How I Forced Myself to Like Christmas Music

Dislike Christmas music?  If so, you’re not alone.  Google “I hate Christmas music,” and you’ll get 2,180,000,000 results!  I can’t lie – as a teenager, I thought Christmas music was lame.  My annoyance with Christmas music started at a very young age.  I know I’ll catch some heat for this, but it all probably started when I was subjected to shown a festive music video by Trans-Siberian Orchestra in History Class.  AUUUGGGHHHH.  (I still hate Trans-Siberian Orchestra.  I just don’t get it.  Please don’t judge me too harshly.)

So, how did I grow my Grinchy heart three sizes?  If you hate Christmas music, there is hope for you –  but you have to *want* it.  If you tell yourself you like something long enough, you will start to believe it.  Focus on the positive.  What bad can really come from listening to Christmas music?  Try lying to yourself.  “Christmas music isn’t ALL bad…” or  “Yeah, I actually kinda like this song…”  (This tactic actually worked for me with running as well!  Now I LOVE running!  <– example of successfully lying to yourself.  Amazing, right?)

I think the turning point for me was being deployed in 2007.  You start to miss the strangest things when you’re far from home.  Even some of the annoying things.  I started to look for ways to make Iraq feel a little more like home, especially around the holidays.  And that’s when I made my first Christmas playlist.  Yeah, yeah, I know there are Pandora stations for that.  But it’s not the same!

Here are 9 of my unconventional Christmas favorites you don’t usually hear on the radio.  The majority are actually really good! …and some of them are just downright tacky Christmas sweaters.

Tropical Holiday

9.  Me Voy a Regalar, Marc Anthony (You can actually DANCE to this song)

8.  Mele Kalikimaka, Bing Crosby (Fun for kids to try to say!)

7.  ¿Dónde Está Santa Claus?, Augie Rios (Because you SWEAR, if you hear Feliz Navidad just one more time…)

Twang the Night Before Christmas…

(Let me caveat this section by saying I *am* a Yankee.   These songs may already be well-loved and out-played Christmas songs, but they were new to me.)

6. Hard Candy Christmas, Dolly Parton

5. All I Want for Christmas Is a Real Good Tan, Kenny Chesney

For your inner Rat Pack

4.  Marshmallow World, Dean Martin

3.  Dominick The Donkey, Lou Monte

Not quite a Christmas song, but it feels like one…

2.  Try A Little Tenderness, Chris Brown (Otis Redding fans, just give it a try!)

1.  Pennies From Heaven, Louis Prima (You know, from Elf!)

Honorable Mention:

Thank God It’s Christmas, Queen (Yes, QUEEN has a Christmas song!)

Phil Spector’s A Christmas Gift For You 1963 (Number 11 is my favorite)

With the help of my trusty iPod and customized Christmas playlist, I can now consider myself a lover of Christmas music.  If you find yourself still “Bah-hum bugging” after this list, maybe it’s time to pour yourself another Egg Nog!  (What’s that you say?  You hate Egg Nog?  I have a cure for that too.  Stay tuned…)