Some Christmas Songs

As much as I love the traditional Christmas songs of my youth, I always like finding some less traditional holiday songs to give me a break from Donny Osmond singing "Mary Did You Know?" (I'm sorry, but this is one of my least favorite Christmas songs ever, mostly because it gets so overplayed on FM100 AND it's quite a repetitive song anyway. But I digress.)
In any case, it's been a couple of years since I posted a Christmas list, so even if there are some repeats I'm going to post again.

• "Silent Night" as sung by Lisa Hannigan. Okay, perhaps it isn't too Christmasy with the modified lyrics, but it's still awesome. The a cappella followed by the simple cello in the background - it's just crazy beautiful. Besides, it's much less freaky than Simon and Garfunkle's "7 O'Clock News/ Silent Night."
• "The Friendly Beasts" sung by Sufjan Stevens. Sufjan's Christmas albums are insane. There are so many. But I particularly love this song because it isn't recorded as often (in fact, I don't think I'd ever heard it until I heard Brian Stokes Mitchell sing it at last year's Tabernacle Choir concert, which was delightful as well.) I also love his version of "O Come O Come Emmanuel" from volume 1 of the anthology. (He does it three times, so I feel the need to clarify.) 
• "Christmas" by Blues Traveler. I have loved this song since I first heard it back in junior high, especially the bit where they lay "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" on top. 
• "The Heartache Can Wait" by Brandi Carlile. This is one of my most listened to Christmas songs this year because it's SO PRETTY. The basic gist is, "I know you're thinking about leaving me, but we've got one last chance, and even if it doesn't work, let's wait until after Christmas to break up. But maybe Christmas will save our relationship." But it's all pretty and poetic. :) 
• "I Saw Three Ships" sung by Sting. Yes, I'm incredibly annoyed by Sting's current winter offering, but I love the drums and flute in this one. It's joyous and wonderful. By the way - versions of this song in my Christmas collection: six. 
• "Christmas" by Rogue Wave. This is a more recent discovery, but it's simple and lovely. "I believe in love but how can men who've never seen light be enlightened?" 
• "No Christmas for Me" by Zee Avi. One of those cheesy "It's not Christmas without you" songs, but I love the sound - and also, "The Christmas stockings are as empty as my heart." 
• "The Man in the Santa Suit" by Fountains of Wayne. A song about the guy who dresses up as Santa at the mall because he really needs the money. I think it's a little deeper than "I Want an Alien for Christmas." But not much. (There is a terribly soulful version of this sung by Neil Halstead on the Brushfire Holiday album from last year, and I think it's also worth checking out. Just not as much as this one.)
• "Believe in Me" by fun. I love that a) fun. gave this out for free and b) they managed to work in a plug for their album. ("I asked for fun and I got "Aim and Ignite.") It sounds very Beach Boys-esque - mostly in a good way. 
• "Someday at Christmas" by Jack Johnson. Jack's lovely vision of a peaceful future when we finally understand what Christmas is all about. It's exactly what you'd expect from Jack, but it's nice. 
• "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" sung by Mason Jennings. Because I love Mason Jennings and his swoopy hicka-shicka charm.
• "Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues. Who doesn't need a drunken Irish Christmas song? No one, that's who doesn't. 
• "Please Daddy, Don't Get Drunk this Christmas" by The Decemberists. See above. Only add accordion. And substitute "Cowboy" for "Irish." (Update: today I heard John Denver singing this song. I don't know if he wrote it or if it's older, but I definitely didn't know it was older than the Decemberists. Awesome.) 
• "Frosty the Snowman" sung by Fiona Apple. It's fabulous, I promise. 
• "2000 Miles" by the Pretenders. Courtesy of Lindsey. 
• "Little Drummer Boy" by Bing Crosby and David Bowie. Okay, this one is more traditional, but it's Bowie. You can't leave Bowie out of a list like this. 
• "Song for a Winter's Night" by Sarah McLaughlin. This song is unspeakably lovely. It makes me want to sit at my table by candlelight while it snows outside. 
• "Winter Song" by Sarah Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson. Beautiful harmonies, beautiful lyrics ("I'll be your harvester of light and send it out tonight.") 
• "In the Deep Midwinter" sung by James Taylor. Okay, this is just a ridiculously wonderful arrangement of an already beautiful song. And unlike Sting or Bob Dylan, James doesn't make me mad as he progresses into old age and Christmas music. (Bob!! Say it ain't so Bob!!!)
• "Jingle Bells" sung by the Barenaked Ladies. Mostly because they include the Batman smells portion of the lyrics. 
• "Let There Be Peace on Earth" sung by Martin Sexton. I don't know why I love this so much - it's just him singing the song a capella at the end of Camp Holiday, but it's beautiful. 
• "Christmas Song" by Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds. I really love this song. 
• "Comfort and Joy" by Simon and Garfunkle. This is one of those lovely secrets of the Christmas world that everyone should know about. 
• "The 12 Days of Christmas" sung by Relient K. "What's a partridge, and what's a pear tree? I don't know so please don't ask me. But I can bet those are terrible gifts to give." 

Obviously I'm not including all of my favorite Christmas stuff on this list, but you don't need anyone to direct you to Bing Crosby or to Harry Connick Jr.'s various Christmas albums, nor to Muppet Christmas Carol, nor to John Denver and the Muppets, nor to The Nutcracker, nor to the various wonderful Tabernacle Choir albums that I listen to obsessively all month. This is strictly for mixing up your Christmas playlist a bit. Please feel free to comment with your personal favorites.