David Byrne releases his 2023 Christmas playlist
We’re now at the time of year when people begin critiquing how merry (or not) they feel. Over the next few days, people up against the clock and Grinch-like will be cramming in Christmas songs and movies to feel a part of the festive season. Well, at the last second, David Byrne jumped in to lend a helping hand with his 2023 Christmas playlist.
The playlist is varied but inherently merry. It means there truly is something for everyone on there, but is still full of the Christmas spirit that people are keen on feeling this time of year. He put it together as a part of NPR’s Fresh Air series and has included songs from the likes of The Pogues, Phoebe Bridgers, Paul Simon and even 100 gecs.
The Talking Heads never released any Christmas tracks themselves, owing to the fact that they could never quite get one right. In an interview with NPR, Byrne said he was always hesitant to force a Christmas song as “if it doesn’t click, you’ve got this embarrassing thing.”
He finally found the right bit of magic last year, though, as he released a solo Christmas song called ‘Fat Man’s Comin’’, which is also included on the playlist. The track has not been received as a classic, but it is still a fun and literal take on Santa Claus. “Here’s a stranger who’s sneaking, breaking into your house, basically, leaving packages – and dressed in a rather strange outfit,” he said, remembering the writing process of the track, “I thought, what if I just write that?”
Unsurprisingly, the playlist includes ‘Fairytale of New York’, arguably one of the most beautiful Christmas songs ever written. The concept of love around Christmas is at the heart of this track, as an annual celebration is the easiest way to look back on your life and compare how you are now to how you were then, which the singing couple do. This blasé passage of time seems to take on new life now that Shane MacGowan and Kirsty MacColl have both passed away, as the lyrics seem even more profound than they were initially.
“He paints a picture of this bickering couple that actually love one another very much,” says Byrne, “immigrants who have come to New York and are finding a hard time of it, getting their footing.”
Byrne has always taken from various genres throughout his career to achieve unique song structure, melody and overall feel. That is more evident than ever on his Christmas playlist, which doesn’t hold up on brandishing the Talking Heads frontman’s diversity in music.
Some of the other big hitters included are Paul Simon’s ‘Getting Ready for Christmas Day’, LCD Soundsystem’s ‘Christmas Will Break Your Heart’, James Brown’s ‘Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto’, and Tierra Whack’s ‘Feel Good’.
Check out the Christmas playlist below and see if it can help get you in the holiday spirit.
