Holding up the philosophy that Christmas music should not only be festive, but diverse, Impact has compiled a list of 25 ‘Christmas songs’ to take you through advent. Including not only songs which are indisputably part of the Christmas canon, but also straying into areas of music which holds looser links to the season. Starting with the tenuous and heading for the recognised classics, look no further for your advent soundtrack.
Coming from the Lips’ final guitar-driven, alternative rock album, Christmas at the Zoo is a boisterous celebration of festive goodwill. The lyrics, which could equally describe a child’s optimism and caring instinct for animals or a hallucinogenic trip, end with a romantic image of the snow settling all around us as sleigh bells ring and Christmas Eve turns into Christmas Day.
When Coyne sings about freeing the animals, they are thankful for the help but want to save themselves, showing us his positive outlook on love and self-worth that adds to the feel-good spirit of the track. Accompanied by joyous church bells, distorted rhythm guitar and an uplifting whistled tune to finish, the typically eclectic mix of sounds adds to The Flaming Lips’ characteristically eccentric interpretation of how best to spend this year’s Nativity. Spread the festive love to the llamas.
Joe McGarth
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