The Seven Baes of Christmas
It actually feels ridiculous that Christmas is a week away. Has anyone said that yet? Has anyone said that ever in the weeks leading up to Christmas? This is my scorching hot take.
I really love Christmas (as many people do), so I wanted to make my last two posts of the year fitting of the occasion. Rather than a full profile on just one vocalist this week, here is a list of my favourite Christmas voices. OBVIOUSLY I should have come up with twelve, but it turns out I’m quite the Christmas gatekeeper and could only come up with seven singers whose voices truly encapsulate Christmas for me – no matter what they’re singing. And, because you’re probably quite busy this time of year, I’ve tried to make it snappy.
Judy Garland
OBVIOUSLY. She feels like Christmas, through and through. Sentiment embodied.
Bing Crosby
He didn’t change the words to ‘Bingle Bells’ and I think that’s fine. (Although, a quick google search has just informed me that both Microsoft and Ella Logan did do that and I can’t work out why they would … neither of their names are Bing.) Bing Crosby is Christmas enough that he doesn’t need to give in to yuletide puns that are staring you right in the face, ready for the taking. There’s a proper authority in his voice and I love that fluttery trill thing he does, every so often. You know the one I mean.
Dean Martin
Dean Martin sounds like how I feel when my Mum’s making me finish my third glass of sherry at 3pm on Christmas Eve. Dean Martin is Christmas spirit. Super cool. You hear a bit of a slur, you hear a bit of a smile; he just sounds like he’s having a great time.
Cliff Richard
If consonants are children, snug in their beds awaiting presents on Christmas Eve, and Cliff Richard is Santa Claus; rest assured, he’s leaving NO ONE behind! How does he sound so sincere whilst over enunciating all those words? I don’t know, but something about this man and his voice makes me forget I’ve not been a devout Christian my entire life (agnostic, if you’re asking)!
Peggy Lee
Probably my favourite voice of all time. So warm, so rich. Like a Christmas pudding (except, more people like her) with Baileys cream. She gives me Nigella vibes, which says it all.
The Smurfs
Honestly, I was probably nine years old before I realised Christmas music existed beyond my ‘Smurfs Christmas Party’ tape. Imagine my confusion listening to some gal named Brenda Lee, to find she had changed the lyrics to Smurfing Around The Christmas Tree.
Nat King Cole
How do you even try to discuss Nat King Cole’s voice? It’s pure magic, like living in a velvet hug. Nat King Cole’s voice sounds, to me, like that moment over the festive period, when you’re at home, you feel safe, you feel cosy, you’re maybe indulging in something a bit special, with a familiar tv show or film on and everything slots into place and you’ve reached peak Christmastime. Nat King Cole sounds like fireplaces and stockings and mince pies and wrapping paper and I can’t give you a technical explanation for it, he just DOES.
Maybe not the most revolutionary list in the whole world, but I cannot have a festive season without listening to any of these artists. I’d love to know if there are any singers that put you in the Christmas spirit, as soon as your hear them. And if you don’t celebrate Christmas, if there are vocalists you feel represent other celebrations – I’d be so interested to know! I don’t know if you can comment on this blog post, but I’m assuming you came from my Facebook or Instagram anyway, so maybe leave it there? I don’t know. Hopefully I get some computer literacy left under the tree for me, this year.