Christmas Is Corny
There's a few different Christmas moods: solemn, magical, romantic, exciting, and corny. They all have their time and place, and I firmly believe corny is as important as any of these others.
I grew up listening to country music, as you all know by now, which means that 80s/90s pop country was absolutely a Christmas staple in the O'Callahan household. I knew there was only one friend who'd be able to capture this incredibly nostalgic sound with me, and that's Caitlin Bitzegaio. Below, she dives a little deeper into the many facets of Christmas and country music that informed this mix.
A lot of this music feels like it could be in any B level holiday movie, and I mean that in the most charming way possible. A lot of it is incredibly earnest Jesus stuff, and I think that's important too. Christmas is wild.
(Also, I have two other Christmas mixes with totally different vibes I've made in years past that you should check out if you're into it: Peace on Earth and A Christmas Mix For You.)
And hey, if you like it, why not share the mix or this newsletter with a friend?
Have A Holler Jolly Christmas
Created in collaboration with Caitlin Bitzegaio for a down home family holiday.
*The Mixcloud version has a Diamond Rio song which is not available on Spotify. The Spotify playlist has subbed in a John Berry song as a placeholder, but the Mixcloud version is the mix AS INTENDED.*
A few words from Caitlin:
***
Happy Holidays, folks! If you’re like me you’ve been listening to Christmas music since about October 25th (Ciara’s birthday is, frankly, itself a holiday.) I think you’re kinda into Christmas music or you’re not. I can’t convince you. Similarly, if you’re one of those people who watches a musical and asks “why do they just start singing?” then it’s like, yeah, my guy, you don’t get it. Christmas music is wonderful precisely because it’s special and seasonal (even if you’re stretch the season to ⅙ of the year like I do.)
For this playlist, Brady and I chose to focus on country Christmas hits of the 80s and 90s. Why? Well, have you met us? But if not, I think country music really shines in Christmas music. Country is a fraught genre, but Christmas country is fun and festive as well as earnest and genuine. I remember in the 90s my aunt had a 6 CD changer in the trunk of her car (pause for you to absorb that brag), but we only ever listened to Reba McEntire’s album Merry Christmas To You, specifically track #3 “O Holy Night” because it’s empirically the best song. Country Christmas can also take you to the the starkest melancholy Christmas like John Prine’s “Christmas in Prison” or Dolly Parton’s “Hard Candy Christmas” as well as the silly fun place of Loretta Lynn’s “Frosty The Snowman.” It’s always authentic.
Have a Holler Jolly Christmas is for believers. Believers in Christ? Sure. Believers in fun? You know it. Believers in Christmas? ONE AND ALL!
Merry Christmas!
Caitlin Bitzegaio is a writer and podcaster. You can hear her weekly on We Stan Together (@WeStanSocial) .
***
Love you all. Hope you enjoy!
Join Me: Watch Will Vinton's Claymation Christmas Celebration
My parents recorded this Christmas special to VHS one year, and my brothers and I watched it on repeat when December rolled around. It's bizarre, very funny, a little terrifying, and beautiful.
Claymation is inherently Christmassy thanks mostly to Rankin/Bass, who pioneered the Christmas special format with classics such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and The Year Without a Santa Claus, but Will Vinton has a style all his own.
I watch it every year, and you can too.
RIYL: Christmas, claymation, sing-a-longs, unsettling animation
Check out one of my other favorite specials, Robbie the Reindeer in Hooves of Fire.
Other Christmas Records That I Love
(that you might love too!)
John Fahey's The New Possibility - A warm and spacious instrumental guitar record that is the perfect soundtrack to your bustling Christmas party or your fireside meditation. Incredibly soothing and beautiful renditions.
Raffi's Raffi's Christmas Album - I won't apologize for putting Raffi on here. This was THE Christmas record from my brothers and I as kids, and it still hits me right in the heart. Makes me feel like a kid again gearing up for one good sleep before Santa comes. Kristin bought this for me on vinyl a few years back, and it's genuinely one of the sweetest gifts I've ever received in my entire life. "Old Toy Trains" is one of the unsung classics of the season in my opinion.
Kacey Musgraves's A Very Kacey Christmas - A lot of modern Christmas records are garbage and almost all new Christmas originals are worse, but Kacey manages to skewer both those notions. This record is wonderful, top to bottom. A dear friend bought this for me without my knowledge, and it just showed up on my doorstep one day. Another one of the sweetest gifts I've ever received.
Ramsey Lewis Trio's Sound of Christmas - Absolutely fell in love with Ramsey Lewis Trio through their Christmas records, which bring such fun, jazzy takes to old standards that give them unmistakable life. Can't recommend this and the follow up More Sounds of Christmas enough.