Comforting Carols For A Covid Christmas

By Eric Sandberg

2020 has sucked jingle balls. We've had covid Easter, covid Mother's & Father's Days, covid graduations, covid Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, christenings and confirmations. Most people by now have had their covid birthday. We just staggered through covid Thanksgiving and now we are closing out this annus horibilus with covid Christmas [and Hanukkah, not to mention kovid Kwanza).

For those of you still ensconced in lockdown and staying away from retail stores this holiday season, the one silver lining is that you may get through Christmas without hearing one Michael Bublé song. You are in full control. I usually trot out my favorite Christmas CDs each year, including Leon Redbone's Christmas Island, Aimee Mann's One More Drifter In The Snow, Annie Lennox' Cornucopia, Phil Spector's A Christmas Gift To You, among others.

This year I'm particularly interested in newly released 2020 Christmas songs. What's the approach when coming up with a song for a covid Christmas? Pretend it ain't happening? Try to be funny? Serious? To that end, Mike and I have compiled a modest list of new holiday songs that run the gamut.  We hope you will enjoy.

Henning Ohlenbusch "Coming Home Alone On Christmas Eve" 
Sublime Massachusetts based indie singer/songwriter Henning Ohlenbusch's bittersweet letter to a loved one who couldn't be there. Warning: A banjo is involved.

henningohlenbusch.bandcamp.com/

Phoebe Bridgers "If We Make It Through December" 
Bridgers cannily utilizes this Merle Haggard classic to acknowledge what so many folks are going through this year. Subtle but powerful. The EP includes a lovely version of "Silent Night" purposely marred by audio of a newscaster reading the news of the day. Not quite as subtle here.

https://phoebefuckingbridgers.com/

Liv Greene feat. Jobi Riccio  "I Guess There's Always Next Year"
The immensely talented Liv Greene wrote this song from the point of view of someone who thought this would be her year but, sadly,  has thrown in the towel. Achingly beautiful and available to purchase on Bandcamp. Well, what are you waiting for? 

livgreene.bandcamp.com/track/i-guess-theres-always-next-year

Kimberley Rew & Lee Cave-Berry "All I Want Is You For Christmas"
It's not all doom and gloom on the 2020 Christmas song front. Kimberley Rew [Katrina & The Waves/The Soft Boys] and his lady wife, bassist Lee Cave-Berry, have been cooped up together in Cambridge for the better part of the year. They have each other this Christmas and this wonderful, cheerful and catchy slice of rock and roll captures their undaunted spirits nicely. The video features drawings by Rew.

Available on CD & download on the Big Stir Singles compilation
bigstirrecords.bandcamp.com/track/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-you 
or as part of a digital EP
www.amazon.com/All-Want-You-Christmas-Explicit/dp/B08NXKK132/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Kimberley+Rew+and+Lee+Cave-Berry+All+I+want+for+christmas+is+you&qid=1607816069&sr=8-1

Todd Rundgren "Flappie" 
Leave it to our weird Uncle Todd to resurrect a forty-two year old Dutch Christmas novelty song written by a comedian named Youp van 't Hek. Christmas is here and a young boy can't find his pet rabbit Flappie. Never fear, Flappie does turn up...at dinner time.

www.todd-rundgren.com/

Daveed Diggs "Puppy For Hanukkah"
Alas, my search for 2020 Hanukkah songs yielded just one result. It speaks for itself, really.