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You might know Dallon Weekes from having been in Panic! At The Disco. Soon—if you don't already—you'll know him from being in iDKHOW (aka I DON'T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME).
His new project with drummer Ryan Seaman is racking up numbers for its synth-hued tunes, which straddle the glam sensibilities of Panic! and its contemporaries with the swagger of Manic Street Preachers.
Dallon is a big fan of Christmas—and Christmas tunes (iDKHOW released their Christmas Drag EP in 2019)—so we asked him to tell us which festive songs are his favourite. Find below his three alt faves and his three classic picks.
Alternative:
Julian Casablancas - 'Christmas Treat'
You never can tell what may spark the genesis of a song. This one in particular began as a skit on Saturday Night Live years ago, but a good melody is a good melody. Casablancas decided to run with the idea and turn it onto a full-fledged Christmas anthem. While he ultimately abandons the comedy in favour of some more traditional holiday imagery, the song still manages to keep all the fun!
Chilly Gonzales, Jarvis Cocker + Feist - 'Snow Is Falling In Manhattan'
It would be a disservice to Mr. Cocker, and the others involved in the making of this track if you didn’t listen at night, next to a fire, during a snowstorm. But if weather doesn’t permit such a thing, it wouldn’t be hard to imagine while enjoying this fantastic song. It beautifully paints a vivid picture of a snowstorm in Manhattan on Christmas Eve. And even if you find yourself someplace tropical for the holidays, this one may leave you wanting for a fireplace and a blanket.
Sparks - 'Thank God It's Not Christmas'
Always quick to lace a song with sarcasm, Sparks sing about the holiday with all the ire and indignation of someone going through the motions of a traditional holiday party, while alluding to the fact that they aren’t really enjoying themselves and would much rather be someplace else. I’m sure we’ve all been there at least once.
Classic:
Slade - 'Merry Christmas Everybody'
A classic in the UK since 1973, this wonderful Christmas tune continues to fly under the radar here in the States. I took notice of it several Christmases ago while binge-watching the BBC: it seemed to pop up in nearly every programme they broadcast. Eventually, my subconscious took notice and looked it up. If only my fellow Americans would grasp onto it as tightly. It never fails to bring a smile along with it.
Darlene Love - 'Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)'
Christmas music can easily fall into ‘cheeseball’ territory, especially when the number of themes to sing about are finite. But even if every allusion to the holiday were removed from this song, it would remain a gigantic swell of Phil Spector production and stellar melody and performance. And it would likely be played on oldies radio all year ‘round. You know this song! And even if you hate Christmas music, you still like this one.
Bruce Springsteen - 'Santa Claus Is Coming To Town'
A classic in every sense of the word—and not just because the original tune was first published in the 1930s and covered by countless artists since. Springsteen manages to no only modernise it—while also borrowing from The Crystals' version from the 1960s—but he and his band fully inject it with all of the joy and enthusiasm it deserves. I defy any listener to keep from smiling when you hear ‘Santa’ begin his “ho ho ho”s and Springsteen crack up at it all.
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More about: idkhow