Dec 11, 2021

Christmas Songs for Goths /Feat:DJ Brent Chittenden (By Anthony)

Updated: Dec 23, 2021

Most Goth-inclined families and individuals can usually serve their holiday music needs through the soundtrack work of former Oingo Boingo frontman Danny Elfman on such Tim Burton films as Batman Returns, Edward Scissorhands, and The Nightmare Before Christmas.

What’s This? from The Nightmare Before Christmas

Nick Cave:

SAINT NICK CHRISTMAS CARD

This outtake from Saint Nick’s 1997 10 studio LP The Boatman’s Call will get you in the Christmas feels, guaranteed.

The Cure:

Robert Smith and his band The Cure are noted for their love of Christmas and use the holiday as a metaphor in songs like “Other Voices”, “Hey You!”, “Last Dance”, and “The Snakepit”, but only one studio recording directly refers to celebrating the holiday in such a festive manner enough to be called a Christmas song, in 1982’s “Let’s Go To Bed”.

Despite this, The Cure actually did perform onstage a celebration of the holiday in their Merry Christmas Everybody at Wembley Arena 1987.

Okay, okay, “Last Dance” is a Christmas song, but definitely not one to listen to while spreading holiday cheer.

Siouxsie and The Banshees:

When Robert Smith was a Banshee, this b-side to “Melt!” was recorded, with the accompanying French Television performance where Robert and Budgie’s eyes say it all.

New Order:

Back at Christmas 1982, New Order decided to give the patrons of their club The Hacienda a gift bag with a special Flexi Single (limited edition of 4000).

Included were the band’s take on the classical pieces Rocking Carol (aka We Will Rock You) and Beethoven’s Ode To Joy, utilizing lo-fi drum machines, sequencers and, overzealous use of the vocoder.

The two songs were originally recorded for a TV piece to be used by Factory boss Tony Wilson on his Granada Reports TV new programme, but went unaired, and unused until they were given away as a holiday gift.