Experienced party hosts understand that certain elements are essential to throwing a successful get-together. Guests expect a few things when they arrive, with good food and drink topping the list. Music also figures into the magic formula for a well-received party.
The late Aretha Franklin said, “Music does a lot of things for a lot of people. It’s transporting, for sure. It can take you right back, years back, to the very moment certain things happened in your life. It’s uplifting, it’s encouraging, it’s strengthening.”
The power of music is so strong that party hosts know they must curate a playlist to complement the festivities. When hosting during the holiday season, hosts can rest easy in the knowledge that curating a playlist tends to be easier than at other times of the year. That’s due in large part to the prominent role some classic holiday tunes play come December. When curating a holiday party playlist, be sure to include these options.
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (1943): This is a song written for Judy Garland for the MGM musical “Meet Me in St. Louis.” Many artists have covered it, including Frank Sinatra and Sam Smith.
“Run Rudolph Run” (1958): Written by Chuck Berry, and first performed by him, the song is a 12-bar blues. It’s similar in style to Berry’s popular “Johnny B. Goode.”
“It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” (1963): Recorded by Andy Williams for his first Christmas album, this song is a celebration of holiday gatherings with friends and family.
“What Christmas Means to Me” (1967): Stevie Wonder’s recognizable tenor shines through on this song that shares all the traditions that help make Christmas merry and bright.
“Happy Christmas (War is Over)” (1971): John Lennon and Yoko Ono released this song in 1971. Though it’s a protest song against the Vietnam War, it has since become a Christmas standard.
“Santa Claus is Coming to Town” (1975): Bruce Springsteen’s rocking version of this song is one no holiday playlist should be without.
“Do They Know It’s Christmas?” (1984): Written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure, this song was recorded to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. It features Band Aid, a supergroup made up of popular Irish and British musical artists.
“All I Want for Christmas Is You” (1994): Love it or loathe it, Mariah Carey’s song is one of the few modern Christmas songs to enter the esteemed Christmas music canon. It also helped pave the way for Carey to be forever tied to Christmas.
“It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” (2011): Several artists have recorded this song, which was written in 1951. Jazz standards artist Michael Bublé made it his own in 2011.
Curating a holiday party playlist can start with the above songs, and the list can then be customized with more tunes that help make the season magical.
