Music Actually Is All Around

Holiday tunes for one and all

A bit tired of the same old songs, we asked Mindy Thomas, program director and host of The Absolutely Mindy Show on SiriusXM’s Kids Place Live (channel 78), for a recommendations to have an rocking (or soulful or world folky) holiday season.

“Sunny Christmas” by Rennee & Jeremy

Album:  Sunny Christmas
For this L.A. duo, the definition of a white Christmas is tons of warm bright sunlight, and they want to share it with you!

“Hi Five Torah Jive” by Josh & the Jamtones

Album:  Jammin’ with Jew
This new Kindie Rock band out of Boston details the exploits of the five Books of Moses in a kid-friendly way with this original roots/reggae rock number.

“Gingerbread Man” by Lunch Money

Album: Spicy Kid
Christmas cookie chase music is so HOT this holiday season!

“Latke Man” by Mama Doni

Album:  Chanukah Fever
This “grease ball, off the wall, potato lovin’ animal” sounds almost too cute to eat…almost.

“Candy Cane Jane” by Laurie Berkner

Album:  A Laurie Berkner Christmas
Someone needs to host a holiday mixer and introduce Candy Cane Jane to the Elf On The Shelf. I’m pretty sure it would be a match made in the North Pole.

“Untangling The Christmas Lights” by Brady Rymer

Album:  Single—available for download
Because it’s all merry and bright until you realize that someone haphazardly threw a mangled nest of Christmas lights in the decoration box last year, and you have to sort them out.

“I Want A Hippoptomus For Kwanzaa” by The Jimmies

Album:  Mama Said Nog You Out
I also want everyone celebrating anything to own this crazy quirky holiday album!

“Paz en la Tierra (Joy To The World)” by Ramon F. Veloz

Album:  Putumayo Presents Christmas Around The World
“Joy To The World” gets a Cuban kick with this wild guajira version of the old classic!

“Counting the Days (Until Christmas)” by Dan Zanes and Suzan-Lori Parks

Album:  Christmas in Concord
Dan and Suzan-Lori wrote this one during a drive back to New York from New Hampshire when they began to talk of their fathers’ military experiences. Five hours of road-tripping later, that talk became this song.

“Hideous Sweater” by Bill Harley & Keith Munslow

Album:  It’s Not Fair To Me
Getting your family dressed for one of those holiday “Ugly Sweater” parties?  Here’s your soundtrack. Itchy fibers and batteries not included.

“Santa Hit The Dance Floor” by The Missing Piece