Tinsel Tunes
It's Christmas time. The herald angels are singing. Last Christmas is, hopefully, paid for. Outside, any Winter Wonderland is raking in the profits or decidedly damp. But one thing remains constant and free. It's time to unveil the Pop In The Real World Christmas Crackers playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6GfGnfYSwA1J6AVJ3jXraE?si=b32bcec60c9c4f71
As always I've curated the playlist anew, removing songs that have outlived their interest and adding songs that have crossed my path for the first time. Some thoughts on these are below.
It's been a quiet year for new Christmas releases. It must be difficult to turn your attention to snow falling all around when you're sweltering in an unseasonably hot June heatwave. Nevertheless, there are still some general rules that any good Christmas album should observe. These are:
- The album should be treated seriously, with respect for the essence of Christmas. Recording a Christmas album is not an excuse to toss out some old favourites without a care in the world. There are more versions of 'Last Christmas', 'Blue Christmas', 'Frosty the Snowman' and 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas' than anyone realistically needs. If you're planning to record your own version you need to make sure it stands out.
- It doesn't have to be a song about Christmas to be a song that captures the essence of Christmas. The Lilac Time's 'No Sad Songs', The Boy Least Likely To's 'George and Andrew' and The Pogues' 'Fairytale of New York' all tell tales that can apply throughout the year, about innocence, friendship and last chances.
- Don't be afraid to cut through the sentimentality to provide a wake up call. That's exactly what you'll find in John Lennon's 'Happy Xmas (War Is Over)', Smith and Burrows 'When The Thames Froze' and The Killers' 'Don't Shoot Me Santa'.
- And if I had my way it would be obligatory to include sleigh bells, children's choirs, church bells and cheesy melodies in any song wishing to appear in the Christmas Top 40.
New Songs Included for 2025
'Dear Companions' from The Unthanks is the kind of song that warms like a good brandy. It's the soundtrack for a thousand idealised family Christmases as shown on countless traditional Christmas cards. It's not a Christmas song as such, but it's full of the Christmas spirit, happy and peaceful.
From 'The Snowman' Walking In The Air's cover by Mimicking Birds reveals the song behind the overly familiar Aled Jones original. It's a haunting version made for starlit snowy nights.
Good indie Christmas songs are surprisingly rare so Holly Jolly Hollywood by The Wedding Present was a special find. It's also a duet which fits the Christmas genre well - just think of the conversation between Bad Santa and Bad Child in The Killers' 'Don't Shoot Me Santa.
Too polished for some perhaps but the power pop sound of My Kind of Christmas from Cats In Space plays by the rules and does so very well. I wasn't sure about it at first, but the arrival of the children's choir won me over.
In The Bleak Midwinter sometimes seems to be the serious rock band's cover of choice. Perhaps it's because of the word 'bleak'. Wolf Alice make it their own. There's enough trickery going on to keep it interesting and Ellie Rowsell's vocals are bewitching
The Little Drummer Boy - Villagers and Lisa Hannigan - may be the ideal duet for this song. Delicately played and beautifully sung. Bowie and Crosby will be trembling in their graves.
You may wonder why Nick Lowe's version of '(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding' has been included, and if you're only familiar with Brinsley Scwartz's tongue in cheek original or the faast and furious version made famous by Elvis Costello I can understand why. But Lowe's version is stripped back and tender, highlighting the sentiment without irony. It has become the perfect Christmas song.
And finally, two tracks from The Futureheads' album 'Christmas'. It's reviewed below, so I won't reveal any spoilers here.
New Albums For 2025
Christmas : The Futureheads
Best for : Anyone looking for a new, energetic and enjoyable Christmas album.
If there's one thing you want from another Christmas album, it's a belief that the band in question have taken the commission seriously. There's nothing worse than a tired collection of songs, recorded as an excuse for spending time in an exotic location in a few hours.
I know. You're waiting
The Futureheads take on Christmas is sincere and well made. It's the sound of a boisterous gang that loves the season, a band that will do everything in their gift to prevent the Christmas party from winding down.
This is an album that gives Christmas back to ordinary people. In that way it's a very Dickensian view. One of three original tracks, 'What's This' is all about peering through windows at magical festive scenes, and marvelling at what you see and feel. It's an approach to Christmas that brings everyone together with the common aim of enjoying themselves, loudly and without a care or any intolerance.
You can't avoid the inevitability of a Christmas album filled with covers. That doesn't matter in the least if it offers a different slant on an old faithful. If covers of 'In The Bleak Midwinter' and 'Wonderful Christmas Time' feel like a well rehearsed community choir, they also achieve the prime aim of any festive album of allowing you to feel Christmassy.
With this release The Futureheads have moved from post punk to punk folk. It's the perfect setting for their songs. Not many Christmas albums manage to sound as thrilling as they do with 'Carol of the Bells'. Their roistering folk rendition of 'Stop The Cavalry' is pitched somewhere between the The Pogues and The Levellers. It's a lot of fun. A punky 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' is delivered at pace, letting only two of the gold rings to be counted.
Christmas with The Futureheads is an energetic and breathless blast, focused on having a very good time.
Taster Track : Stop The Cavalry
The Official Pop In The Real World Christmas Top 1
Here, for the twelve days of Christmas, are the best Christmas songs of all time. I could pretend that they're my favourites, or my personal opinin but I'm certain enough that I can regard their inclusion on the list as fact. Notwithstanding that, some people may disgree. That's their right and it sits alongside their right o be wrong.
- Just Like Christmas - Low
- All I Want For Christmas - Mariah Carey
- George and Andrew - The Boy Least Likely To
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - The Phoenix Foundation
- When The Thames Froze - Smith and Burrows
- Last Christmas - Lucy Dacus
- Santa's Lost His Mojo - Jeremy Lister
- Old Toy Trains - Nick Lowe
- Home For The Holidays - Emmy The Great and Tim Wheeler
- Here We Come A Carolling - Pomplamouse
- White Christmas Pt2 - Pink Martin
- Feliz Navidad / Public Image - El Vez
Merry Christmas to all our readers and listeners. Time for a Christmas carol.