The Juxe: Hark! Part One

We continue Christmas music month with some more Christmas and Christmas-Adjacent songs that I enjoy.

Christmas Auld Lang Syne by Bobby Darin

The mid-century Christmas music can’t be beat. This song isn’t super well-known (well, the Christmas version of this song isn’t) but this version by Bobby Darin is pretty great. The video is nicely put together as well.

Santa’s Beard by They Might Be Giants

It’s a song about jealousy, not Christmas. But I did say “christmas-adjacent” music, so lay off. The chorus is a banger.

If you look around for meanings of the song online, most talk about how the narrator’s wife is cheating on him with their friend who plays Santa Claus. I think I used to think of the song that way too.

But now I don’t think of it that way. I think it’s a song about a woman who is being playful and festive with their friend and—at most—harmlessly flirty. And this fucking nerd she’s married to can’t take it.

Twas the Night Before Christmas by Art Carney

This is nothing but Art Carney saying the classic story/poem in a syncopated manner over a jazz drum beat. I don’t know why i like it as much as I do. I just get into it. “NOW Dasher! NOW Dancer! NOW Prancer and Vixen! on-comet-on-cupid-on-donner-and-blitzen.”

Christmas Song by Joy Zipper

Joy Zipper was a great, dream-pop duo from the early 2000s. The song isn’t really a “christmassy” song, but occasionally you’ll hear it played in stores during christmas time. I’ve had a few friends who worked in retail and fell in love with this song that way. After hours and hours of festive Christmas music, this song comes up and it’s synthy and vibey and sort of romantic (if you don’t listen to the lyrics too closely), and people become hooked on it because it’s unique amongst all the other songs they’re hearing throughout the day. It’s one of the few songs you’d hear on a Christmas mix that you’d consider putting on your make-out mix. (Unless you’re a total psychopath and like to fuck to this.)