Friday Playlist: Christmas Cover Songs
Welcome to this week’s edition of Friday Playlist where members of the Times-Tribune staff submit their music picks based on a theme. This week’s theme is Christmas Cover Songs. Enjoy: Weezer - O Holy Night Ed Pikulski A fuzzy Christmas classic. Death Cab for Cutie - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) Ted Baird I enjoy this version... it’s a bit more somber. James Taylor - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas Jim Lockwood A sad song about having to spend Christmas apart from loved ones. Taylor brings tears to the eyes. Frank Sinatra - I’ll Be Home For Christmas Jim Lockwood Another sad song about having to spend Christmas apart from loved ones. The subject declares he’ll be home for Christmas, but the ending ‘if only in my dreams’ makes it clear that he won’t The Ventures - Sleigh Ride Jim Lockwood A twangy whammy bar send up of Sleigh Ride, which usually is performed by an orchestra Boston Pops - Sleigh Ride Jim Lockwood Perhaps the archetype orchestra version of this holiday classic Lemmy Kilmister - Run, run rudolph Chad Sebring Lemmy and Billy Gibbons on guitar. Alison Krauss and Yo Yo Ma - Wexford Carol Pat McKenna Classic, jointly covered by artists from far different traditions Hall & Oates - Jingle Bell Rock John Cole There’s no better version. That’s why. The Mavericks - Christmas Time (Is Coming ‘Round Again) Pat McKenna These guys have a gift of their own -- making almost anything sound better. Vince Guaraldi - O Tannenbaum John Cole Guaraldi’s trio gives this holiday (ahem) evergreen a perfect and understated treatment, beginning and ending with a traditional, sentimental arrangement, while tucking some swing in the middle. Fats Waller - Swingin’ Them Jingle Bells John Cole “THAT’S THE YARD DOG THAT’S SWINGIN’ THEM BELLS.” Taylor Swift - Last Christmas Rebecca Kivak Taylor Swift’s sweet and fun take on the Wham! classic is my favorite cover of the Christmas song. It’s a little bit country, a little bit pop. Dwight Yoakam - I’ll Be Home for Christmas Jim Haggerty This soulful take on a revered holiday classic proves Dwight can croon with the best of them. It really captures the song’s feeling. Bing Crosby and David Bowie - Little Drummer Boy Joe Healey Bing was a big deal back in his day. So was Bowie.
SheDaisy - Jingle Bells Terrie Morgan-Besecker Unique version turns this upbeat jingle into a compelling ballad.
