Have Yourself a Poppy Little Xmas

Kids, whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, all of the above, none of the above or something else altogether, I hope you get some of the same holiday thrill I get out of these songs.

This is Saint Etienne at the height of frothy Europopness. I love the weird in-song narrative of Tim (of the Charlatans, of course) and Sarah Cracknell running off to get married as they've apparently been swept away by that kickin' beat and seasonal joy. Cheesy as it is, this song makes me a dancing fool in my living room at least once a year. Saint Etienne (with Tim Burgess)- I Was Born On Christmas Day

And how can you not love Pas/Cal's take on Wham!'s "Last Christmas"? The sweet, twee boys of Pas/Cal are so steadfastly paisely despite residing in Blade Runner, USA, I mean Detroit, that it makes the heart sing. The usual big dynamics and great sense of play are here on this cover as is a groovy little percussion breakdown. Good stuff. Pas/Cal- Last Christmas

And as a little holiday bonus, here are a couple of songs that would have been on the 2006 Mondo Mix CD had we gone with a double disc instead of a single:

Dreamy, propulsive and so, so danceable. Asobi Seksu- Goodbye
For more on Asobi Seksu, go here.

Stronger than a glass of spiked eggnog Headlights- Hi-Ya!
For more on Headlights, go here.