THEME TIME: Christmas You Love To Hate

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(illustration by Petr Valek)

There are anti-Christmas songs, with lyrics that absolutely trash the trees & the tinsel. And there are songs that are named 'I Hate Christmas', but are about broken hearts or bad luck. And for this post, on Christmas Day, we focus on the latter.

Trigger was a remark by The Heck-singer Henri, during a radio interview last Saturday, that got me thinking. When asked why The Heck made a (very LOUD) song called Bad Christmas, Henri said that it was his deep desire to make an anti-Christmas song. Laughter ensued. But he specified it: 'Sometimes, you just need a break on the 24th. Our song takes just over a minute, and it will get you through the day'. It's loosely translated, but this is the message. Henri's most favorite Christmas song is Reigning Sounds divorce drama If Christmas Can't Bring You Home, which tells you everything.

So: Are anti-Christmas songs at heart pro-Christmas songs? They're protesting agaist the bad sides, from commercialisation to unpopular family members blabbering in your ear during dinner. But it's not a 'Flush the whole feast' stance. True?

OK, so maybe not for the lyrics of Bad Christmas by The Heck. There is a video too:

You could file this track under 'Frustration Out for Christmas' songs. Just like FEAR's 'Fuck Christmas', Eric Idle's 'Fuck Christmas' and 'Fuck Christmas' by The World is a Vampire. I could go on. But let's focus on song that have 'hate' in the title, but aren't anti. More anti-not-anti.

Because blues legend Jimmy Witherspoon loves Christmas, but then he (or at least the guy in the song) lost all his money. Now no chicken, no cranberry sauce:


Probably the best known song to illustrate is Hatin' you for Christmas by Everclear, also a divorce drama:

This lovely indie rock song isn't about real Christmas repulsion, more against commercialisation, the same old songs and, well, the fact that it's the only day Santa comes by


A broken heart on Christmas makes you wanna sing emo songs like this:


Same problem, same outcome. Love this Dolly Parton-ish sound (wish it was recorded a bit better though):

F-bombs, sung with a sweet sunny voice (by Fratelli, who just isn't over George Michael's death):


Existential problems lead to this gorgeous track, great voice:


Self-explanatory, great hook too:

Posted earlier on this blog, great Beach Boys-vibe in this one:


They should do a proper version of this brilliant grunge-y song (also about heartbreak, of course):

I Hate Christmas, the bestest song on with that title is of course sung by Oscar the Grouch:

This one was covered by (among others) Teenage Kicks (here) and Pondertone (here).

Grouches may be uncurable, but Oscar, he's adorable, right? And in the end, it gets better, really:


Best I can do is this advice by our friend KNP:


Want more? I did three theme posts on Shit Christmas, HERE

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