The Pogues’ Fairytale of New York is about two drug addicts, although it takes place during the holidays. I have made bold some of my favorite lines from the song…
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Just had to say how excited I was to see someone mention Athlete on these boards. Shocker Khan and I are huge Athlete fans and see them any chance we get here in Chicago. Great band that I can’t believe never got bigger over here in the States.
As far as this song…we already liked it a lot before our daughter was born and had to spend several weeks in the NICU. Of course, after we went through all of that the song has a whole different level of relatability.
The three that I thought of
‘I just called to say I love you’ by Stevie Wonder
‘Moving to New York’ by the Wombats
‘Wires’ by Athlete
First, for what it’s worth, this is a thread from 2010 (as is the one its OP links to).
Second, I notice that people have been offering two completely different types of examples:
(1) Songs that are not about Christmas but that mention Christmas in passing (which I think is what the OP had in mind), and
(2) Songs that are fundamentally about Christmas or about something or someone associated with the day, or are set at Christmastime, but which are not “Christmassy” in mood or spirit.
“Tojo”-Hoodoo Gurus
I said,“Tracy won’t you listen - this is Christmas!
Don’t you go.Don’t you go.”
Set at Christmastime, but definitely not joyful: Gordon Lightfoot’s “Circle of Steel”
I guess it’s more of an actual Christmas song, but “2000 Miles” by The Pretenders comes to mind.
There’s “Always Winter Never Christmas,” written by Andy Partridge for XTC but never recorded by the band (the home demo came out as a b-side). It’s basically a plea to his then-wife to loosen up and give him some now and then. (They later divorced.)
Pink Floyd’s “Christmas comes but once a year”?
Christmas and me are through- by Your Vegas
Christmas TV- by Slow Club
Bizarrely enough, both of those songs play over scenes of prisoners being murdered on the show Chuck.
the fact the main piano melody is basically ‘Jingle Bells’ means this is a very christmassy track IMO
reading the thread I noticed that too, so here’s an example of each:
(1) Cardinal - ‘If You Believe In Christmas Trees’ (nothing to do with christmas) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AHLRvuwSB8
(2) Further & The Summer Hits - ‘Christmas Has Been Cancelled Due To Lack Of Interest’ (not “Christmassy” in mood or spirit) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BcgrOlJ8m8