Hello, everyone! I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving break! Now that we are back in school, it is full-blown holiday season. This month, I am giving you some non-Christmas songs, and some of my favorite non-traditional Christmas songs. I hope you enjoy!

1. “Oh My God”- Adele
   • “Maybe, baby, I’m just losing my mind, ‘cause this is trouble, but it feels right”
   • This song, from Adele’s newest album “30,” is about putting herself first and wanting to go back to a fun past relationship, even though she knows it is not the right thing to do. As usual, Adele’s vocals are amazing, and her song makes you feel all of her emotions.
2. “Canyon Moon”- Harry Styles
   • “An old lover’s hippie music, pretends not to know the words”
   • This optimistic and happy song is perfect for when the cold weather is starting to hit you, and you need a reminder of summer. As a “summer” person, this song gives me hope that summer is never too far away.
3. “Everywhere (BBC Children in Need)”- Niall Horan & Anne Marie
   • “Can you hear me calling, out your name?”
   • This year, Niall Horan and Anne Marie teamed up to cover Fleetwood Mac’s “Everywhere” for the BBC Children in Need single of 2021. This cover is more upbeat than Fleetwood Mac’s version, but they still did a great job upholding the charm of the original song.
4. “Talking to the Moon”- Bruno Mars
   • “I’m feeling like I’m famous, the talk of the town, they say I’ve gone mad… but they don’t know what I know, ‘cause when the sun goes down, someone’s talking back”
   • In this song, Bruno Mars sings about how he misses his love. He explains how everyone around him thinks he is crazy, but they do not understand. This is a great song to scream in the car when you are heartbroken, and even when you are not.
5. “Forever Winter (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)”- Taylor Swift
   • “Too young to know it gets better, I’ll be summer sun for you forever”
   • This tune comes straight from the vault of songs written by Taylor Swift during her “Red” era. This song is so beautiful, and it tells the story of Taylor and how she did not know her lover was in pain. She tells him that she wants to help him because she would never survive without him.
6. “I Am the Grinch (feat. Fletcher Jones)”- Tyler, The Creator
   • “I am the Grinch. Cindy Lou who? I live in Who-ville, who are you?”
   • This obscure Christmas song comes from the 2018 Grinch movie. It is funny to hear Tyler rap about Christmas, but he does a great job. The background vocals and sounds are what make this song what it is. This is a great rap Christmas song.
7. “Winter Things”- Ariana Grande
   • “Ain’t no ice or no chills, no snowmen to build, most of our friends at the beach, but my baby’s in town and we’re gonna do some winter things”
   • This song is from Ariana’s “Christmas and Chill” EP. She sings about the hot December weather in her hometown, Boca Raton, Florida. This song is also played on the ukulele which gives it a great touch.
8. “Christmas Tree Farm”- Taylor Swift
   • “My winter nights are taken up by static, stress, and holiday shopping traffic”
   • In the beginning of this song, Taylor sings about the reality of Christmas stress. As the song goes on, she sings about Christmas in her heart and how her lover makes her feel the true magic of Christmas.
9. “Winter Wonderland/ Here Comes Santa Claus (From “Pitch Perfect 2’” Soundtrack)”- Snoop Dogg and Anna Kendrick
   • “This ain’t for no mistletoe, but you need to listen, yo”
   • In Pitch Perfect 2, Snoop Dogg is trying to create a Christmas album that is not like every one before his. It is Anna Kendrick’s Character, Beca’s, job to make this album great. This song is another great rap Christmas song.
10. “All Too Well (Ten Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)” – Taylor Swift
    • “And I was never good at telling jokes, but the punchline goes: ‘I’ll get older, but your lovers stay my age’”
    • “just between us, did the love affair maim you too? ‘Cause in this city’s barren cold, I still remember the first fall of snow, and how it glistened as it fell, I remember it all too well”
    • All Taylor Swift fans know and love “All Too Well,” but we just got the other half of the song. This song tells the beautiful, yet tragic story of Taylor’s relationship with Jake Gyllenhaal. We also had the privilege of watching a short film of this song, where we see Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien play Taylor and Jake. When Jake tries to deny everything he did wrong, she tells him, “It was rare, I was there, I remember it all too well”.

See you soon!

Click here to listen to the playlist.