Music—the reason for the season
By Paige Purifoy
The time surrounding Christmas is a time unlike any other. The winter season is full of merriment, whimsy and wonder, with people looking forward to it all calendar-year round. What makes this time of the year so sentimental? Some would say its greatness is marked by the food or the festive lights. Others would recall memories with family and friends or presents around a decorated tree. But what truly marks Christmas as a standout holiday is the variety of music that celebrates it.
Christmas music is a genre all on its own, with influence that has touched generations for hundreds of years. Nothing brings that familiar yuletide feeling like a soundtrack of holiday carols and tunes. Chances are your favorite artist has a festive album or single out, and almost anyone can instantly tell you their favorite Christmas tune. In fact, over 50 Owasso citizens have done just that. Here are some of the most acclaimed Christmas songs in our community.
Graph created on Draxlr
(Songs chosen by just one person displayed are in the “others” category)
Not surprisingly, “Last Christmas” by Wham! claims the top of the list. Its classic 80’s sound and lonesome yet hopeful lyrics make the song a favored pick for old and young. It is interesting to note that songs like “Hark the Herald Angels sing” were chosen alongside Phoebe Bridgers’ cover of “So Much Wine”, the two songs being separated by an almost 300-year gap. No matter your age, you can appreciate the classics (and endless renditions of the classics), here is most definitely a Christmas song you’re guaranteed to love.
With that being said, sometimes the radio and “Christmas Hits” playlists can fall into an echo chamber of the same repeating music. Let's look at some albums and EPs that can bring a fresh sound to your holidays.
“Noël Avec Ginette Reno” by Ginette Reno
Canadian author and composer, Ginette Reno, gifted this heartwarming album to the world in 1967. If you love the staple songs but feel they can get tired and overplayed, hearing Reno’s vocals enchanting you in French will give a new perspective to the season. It’s also a beautiful reminder that Christmas is celebrated all over the world in different languages.
Canadian author and composer, Ginette Reno, gifted this heartwarming album to the world in 1967. If you love the staple songs but feel they can get tired and overplayed, hearing Reno’s vocals enchanting you in French will give a new perspective to the season. It’s also a beautiful reminder that Christmas is celebrated all over the world in different languages.
“Music Inspired by Illumination & Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch” - EP by Tyler, the Creator
The Grinch is a timeless story, and Tyler, the Creator, brings it to life with this artistic interpretation. The creative, smooth beats with jingle bells and other festive sounds are an inspired change of pace for the artist and make this EP a pleasant background track for a Christmas party or trimming the tree.
“A Bossa Nova Christmas (The Definitive Edition)” by NOVA
You can never go wrong with Bossa Nova, and Baila Nova (or NOVA) is undoubtedly one of the best in their genre. This Brazilian christmas album is jam-packed with Latin grooves, alluring vocals in Spanish, lively percussion and an overall addictive sound. This is an album that is guaranteed to get everyone’s foot tapping, and you absolutely cannot go without it for the holidays.
“Songs for Christmas” by Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens understands the feeling of holiday nostalgia and delivers feelings of sentiment perfectly through folk music. Stevens presents us with a 42-track album that is reminiscent of cozying up with a mug of hot chocolate. The acoustic guitar and warm vocals on his songs flawlessly create the homey feeling people adore about Christmas.
“Three Christmas Songs”- An Abbey Road Live to Vinyl Cut by Jacob Collier
Jacob Collier gave us the present we didn’t know we needed. In November of 2024, he released three Christmas songs on this LP. I’ll Be Home For Christmas, Winter Wonderland and Silent Night become whole new pieces of art under Collier’s masterful creative direction. His rich voice and expertise on the piano and other instruments give this jazzy LP a yuletide sound you are sure to never forget.
While the food, presents, decorations and stockings are all crucial parts of making Christmas a special holiday, the music is the ribbon that ties the whole season together. This year, as you celebrate with your loved ones and gather around the tree, enjoy carols and songs that bring you back to winters in the past, or use these albums to make more cherished memories.
All album art taken from Spotify