With the Big Day less than 48 hours away, journalist Emma Barlow shares six contemporary takes on Christmas classics. From The Maccabees’ Walking in the Air to Zooey Deschanel’s Christmas Day, we’ve got your Christmas music, covered…
We’ve all got our favourite Christmas songs but why is it that all the best ones were released yonks ago? Thankfully, the trend for covering all those epic retro classics seems to be on the up. Here’s six of the best to get you feeling all festive…
She & Him – Christmas Day
We’re used to seeing Zooey Deschanel playing cutesy and quirky characters on the big and the small screen (including Jovie in everyone’s Christmas favourite Elf) but it turns out she’s just as adorable when she lends her voice to a Christmas classic.
Slow Club – Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
Slow Club know a thing or two about creating awesome Christmas tunes (they released an EP full of them a few years ago). This is one the whole family can sing along to, just make sure you play it loud for maximum festiveness.
The Maccabees – Walking In The Air
When I think back to Christmases as a kid, watching The Snowman and singing along to Walking In The Air features right up there with visiting Santa in his grotto (mysteriously based, not in the North Pole, but in a slightly shabby garden centre). This version by The Maccabees brings the theme right up to date.
Paper Aeroplanes – In the Bleak Midwinter
From the sadly missed annual For Folks Sake Christmas compilation, the Welsh duo Paper Aeroplanes gives the alt folk treatment to traditional carol In The Bleak Midwinter.
The Shins – Wonderful Christmastime
Putting their stamp on the Paul McCartney classic and even featuring that staple of proper old school Christmas tunes…the children’s choir is The Shins. Yes, the American guitar pop band pull out all the seasonal stops here for guaranteed festiveness.
Cat Power – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Emotive and fragile songstress Cat Power is no stranger to putting her own spin on other people’s music. Her version of 1950s R&B number Sea of Love is always worth a listen and she’s done a similar trick with Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, which manages to be haunting and upbeat all at the same time.
We’d love to hear about your favourite Christmas music in the comment section below…