Whether we love or dread it, celebrate or don’t, every December, Christmas becomes inescapable in our northern regions. The ubiquitous holiday soundtrack can certainly clash with our state of mind – especially if we’re feeling grinchy. This year, we curated a fresh selection of modern carols with a shared underlying theme: not having a good time. If you’re not in the holiday spirit, you are not alone, and here’s a playlist to prove it!
It’s Not Christmas Until Somebody Cries – Carly Rae Jepsen
Our Canadian pop-princess Carly Rae Jepsen exposes the drama of family gatherings with this 2020 banger. The truth is highlighted to a joyous beat – afterall, who hasn’t shed a tear on December 25th?
Christmas Makes My Cry – Kacey Musgraves
Country-pop luminary Kacey Musgraves serenades blue hearts in this tearjerker from her 2020 Christmas Show special. Her soothing voice offers simple yet powerful advice: when the feelings are low, let’s not fight it – even during the holidays.
Christmas Lights – Coldplay
This track sounds like a movie soundtrack: a sweet, mellow, comforting indie-rom-com, let’s say. A lullaby for the broken-hearted, this is Coldplay at its best – a heartfelt acknowledgment of how hard the holidays can be.
blink-182 – Not Another Christmas Song
Someone wasn’t down with the cheery theme and wrote about it. Relatable and catchy, blink-182 absolutely understood the assignment with this jolly pop-punk rant. Plus, the stop-motion video is so darn cute.
Single on the 25th – Lauren Spencer-Smith
At just 21, Lauren Spencer-Smith sings with the rich depth of someone who’s lived a thousand lives. Her powerful jazzy-ballad captures the heaviness of being single during the holidays – a feeling many of us know too well.
Christmas Anyway – Stars
The vibe on this one? An imminent break-up, and the delusion of holiday cheer that only amplifies personal misery. Backed by acoustic guitar and soft brass, veteran Montreal indie band Stars crafts a sad song that’s reminiscent, evocative, and very millennial.
Merry Christmas, Please Don’t Call – Bleachers
Oh, the ambivalence of no longer wishing to have them in your life. This year, Jack Antonoff and his rock band Bleachers grapple with the memories of previous relationships – and the existential dread they can evoke – to the sound of fuzzy guitar for a bitter and gently cathartic anthem.
Punk Drunk Xmas Eve – Holy Moly & The Crackers
Sometimes, you just need to pour yourself a tall one to face the holidays. If forced fun is on the menu, why not take on the absurdity of it all with joyful angst with the help of party-ready British folk-rock band Holy Moly & The Crackers.
Happy Trails – Orville Peck
The country troubadour Orville Peck is an expert at singing about loss and longing with his inimitable baritone voice. “Happy Trails” is a sad but hopeful farewell – wishing someone well as your paths diverge.
Hear the Bells – Calexico
Hope again! Tex-Mex indie-rock darlings Calexico close out our playlist with a comforting nudge to dry our tears and start fresh in the New Year. It sounds so genuine that we’ll take the advice, this time, and end 2024 on a hopeful note (reluctantly).
Be sure to check our other festive articles: NYE 2025 Girly Pop Playlist: 10 Perfectly-Timed Party Hits and How to Grow Your Music Brand This Holiday Season: Marketing Tips for Artists.
Written by Christelle Saint-Julien
Illustration by Holly Li
