

Art + Culture
Two Christmas playlists for you to jam to all weekend
December 23, 2016·By BLAC Editorial
From Eartha Kitt to Donny Hathaway, to Michael Buble to Usher, to the Jackson 5 to Johnny Gill, we’ve got you covered.
December 23, 2016
Tis the season, baby! The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting longer. Snow is falling and winter is in full swing. Let my playlist take you through the Christmas vibes of the season. Cuddle up next to your lover, your family, or your cat, sip your hot cocoa and relax knowing that the greatest time of the year is upon us. Christmas is filled with love and this playlist is filled serenading voices and classic lyrics. From Eartha Kitt to Justin Bieber to Michael Buble the meaning is all the same, love. The holidays are guilty of producing lasting memories. No matter if you use this playlist as a background to your family dinner, or if you listen to it while driving, it’ll make you feel like it's Christmas morning and you’re unwrapping the first gift. – Jasmine Graham, BLAC intern
“Santa Baby” – Eartha Kitt
“Let it Snow” – Boyz II Men
“Christmas Eve” – Justin Bieber
“Eight Days of Christmas” – Destiny’s Child
“Someday at Christmas” – Jackson 5
“Give Love on Christmas Day” – Jackson 5
“Merry Christmas Darling” – Otis Redding
“I Want to Come Home for Christmas” – Ne-Yo
“I’ll be Home for Christmas” – Michael Buble
“This Christmas” – Donny Hathaway
“This Christmas” – Chris Brown
I’m a little more old-school with my Christmas playlist. Growing up, there were two standbys in my house for Christmas music: The Jackson 5’s Christmas album, and the Temptations’ Christmas album. (I don’t think there’s a black person alive unfamiliar with the Temps’ version of “Silent Night.”) But I also want to mix it up with some newer traditions; say what you will about Mariah Carey’s diva antics, but you know she’s good for some quality Christmas carols. And even though nobody can touch Donny Hathaway’s original, I’ve grown to love Usher’s version of “This Christmas” as my second-favorite. Mix it up a little with Paul McCartney, and you’ve got a grown-folks playlist ready to go. – Aaron Foley, BLAC editor
“Give Love on Christmas Day” – Johhny Gill
“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” – Jackson 5
“Silent Night” – The Temptations
“The Christmas Song” – Toni Braxton
“My Favorite Things” – The Supremes
“When Christmas Comes” – Mariah Carey & John Legend
“Christmas Time is Here” – Vince Guaraldi Trio
"Sleigh Ride" – Alexander O'Neal
“Soul Holidays” – Sounds of Blackness
“Wonderful Christmastime” – Paul McCartney
“What Christmas Means to Me” – Stevie Wonder
“Christmas Ain’t Christmas, New Years Ain’t New Years Without the One You Love” – O’Jays
“This Christmas” – Usher
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