)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFTNjzzeU-8&w=560&h=315]
Kacey Musgraves - Christmas Makes Me Cry
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwhP9jZWTR8&w=560&h=315]
Gulp – Search for Your Love
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxw5D6vCqZo&w=560&h=315]
Banks and Steelz (ft. Florence Welch) – Wild Season
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G1xvLveMCs&w=560&h=315]
She & Him – Christmas Memories
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbOvwX9WtI8&w=560&h=315]
Connie Constance (ft. Jelani Blackman) - Clouds
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-I78r65tbc&w=560&h=315]
Terry Wogan – The Floral Dance
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3Y4HufJ1oE&w=560&h=315]
Frank Turner - Get Better (Lyric Video)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB4Avdlz3lk&w=560&h=315]
Sting – One Fine Day
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1V1hiKGs74&w=560&h=315]
Best Coast – Christmas and Everyday
[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/291446929" params="auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true" width="100%" height="450" iframe="true" /]
Catfish and the Bottlemen – Outside (From Castleford Bowl)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdFE7nUBApM&w=560&h=315]
Una Healy – The Waiting Game
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZWXqN9IpeU&w=560&h=315]
Rag ‘N’ Bone Man – Human
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3wKzyIN1yk&w=560&h=315]
Metronomy – Hang Me Out to Dry
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaUzHtaysbc&w=560&h=315]
Crystal Fighters – Good Girls
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qb8V-PVD3A&w=560&h=315]
Low - Some Hearts (at Christmas Time)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv_XqW005-w&w=560&h=315]
Proclaimers Christmas Collective – Dance Tonight (It’s Christmas)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTJDyCxl0qM&w=560&h=315]
NERVO & Askery (ft. Brielle Von Hugel) - ALONE (Mesto Remix)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw__tdFZHZM&w=560&h=315]
The London Hospices Choir and Paul Carrack – The Living Years
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBLgZikvM3U&w=560&h=315]
Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick – True Colours
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la0-5QFLr14&w=560&h=315]
Friends of Jo Cox – You Can’t Always Get What You Want
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvF2llqLzxA&w=560&h=315]
Galantis – Pillow Fight
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr_SpQEGR4s&w=560&h=315]
James ‘Shinny’ Davenport – Christmas Number 1
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZjpeuMjo1M&w=560&h=315]
Nathan Sykes - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpiie-9xiiM&w=560&h=315]
Little Simz (ft. Tilla) – Poison Ivy
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnCCLVlZ4RI&w=560&h=315]
Matt Redman (ft. Natasha Bedingfield) - Help from Heaven
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guyWNLTvOy4&w=560&h=315]
Sinead Harnett – Rather Be With You
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h_9fsGku3c&w=560&h=315]
Years and Years – Both Sides Now
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLry08EREoY&w=560&h=315]
Lucy Rose – Merry Christmas Everyone (Live at Maida Vale)
https://play.spotify.com/track/6jGuL4oTOw23yDzC58HRbw
Kate Tempest – Ketamine for Breakfast
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym3iGD7uNn8&w=560&h=315]
Bon Iver – 666 ʇ
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96t0rlPmn2E&w=560&h=315]
Car Seat Headrest – Vincent
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEsItsZphwQ&w=560&h=315]
Radiohead (ft. CR78) – Present Tense
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hgVihWjK2c&w=560&h=315]
Thee Oh Sees – The Axis
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-Ac65av5t4&w=560&h=315]
Slade – Merry Christmas Everybody
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI7gflX3J2k&w=560&h=315]
Wizard – I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM_H4CAAYxc&w=560&h=315]
The Ramones - Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Y5GtaTrPHM&w=560&h=315]
Destiny's Child - 8 Days of Christmas
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tt6Ot_WEHI&w=560&h=315]
Mariah Carey - All I Want for Christmas Is You
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXQViqx6GMY&w=560&h=315]
Chris Rea - Driving Home for Christmas
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvDxSW8mzvU&w=560&h=315]
Bing Crosby – White Christmas
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJSUT8Inl14&w=560&h=315]
Wham! – Last Christmas
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8gmARGvPlI&w=560&h=315]
Cocteau Twins - Frosty the Snowman
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e874vKfYfuU&w=560&h=315]
Joni Mitchell – River
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAK9Pj5-QXY&w=560&h=315]
The Ronettes - Sleigh Ride
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6rDA2Czz0E&w=560&h=315]
Bing Crosby and David Bowie - The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiXjbI3kRus&w=560&h=315]
Louis Armstrong - Christmas in New Orleans
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVFEadOKBYE&w=560&h=315]
Aled Jones- Walking in the Air
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aktgc7Irs8g&w=560&h=315]
John Lennon & Yoko Ono - Happy Xmas (War is Over)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Etbucgvjhwo&w=560&h=315]
Kings College Choir - Silent Night
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n036kBC1HEw&w=560&h=315]
Paul McCartney - Wonderful Christmas Time
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9BZDpni56Y&w=560&h=315]
Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas (1984)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WesKXdaWBq0&w=560&h=315]
Jackson 5 - Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmUW2pVAopc&w=560&h=315]
Andy Williams - It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFtb3EtjEic&w=560&h=315]
Elvis Presley - Blue Christmas
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I2f1UJjiAA&w=560&h=315]
The Pogues (ft. Kirsty MacColl) - Fairytale of New York
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9jbdgZidu8&w=560&h=315]
All in all, you’ll agree there is quite a stocking’s worth of delight there – I’ll drop the Christmas analogies. The next week will see a few tracks released but not too many new singles. I will probably collate a collection of songs I feel will be important in 2017: that or current songs from bands, both mainstream and unsigned, I feel will be doing exceptional things. Who knows what will be contained within but it is something you will want to see. That will come before the New Year, but, until then, have a good Christmas!