The Top 10: Underrated Christmas Songs
First we have to decide whether a song is actually a Christmas song; then whether it is underrated (the hard part); and finally whether I like it
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Your support makes all the difference.I did a Top 10 Worst Christmas Songs a while ago, but on reflection that was hardly in keeping with the “goodwill to all” part of the season. So here is another chance for my musical taste to meet the nation’s and not even recognise each other.
1. “Just Like Christmas” by Low. So many nominations it nearly tripped the “underrated” qualifier. Thanks to Ian Peacock, David Marcus, Ian Thomas, Tom King and Paul Keeble.
2. “Sister Winter” by Sufjan Stevens. Thanks again to Tom King and Paul Keeble.
3. “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)” by Ramones. Because we need something up-tempo. Nominated by Forwardnotback.
4. “I Was Born on Christmas Day” by Saint Etienne. From Itinerant Geoff and Andy Repner.
5. “Driving Under Stars” by Marika Hackman. Thanks to Rupert Hawksley.
6. “How to Make Gravy” by Paul Kelly. Bloke writes to his brother from jail with advice for Christmas dinner. Underrated outside Australia, perhaps. Nominated by Ben Stanley and Adam Behr.
7. “I Wanna Be Your Dog” by The Stooges. “Largely uncredited as a great Christmas song despite its insane quantities of sleighbell,” said Todd Coxeter.
8. “Mary, Did You Know?” by CeeLo Green. “Absolute full-blown sentimentality and bombast” nominated by Colin Rosenthal. So much better than the usual Boney M schlock.
9. “Christmas Lights” by Coldplay. Yes, I know it’s the same song as all the others, but I like it.
10. “25th December” by Everything but the Girl. Thanks to David Bertram.
I ruled that Greg Lake’s “I Believe in Father Christmas”, Joni Mitchell’s “River” and the Pretenders’ “2,000 Miles” are not underrated. A lot of nominations for “Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses, which may be underrated but I don’t like it.
Next week: Top 10 Top 10s of 2020.
Coming soon: Missed scoops, such as The New York Times being tipped off about Watergate but failing to follow it up.
Your suggestions please, and ideas for future Top 10s, to me on Twitter, or by email to top10@independent.co.uk
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