Holiday Songs to be Sung (While There’s Work to be Done)
By Hayley Parrish and Paul Ust
In the month of December, the Archie team is full of holiday spirit. The usual flurry of creative discussions around leveraging reputation as growth capital is enhanced with our holiday soundtrack queued up over the office sound system or hummed a cappella by Archie elves around the world.
We thought it would be fun to share a playlist of all the nostalgic tunes that give us that warm, peppermint schnappy feeling ahead of the holidays. Have a listen while you’re toggling year-end work deadlines and watching replays of yesterday’s stunning World Cup. (Listen here on Apple Music or Spotify.)
Paul’s favorite is “2000 Miles” by The Pretenders. It came out about a year before the most famous of 80s Christmas songs, the forever classic Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas,” and it’s just been one of those music tunes that has stuck with him over decades. It reminds him of friends and family living thousands of miles away as he looks forward to receiving holiday cards or setting up end-of-year Zoom calls, toasting each other’s good health, and planning for long overdue meetups in the new year.
Hayley wasn’t around when Band Aid gathered to record their tune, but she knows of the song well. It's usually played on the British airwaves this time of year alongside her own seasonal favorite, “Merry Christmas Everyone” by Shakin’ Stevens, a British classic that was released in the same decade. It reminds her of family gatherings around Christmas Day and Boxing Day. She would get real hyped to the song just moments before taking care of family business by winning the Karaoke games and talent shows set up for all the kids on the holidays.
Evelyn goes with a true classic by two musical legends collaborating on “Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy,” Bing Crosby and David Bowie. While sipping her large glass of mulled wine, she shares with us her sentimental thoughts. “This unexpected duo is so beautiful. The lyrics, the song, it’s very kind and loving and always brightens me when I hear it.”
Christine's go-to holiday song is the Michael Bublé fan favorite, “Holly Jolly Christmas.” As she says, “I really like anything by Michael Bublé, but I especially I like his sing-along songs. I’m a terrible singer but I definitely hum along as we fix up a batch of glögg and wait for Santa to knock on our door, a Swedish tradition in our family when our kids were younger.” Her colleagues can confirm that with regards to her singing prowess, we have occasionally suggested she save her voice for Swedish family traditions rather than practice in the office.
Suzanne goes with “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” as sung by Bruce Springsteen. She explains, “I’m from New Jersey! A Jersey girl true and through! I listen to the Boss year round and the December holiday season isn’t any different. I think Bruce just kills it on his version of this song!” Alas, we jest, and she remains in denial over her Springsteen fandom. Her real choice is “Silver Bells” by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards. It wasn't until she moved to New York City as a young adult that she heard bells on every corner just like the song promised.
Gregory belly chuckles at the thought of his song choice, “I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” by Amy Winehouse as he remembers his kids catching his wife in the act of making CGI-style fake photos of Santa Claus dropping off gifts and eating cookies. These days, rather than believing in Santa, his children have become conspiracy theorists.
The Texan comes out in Kailey as she adds Texan flair to the playlist with “Merry Christmas from the Family” by Robert Earl Keen. What would be a playlist without a country spin? Robert Earl Keen lightens the mood as he sings, “Mom got drunk and Dad got drunk at our Christmas party.” Aw, isn’t that everyone's Christmas?
Tyrene continues to keep Mariah Carey’s music career alive with her Christmas classic, “All I want for Christmas is You.” “It’s cliche but I love it,” she says. And despite a nearly three-decade reign, this song still shines bright for other Archies, too.
Unlike our favorite green character who wallows in self-pity at 4:00 am, stares into the abyss at 4:30 am, and solves world hunger and tells no one at 5:00 am, Melissa is full of cheer and holiday spirit this year. She’s feeling festive as she chooses Darius Rucker’s version of “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch.” She hearts this song because her kids love to do impressions of Little Cindy Loo Who.
The holiday tune that Lauren looks forward to hearing this month is The Beatles “Birthday”. Yes, she’s juggling the end-of-year holiday festivities with her own Christmas Day birthday! A double celebration for her this year with her own birthday and a new addition to her family, a boy born in June.
Sarah opts for Joni Mitchell’s “River,” a special number to reminisce during the holiday build-up. She tells us, “This song always adds beauty and nostalgia to my Christmas.” River is a very nice song and the choice is timely given Joni’s surprise re-appearance on a public stage this summer just up the road from Archie’s Connecticut hub at the Newport Folk Festival. Long live Joni Mitchell!
To finish, we have one honorable mention that is Run DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis,” which plays on a loop here at the hub and is loved by all Archies. Plus, a bonus track: “Santa’s Coming For Us” by Sia to maintain the office elf energy.
So, there’s your insight into the musical insight of us Archies. We do have some eclectic tastes, with Bowie, Springsteen, Joni Mitchell, Amy Winehouse, and even The Pretenders mixed in with generic pop fare. Perhaps in future newsletters, we’ll show off our office record collection or the gigs we go to!
Whatever vibes you rock out, be sure the oat milk eggnog is flowing when you’re celebrating with your loved ones over the holidays. And take some advice from Mr. Grinch: “Blast this Christmas music, it’s joyful and triumphant!”
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!
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