Christmas 2024 Mix Tape (Side A)
The Snowflakes and Surprises: Christmas 2024 Theme Mix Tape (Side A) can be found on Spotify. Listen in-blog below for a more rich experience, or on Spotify for uninterrupted music. Please note below each song is a link to song lyrics for accessibility. Check out more details on how to best enjoy mix tapes.
Good day! Welcome to Snowflakes and Surprises: A Non-Conformist Christmas: Christmas 2024 Theme Mix Tape (Side A) on KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado.
I’m your host, DJ Ponyboy, and I am so excited you are joining me today for this fun Christmas-themed mix tape; I hope you’re ready to go!
Kicking off today’s tape, here is Johnny Reid with his 2019 track, “Fa La La La La”.
I can’t tell you why, but that song always makes me cry (in a good way).
Because Christmas is a holiday filled with old traditions, like greeting cards and Christmas trees from the 1800’s, and music from the 1940’s and 1950’s, holiday music can start to feel kind of stale.
Based on my own informal review, as few as 16% of Christmas songs released on any given year are original songs, meaning every year we get more and more new covers of the same old songs; very infrequently do new Christmas songs gain much traction.
Today’s mix tape is filled with newer Christmas music, with the oldest less than two decades old; I hope I can introduce you to a few new Christmas favourites to add to your annual rotation.
The song we just heard was released in 2019; our next came out in 2020. Here is “Cowboy for Christmas” on KMTJ-DB, Denver.
Alyssa Micaela, “Cowboy for Christmas”.
What are you asking Santa for this Christmas? A partner? Toys? Real estate?
What if all you want for Christmas is for it all to go away?
Join me in two weeks for Side B of today’s mix tape, Tinsel and Tears: Grieving Through the Holiday. Whether you are grieving the physical death of a loved one, the loss of your religion, estrangement from family, or financial hardship keeping you from having as jolly a holiday as you would like, I am here to hold space and grieve with you.
We will cry together, laugh together, and enjoy a mix tape curated just for you, with sad, angry, snarky, and comforting music to help you survive this holiday season.
Speaking of enduring hard times, our next song takes the form of an annual holiday letter sent by a family who has unfortunately been banished to a space asteroid.
Enjoy Jonathan Coulton’s 2006 nerd epic, “Chiron Beta Prime”.
Jonathan Coulton on KMTJ-DB, Denver, Colorado.
In 2018, JD McPherson released a rarity – a Christmas album where literally 9 out of 10 tracks are originals.
I highly recommend the whole album, but could only pick one song, so I present you with one of my favourites – the title track. One of the highlights for me is the Hammond organ solo in the middle.
Here is JD McPherson and “Socks”.
JD McPherson with “Socks”. Check out some of the best tracks from that album, as well as many other songs I was unable to fit on today’s mix tape by joining my Patreon tier of Beat Backer (only $17/mo) or above.
You will receive access to bonus playlists for mix tapes all the way back to May 2024, and much more! If you are still shopping for holiday gifts, consider gifting a Patreon subscription to a music-lover in your life.
Up next is my favourite Christmas story ‘bout the girl with no name; I especially like the surprise ending.
Enjoy Capital Lights with 2008’s “His Favourite Christmas Story” on KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado.
His Favourite Christmas Story Lyrics
Australian actor, writer, and composer Tim Minchin is a treasure whose music you should go out and listen to right after this mix tape.
One of my very favourite songs of his happens to be an original Christmas tune.
Here is Tim Minchin with one of my holiday essentials, 2009’s “White Wine in the Sun”.
I’m not crying; you’re crying!
I’m DJ Ponyboy on KMTJ-DB, Denver. I hope you have been enjoying the music, and hopefully I have introduced you to at least one new song! If not, keep listening; you may still be surprised!
People ask me all the time how I find so many amazing, varied (and oftentimes obscure) tunes!
The short answer is remaining curious, but the long answer is I spent decades learning the best ways to find new music I love. To me, discovering an amazing new-to-me song is like a kitten enjoying a warm sunbeam for the first time; chasing sunshine is my passion!
If you (or a music-lover in your life) would like to learn how to seek out your own sunbeams, purchase my guide Chasing Sunshine: A Guide to Educating Yourself on Popular Music.
Receive 20% off your entire purchase the whole month of December (through the 31st so you can use your Christmas money to get a discounted copy of your own!) using the code SANTA20 at checkout. That’s SANTA20 for 20% off your Mix Tape Journey Christmas gifts.
My next pick was released in 2020, and features one of favourite one-breath run-on sentences ever: “Blame it on Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen and Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen; don’t worry ’bout Rudolph, ‘cause he never listens – and don’t get me started on you!”
Bebe Rexha and Shea Diamond with “Blame It On Christmas”.
While our next two songs share a title and a theme, they are very different songs. Though they each approach the challenge from a different angle, these two songs combined are a master class in attempting to seduce a married woman. 😅
Enjoy the 2018 tune “Dear Mrs. Claus” by the Barr Brothers, followed by 2020’s “Dear Mrs. Claus” by King Falcon on KMTJ-DB, Denver.
Dear Mrs. Claus (The Barr Brothers) Lyrics
Dear Mrs. Claus (King Falcon) Lyrics
“Dear Mrs. Claus” by King Falcon. Before that, the Barr Brothers with “Dear Mrs. Claus”.
Thank you so much for joining me today for the Snowflakes and Surprises: A Non-Conformist Christmas: Christmas 2024 Theme Mix Tape (Side A).
Join me in two weeks for Side B, Tinsel and Tears: Grieving Through the Holiday, and the week after that for Twisted Tinsel: Reworked Christmas Classics.
Next week is my monthly Connections mix tape. Come back and see what exciting musical connections I uncover.
Every year new original Christmas music is released. This is one of my favourites this year (so far – I am looking forward to the new Ben Folds holiday album).
Here is Jennifer Hudson and 2024’s “Find the Love” on KMTJ-DB, Denver, Colorado.
Find the Love Lyrics
Thank you again for joining me today. Happy holidays, merry Christmas, and all the best.
You have been listening to KMTJ-DB – Your Mix Tape Journey – Denver, Colorado.
I’m DJ Ponyboy. Until next time, stay gold.