Christmas is almost upon us. Maybe you are still doing your last-week shopping, and everywhere you go there is the constant drone of cheery holiday songs. You are tired of it and want to avoid it.
That is difficult. The tunes seep into your consciousness, and you might even be humming a tune unwillingly. It is OK. We all do it.
But what to do when you get home? You still need some holiday songs, but not the ones that are so cheesy. Maybe try some sad ones such as the ones that follow.
Four sad Christmas songs to make your holiday better actually (we lied in the headline)
Prince - "Another Lonely Christmas"
This song gets really dark near the end. Just be fully warned if you are a Prince fan and have somehow never heard this song. Ironically, the tune was a B-side of "I Would Die 4 You." Again, just be warned.
On the surface, this song is sad and sexy. You might think at the beginning that you can get into this. It's a great track. But if you have gone through what Prince sings about halfway through the song, just know we are sorry.
John Denver - "Please, Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas)"
The title says it all. So do the lyrics, "Please daddy, don't get drunk this Christmas/I don't want to see my momma cry." Is there any saving grace to the tune and does "Daddy" suddenly get clean and the family happy? Nope.
In fact, the song is so short that some punk band should do a version of the tune. (Surely, this has happened.) No matter which genre the song is churned out in, the sadness is real. (Also, coincidentally, Denver allegedly had a drinking problem himself.)
Roy Orbison - "Pretty Paper"
This song is completely jaded and the ultimate in passive-aggressiveness. That is not meant as a slight toward Orbison because he has the voice of a god. Not even a minor one. Like, one of the more important gods.
But while the song talks about being happy and wrapping presents for loved ones, it is about how people do their happy shopping while walking past the homeless. One is cheerful, and one needs help. The contrast in the song is poignant.
Elvis Presley - "Blue Christmas"
Forget the "hubba hubba" singing style of Presley. There are better versions of this song, though this one is by far the most popular. That is likely due to Elvis himself, instead of the quality of his performance. He was always more artifice than art.
Still, if you are alone and full of rage over a breakup and not ready for the holidays, put this tune on. Better yet, play the Ringo Starr version. It's much campier.