Against all odds, we have made it to the end of 2020, and Christmas season is upon us. It’s a time for decking the halls, watching Hallmark movies with plots created by autogenerator bots, and spending time with our loved ones via FaceTime calls. This holiday season, more than ever before, there is reason to embrace feeling sad.
Stop living in denial: the holiday season has always had a dark, depressed underbelly underneath all of the sparkly garland and goodwill toward mankind. Christmas and New Year’s have always had a way of casting broken hearts into sharp relief as we think about who we have lost and who we are missing.
Think about the stories in Love, Actually that resonate the most. Sure, we have Colin Firth learning Portuguese to tell the woman he loves how he feels on Christmas Eve. But we also have Emma Thompson privately having a cry while listening to Joni Mitchell, and Laura Linney having to cut things short with the hottest guy on earth to go care for her mentally ill brother. Are we as drawn to the sadness in some of these stories as we are to the triumphs of the heart?
The constant reinforcement that everyone must be with those they love most on Christmas followed by the insistence that New Year’s Eve is a romantic occasion delivers a one-two punch for those of us who still find ourselves unhappily alone and/or brokenhearted on on the first of December. Perhaps more than ever, the Great Coronavirus Pandemic has left many isolated and alone in ways that they have never been before, and many will be unable to safely visit their families for fraught Christmas dinners.
This holiday season, consider putting that happy face on the shelf and embrace the sadness of a deep and dark December. For those who will be having a holiday closely resembling that of Kevin McAllister with a single-serving Kraft mac and cheese dinner for one, here is a list of appropriately songs to add to your playlist.
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas”
In this holiday classic, Bing Crosby croons about an idyllic Christmas in a winter wonderland alongside those he loves. But oh, don’t be fooled by the Bedford Falls-esque scene Bing creates. This song was written in 1943 to reflect the experience of the countless families separated at Christmas while their loved ones were overseas at war. It was intended to be listened to by mothers of soldiers while they dabbed at their eyes with handkerchiefs.
The last line gives it all away: “I’ll be home for Christmas, if only in my dreams.” Ruminate on that one as you sit at a solitary fireside, wistfully dreaming of the fights you wish you were having with your Trump-supporting uncle.
Best version: The original as recorded by Bing Crosby accurately captures the longing of the lyrics. As for the 21st century, Rascal Flatts have an a capella version that will have you feeling like Ennis Del Mar staring out at the lonesome, empty fields.
“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”
Originally recorded by Judy Garland for the 1944 film Meet Me in St. Louis, Judy’s character uses the song to cheer up her young sister. The sadness rating of this holiday classic depends on whether or not the original lyrics are used.
Consider the difference between the following lines:
Original: “Through the years, we all we will be together/If the fates allow/Until then, we’ll have to muddle through somehow”
Shitty version: “Through the years, we all will be together/If the fates allow/Hang a shining star upon the highest bow”
The shitty lyric change was requested by Frank Sinatra when he covered the song for his Christmas album. As it turns out, he had absolutely no respect for those who are seeking out the perfect musical companion for their wallowing. Combined with Judy’s incomparable performance, the original lyrics are the perfect pairing for a particularly lonely holiday season.
Best version: Judy Garland, 1944. For a more modern take, check out Sam Smith’s recording, although he uses the unfortunate happy-face shining star line.
“Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”
What is Christmas without a single look back at the one who got away? Darlene Love has a song for you! The original recording was first included on the classic album A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector.
Let’s step aside for a second to consider a few things. One of the most iconic and beloved Christmas albums of all time was produced by the eponymous Phil Spector, who is literally a murderer. Second, the record was first released on November 22, 1963- the day that JFK was killed. That’s quite a lot of darkness to wade through to enjoy a few holiday songs.
And back to Darlene Love. The lyrics speak for themselves, lamenting that Christmas just isn’t the same after a breakup and pleading with a lost lover to come back home. Every December, Darlene performed the song on Late Night with David Letterman, a tradition she has continued post-cancellation on The View. If you’re looking for an upbeat choice that absolutely slaps while fueling your misery, this is the song for you.
Best version: Darlene Love’s, of course.
“Blue Christmas”
Special recognition needs to be given to a song that lays it all out there right from the title. This is not a happy Christmas we’re having, as evidenced by the reality that everything is BLUE. One of the most famous recordings was done by Elvis in the late 1950s at the height of the absolute chaos he inflicted upon the country when he demonstrated that hips can move.
Every line feels worthy of being pasted into the AIM profile of a sad person going through it. Blue Christmas is also very adaptable, with its recordings ranging by tempo and genre for whatever best suits your currently dismal mood.
Best version: Instead of being an originalist, I have to go with a very niche choice. In the Claymation classic A Year Without A Santa Claus, a young girl sings a version of Blue Christmas about Santa in a performance that concludes with a single stop-motion tear sliding down her cheek.
“Auld Lang Syne”
Buckle up and grab a tissue. Auld Lang Syne is not for the faint of heart. Who can hear those opening lines without immediately tearing up and thinking of George Bailey returning home to his family and friends. It may be more closely associated with New Year’s than Christmas, but it’s still a holiday song.
Reflecting and toasting to old times can be done in moments of happiness, but it also pairs well with a a long winter’s depression. Would the image of Lieutenant Dan staring off into the middle distance at the stroke of midnight be as gutting if not paired with Auld Lang Syne?
Along with being a perfect sadness companion, this song also deserves recognition for being impressively old timey. The poem was first written in the Scots language by poet Robert Burns, but he himself described it as a transcription of a very old song. Such a fitting backstory for a song that is literally an ode to the past.
Best version: They may be a couple of hipsters who look like they won’t stop talking about whiskey and beard oil, but I’m partial to the version by Beta Radio.
And there you have it: a list of sad songs for your sad Christmas. If you’re feeling down this holiday season, perhaps this playlist will provide you with the small comfort of knowing that Christmas depression is itself a tradition and that others are suffering as well.