OK, I admit it. I kind of like holiday music. For me, it’s mostly Christmas songs. They just tend to put me in the holiday spirit. So, every year I make a holiday playlist that ends up playing at the house when people come over for Christmas.
This year, things may be a bit different when it comes to having a big group of family and friends at the house for Christmas, but I am still getting the urge to create my usual playlist. Maybe I’ll just play it in the house in the days leading up to Christmas and won’t have the larger audience on Christmas morning. But, it’s a tradition I will continue this year.
If you are like me and enjoy creating a holiday playlist each year, you no doubt have your own methods for compiling the list of artists and songs. But for folks who might be tackling this project for the first time, here are a few tips from my many years of Christmas DJ experience.
Think About your Genre/Era
When it comes to Christmas music, many of us might initially think of the classics - White Christmas by Bing Crosby, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer by Gene Autry, or Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer by Elmo and Patsy Trigg Shropshire. Christmas music spans many music genres and it’s been with us since the early days of musical recording. So, when you consider your playlist, do you want to stick to a particular era? Perhaps one music genre? Or, do you want to make something eclectic that includes some favorites from across the spectrum? You’ll find choices from big band to punk rock, religious to hard rock, country to new wave, and just about anything in between. So, give some thought to the overall makeup of your playlist before compiling songs.
Does it Need to be Kid Friendly?
Wait, isn’t all Christmas music family friendly by definition? Well, most of it probably is, but there are some notable exceptions. Depending on your choice of genre, it’s easier to put together a truly family friendly playlist. But, if you want to include some punk rock, you might have to cut out some really great tracks, if you want the kids to be around while you have the playlist turned up. There are a handful of potentially ‘not-safe-for-kids’ Christmas classics by some edgier bands. Arguably my favorite holiday song fits into this category and I have to think about it every year, as I’m deciding whether to add it to the playlist or not.
Start with a List of Songs you Love
If you’re thinking about making a Christmas playlist, then it’s probably a safe bet that you like at least some songs that would fit the bill. So, by all means, start with some of the songs you know and love. If it isn’t Christmas without hearing Bon Jovi sing Please Come Home for Christmas, make sure that track is on your playlist first. Basically, the idea is to start with some songs you just know you (and hopefully your family and friends) would like to hear over the holidays. These can form the foundation of your playlist.
Do a Little Deep Track Research
Now comes the fun part, for me anyway. Unless you plan on just creating a Christmas greatest hits playlist (which is totally fine), you may want to include more than a few more obscure or at least less often heard tracks. Jump on the streaming music service of your choice and start running searches for Christmas music or look for interesting covers of old classics. Joy to the World performed by a ska band? Check. Silent Night with a punk rock twist. Covered. You’ll be amazed at all the options you find by doing a little searching.
Good luck with your holiday playlist this year!
