Creative Commons Flickr photo by Anneh632
This year I am making a real effort to get in the Christmas spirit. Since moving away from home six years ago, it has been progressively harder to get in the spirit. It’s difficult after years of being away from family and a climate that has cold weather and a white Christmas.
Music seemed the perfect place to help get into the spirit of the season. In South Florida, there are at least three radio stations that play holiday music 24 hours a day, with two of them having done so since before Thanksgiving. Every store I’ve been to in the past few weeks is constantly playing holiday tunes.
I’m certainly not telling anyone what type of music to enjoy. My favorite holiday song, Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney, was named the No. 1 Most Annoying and Ubiquitous Holiday Song by The Atlantic and I’m not ashamed. I love it for its cheesiness. Other holiday favorites are I Wish it Was Christmas Today by The Strokes’ frontman Julian Casablancas, Father Christmas by The Kinks and Another Christmas Song by Stephen Colbert. Not exactly traditional.
No matter what kind of music you like, there are holiday songs by the artist you love and they can often be yours for free. I have come across many great resources for free and cheap holiday music to begin or supplement your collection:
- Internet radio is available for free or cheap. I’ve been listening to Rockin’ Holidays Radio on Pandora, which has a handful of holiday stations and 40 free hours of music a month.
- Each week iTunes has a few free holiday songs, in addition to their free music throughout the year. The music player must be downloaded, which you can get here.
- Amazon’s MP3 store is my favorite place for music. It is always full of free and cheap music, and holiday music is no exception. There is a free holiday song every day until Christmas, along with many other free holiday songs if you poke around.
- Free Christmas music can be places you don’t expect. Target has a very eclectic mix of 14 free songs to download from its website.
- Paste music magazine has 13 free songs of new music.
- Mallory Colliflower has compiled a playlist from suggestions. If anyone knows how to bring the Christmas spirit, it’s this girl, and I look to her for my holiday inspiration.
There really is no excuse to not have a few tunes in rotation. Nothing will get you in the holiday spirit quicker even if, like me, you feel Grinch-like while looking outside at palm trees and sun.
Are there any other places to score free holiday tunes? What song gets you into the Christmas spirit? Please let me know!
Great info on getting some Christmas music
Watching Christmas movies gets me in the mood. My favorites are It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story and a Charlie Brown Christmas.
I’m working on that, too. But holiday music is my background/drive to work/etc.
Thank you so much for the shout out! I’m glad your lack of Iowa snow isn’t standing in the way (too much at least) of you getting into the Christmas spirit. Keep spreading the cheer!
No prob.
I am working on the spirit and have seen so many places/deals for music I thought I would pass them along!