Holiday tunes come in a variety of flavors, from classical and jazz to traditional and modern. While my love for carols stems, perhaps, from being exposed to the greats at a very young age, hearing Bing Crosby croon on and on about roasted chestnuts can get rather predictable. Alternatively, though it has also become common for the world’s coolest musicians to record their own versions of Christmas classics, these remakes can sometimes sound soulless or gimmicky. How then do you create a party playlist that’s upbeat but doesn’t cloy you with seasonal cheer?
The idea to work in genres not typically associated with December came after I saw a video of Skream and Disclosure’s back-to-back set at London’s W Hotel. Orchestrated by Boiler Room, “a site that takes DJs from the bleeding edge of the UK underground and puts them on at an invite-only secret location, broadcast to thousands watching at home online,” according to the Guardian, it was fantastic to see the leading lights of the British indie dance music scene in action even if the experience was merely secondhand.
As a fan of Disclosure — South London brothers Guy and Howard Lawrence are still in their teens — I was impressed by their selection of obscure house tracks and classic soul remixes. Their joint playlist with Skream cast a fairly broad net, consisting of artists such as Aretha Franklin, Joy Orbison, Jessie Ware and Ten City. This far-reaching line-up has inspired me to make room in my iTunes for more bits of throwback funk, vintage electro and millenial garage. Those tend to get people on their feet, after all, no matter the time of year.
Mixtape mentality
When it comes to effortless eclecticism, I’ve taken a cue from individuals whose aesthetic I admire. In 2011 Louis Wong, Jean and Judith Touitou’s co-designer at French brand A.P.C., came up with a Christmas playlist that had no Christmas compositions at all. In place of Silent Night and Jingle Bells were songs by The Beach Boys, Jamie Woon, Memory Tapes and Nicola Roberts. Sometimes, to imbue the holidays with freshness, you need to view it less literally.
Then, of course, there’s the mixtape mentality of Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, the art-director daughter of preeminent French fashion figure Carine; and Alexa Chung, whose overall taste in fashion and music has piqued the interest of the style-obsessed. The former’s article about her favorite summer songs, published in VMan in 2010, revealed that she was as fun as she was cool: Everywhere by Fleetwood Mac, It Must Have Been Love by Roxette, and Hearts On Fire by Cut Copy were some of her choices. The latter, meanwhile, has spun at various fashion week events. It’s easy to imagine that her quirkiness as a DJ — some of her partystarters include hits by Gina G., Elastica and Bobby Darin — is easily translatable; her Christmas soundtrack must be equally random, and I mean that in the best way possible.
As individual days and nights melt into a blur of twinkling lights and champagne hangovers, I’ve been scrambling to assemble not only mixes to help get me through the next couple of weeks, but also mp3 compilations that will serve as presents for my dearest friends. Using Paris-based Kitsuné’s Tabloid DJ mix series as my guide, I’d like to be able to tell a story through my music picks. I’ve gone into a manic overdrive of forward preparation and tunneled through my personal archives to put it all together — no two playlists are ever alike. I hope my gift evokes a festive spirit that will last long after New Year’s Eve.
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So be bad for goodness’ sake
Here are 25 songs that should help the good vibes flow as freely as the holiday cocktails.
Salem Al Fakir – Good Song
Orson – Ain’t No Party
S Club 7 – Don’t Stop Movin’
Elton John Vs.Pnau – Sad
Two Door Cinema Club – Sun (Gigamesh Edit)
De La Soul – A Rolling Skating Jam Named Saturday
Whitney Houston – Million Dollar Bill (Mike Simonetti Getting Stronger Edit)
Yazz and The Plastic Population – The Only Way Is Up
Cathy Dennis – Touch Me (All Night Long)
Annie – I Don’t Like Your Band
Kindness – Gee Up (Cosmic Kids Edit)
Nicolas Jaar – And I Say (Xinobi Edit)
Hercules & Love Affair – Blind
Erasure – Chorus
Linus Loves – Stand Back (Vocal Club Mix)
Black Box – Strike It Up
Britney Spears – Break The Ice
Sky Ferreira – Everything Is Embarrassing
Vanessa Paradis – Be My Baby
Solange – Losing You
Beat Connection – Palace Garden, 4am
Fenech-Soler – All I Know
Elvis Vs. JXL – A Little Less Conversation
Tyson – After You’re Gone (Dimitri From Paris Remix)
Wham Vs. Digitalism – Ray Of Zdarlight